Friday, May 8, 2009

Hopeful Signs in Architecture Field

Kerry Hall, Charlotte Observer, May 8, 2009 -

Architect Bill Monroe is hearing rumblings from potential clients. They aren't yet ready to build. But they are nosing around, mulling design and construction prices, thinking about planning for the future.

It's a welcome change, he said.

“It got very quiet at Christmas,” he said. “Everything just stopped.”

Architecture firms are considered a leading indicator of construction activity – a sign of what's to come because they are among the first contacted when a developer is looking to build. Construction typically starts 9 to 12 months after architects are hired.

New signs have emerged suggesting the bottom may be near, say half a dozen local architects. And a report recently released by the American Institute of Architects bolsters the slightly sunny view. Read more here.

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