Plenty of Work for Architects Architectural and related services’ Q3 2017 revenues were $17.715 billion, a 3.4% decrease from Q2 2017. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s most-recent data, there were 109,748 architects in the US during 2016. According to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI), architecture firms increased their billings for every month during 2017, except January and September. Billings in the South increased every month during 2017 for the 5th consecutive year. Midwest billings remained strong most of the year, and billings recovered in the West after a slow start. The Northeast only had a moderate increase, and was the weakest region.

A Shift in Non-Residential Building The non-residential building sector increased 3.5% during 2017, compared to 2016, due to a huge increase in industrial manufacturing of 69.6% YOY. Commercial construction decreased 2.1% and institutional construction was flat. During 2017, construction decreased in the following sectors: retail, 47.0%; laboratories, 33.8%; parking garages, 29.1%; and government offices, 18.9%). Non-residential construction is estimated to increase 4%, including 6% for roads and bridges. The non-residential heavy engineering sector, which includes airports, highways and bridges, increased 25.6% during 2017. While this sector does not need architects, architectural firms with engineering components may have benefited from this boom.

Home Building Starting to Equal Demand Total residential construction for 2017 was $309 billion, a 12.9% increase from 2016. Multi-family construction increased 24.7% and single-family increased 7.4%. Oldcastle Building Solutions forecasts residential construction to increase by 6% during 2018, with a 9% increase in single- family construction. According to Zillow, for the 12 months ending November 2017, housing inventory decreased 10.5%, spurring demand. New, privately-owned housing starts decreased 6.0% during December 2017, compared to December 2016, or a total of 1,192,000. The recent tax bill and increasing interest rates will increase the cost of a home and may dampen new residential construction.

The Remodeling Market Is Booming In the AIA’s Q2 2017 Home Design Trends Survey, 64% of residential architects reported improvements in remodeling of additions/alterations, followed by remodeling of kitchen/bath, at 58%. The most-popular special-function rooms were outdoor living space, 38%; mud room, 23%; and home office, 16%. During Q2, 64% of homeowners wanted smart thermostats; 63%, low maintenance; and 52%, synthetic materials (52%). Accessibility modifications were a common project during Q1 2017 for 59% of homeowners, with more Baby Boomers opting to age in place. More than half, or 53%, wanted a single-floor design and 51%, an open-space layout.

Designing for the Future More architects are using BIM, or the Building Information Model. This is a computer-based, 3-D model, which allows architects, builders and engineers to collaborate on the management of a project, reducing costs, time and communication problems. An open floor plan is a major trend among homebuyers, as families seek to interact more with children and teens who are absorbed in their mobile devices. Architects of commercial and public buildings are designing to influence the mood, behavior and enjoyment of the people who use the buildings, with color, shape, natural light and integration with the outdoors and community.

Profile of Today’s Architects NCARB’s 2017 by the Numbers report found that gender diversity among architects increased during 2016, with women comprising 36% of newly licensed architects, compared to 34% for 2015. More than 126,500 architects have reciprocal licenses, allowing them to work in multiple states. Among architecture students, 58% were pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture, 42% a Master of Architecture and less than 1% a Doctor of Architecture degree. Of those who graduated from a program, which the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited, 57% were male. Almost half, or 49%, were Caucasian American; 14%, Latino American; 10%, Asian-American, and 4%, African-American.

Advertising Strategies Highlight your use of high-tech tools, such as BIM, to convince commercial, institutional and industrial buyers that you will ensure the project is on time and within budget. Appeal to younger clients by emphasizing reclaimed materials, sustainable practices and integration with the outdoors. For residential renovation projects, show prospective clients how you can design accessibility of their homes without it looking like a hospital.

New Media Strategies Highlight your use of nano, energy-efficient and sustainable materials and how they benefit clients on your Website, blog and/or social media to position your firm as innovative and eco-friendly. Provide visitors and prospective and new clients with a comprehensive project form on your Website where they can share their lifestyle and design preferences, so you offer custom ideas and the use of the latest products for their project. Promote architecture as a career, by featuring the school-project designs of architectural students and their videos of what inspired them, the goal/purpose of their design and their career aspirations on your Website and social media platforms.