AIA: Architecture billings remain sluggish

September 24, 2020 12:00 pm Leave a comment

Business conditions for U.S. design firms showed little sign of improvement as summer wound down, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects.

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects

July drop for architecture services, construction backlog

August 20, 2020 3:28 pm Leave a comment

Demand for U.S. architecture services remains sluggish as measured by architecture billings, project inquiries and signed contracts. The American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index, a barometer of future construction spending, posted a lackluster reading of 40 in July, according ...

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects Associated Builders and Contractors

Report: Construction costs likely to rise in Milwaukee next year

October 30, 2019 2:15 pm 1 Comment

Crews work in April on the 25-story office tower BMO Harris Bank is having built in downtown Milwaukee across Wells Street from city hall. The high-rise is just one of many projects that have contributed to the city’s unprecedented building boom of recent years. Officials at Mortenson Construction recently released a report finding that demand for construction services is likely to remain strong in the Milwaukee area next year even as materials prices rise and economic recession becomes a real possibility. (Staff photo by Dan Shaw)

Although a steady backlog of work is expected to keep commercial contractors busy in Milwaukee next year, the city’s tight labor market could continue to drive up costs even as an economic slowdown looms, according to a recent report.

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects Associated Builders and Contractors City of Milwaukee employment Labor Shortage materials prices Mortenson Construction

Architecture billings plummet

September 19, 2019 10:24 am Leave a comment

Construction is underway on July 29 on the Hyatt House extended-stay hotel at 315 First Ave., Rochester, Minnesota. Sluggish U.S. architecture billings are giving rise to concerns about future construction activity, but Minnesota market watchers don’t expect a severe downturn soon. (File photo by Bill Klotz)

Another sluggish month for U.S. architecture billings is stoking fears of a slowdown in future design and construction activity, but local market watchers don’t expect the bottom to fall out anytime soon.

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects Associated Builders and Contractors

Capitol building turning 100

January 16, 2017 4:51 am Leave a comment

clouds roll over the Wisconsin state Capitol in Madison. A bipartisan commission is planning a months-long celebration for the building's 100th anniversary with a kick-off event beginning Jan. 31, 2017. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) /Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

When Sen. Fred Risser visited his father, a Wisconsin state senator, in the Capitol as a young boy, attendants operated the elevators, lawmakers had tobacco spittoons in their offices and there was not a single female senator.

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects Capitol

Experts weigh in on what 2016 has in store for construction industry

November 25, 2015 2:11 pm Leave a comment

Two construction workers inside the curtain wall of the 833 East project on Nov. 23. C.G. Schmidt lost a court battle against a subcontractor it hired for the curtain wall work. (File photo by Kevin Harnack)

Despite a persistent labor shortage and other difficulties, those who make their living in construction have more good than bad to look forward to in 2016.

Tagged with: American Institute of Architects construction spending The Opus Group