The Recovery Continues

Nov. 29 -- The construction market is still down. And therefore, so is the architecture market. Or at least that’s what the conventional wisdom is these days. But is it true?

For the most part, of course, it is true. But there are significant signs of recovery in both of these markets, recovery that may just be on the cusp of making an impact on our segment of the economy. Two new surveys point to an upturn in construction in the next year, providing a ray of sunshine in what has been a dreary couple of years.

The American Institute of Architects recently reported that its Architecture Billings Index, a monthly survey that asks 700 architecture firms if their billings were higher or lower than the month before, rose from 48.2 in August to 50.4 in September, the first time it was above the break-even 50 level since January 2008. The commercial / industrial category broke 50 for the fifth-straight month, at 56.3; institutional, 47.9; multi-family residential, 47.0; and mixed practice, 44.2.

A quarterly survey of 73 corporate economists recently released by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) “‘confirms that the U.S. recovery from the Great Recession continues, with business conditions improving,’ said [survey committee chair] William Strauss [of the] Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. ‘Industry demand, profits, costs, employment and capital spending strengthened compared to results in the July 2010 survey.’”

Of the 50 respondents to a question about plans for spending on structures, 12 said they expect their firms to increase spending over the next 12 months, while 11 expect a decrease—the first net positive response to the question in more than two years.

That’s great news for architecture firms searching for projects, but the real influx of new construction and architecture can only be achieved through significant increases in funding, and the banks don’t appear ready to loosen up just yet. But there may be hope in projects funded directly by U.S. companies.

According to a recent report from Moody's Investors Service, U.S. companies are hoarding almost $1 trillion in cash but are unlikely to spend on expanding their business and hiring new employees due to continuing uncertainty about the strength of the economy.

Reuters reports that companies cut costs, reduced investment in plants and equipment and downsized operations in order to boost cash holdings during the recession. Non-financial U.S. companies are sitting on $943 billion of cash and short-term investments, as of mid-year 2010, compared with $775 billion at the end of 2008, according to Moody's.

It appears these companies are looking for greater certainty about the economy and signs of a permanent increase in sales before they part with their cash, but if we are truly making our way out of the recession, an influx of that cash into the market will likely have an effect on the metal construction and architecture industries.
The only question is, when?

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Firm’s HQ a Design Showroom

Designing projects on-time, within budgets and while utilizing new products and creative business strategies are the goals of any successful design-build firm. Our Cover Story in the October issue takes a glimpse inside Ayars & Ayars, a design-build firm whose new headquarters boasts all sorts of innovative metal architecture products on the interior and exterior.

The firm’s building, which also houses its partner, Architecture Etcetera, serves as a design showroom of sorts, allowing current and potential clients that tour the facility to see the many new technologies and design capabilities the company has to offer. The interior space features daylighting systems and a geo-thermal HVAC system, giving clients an idea of some of the technologies with which the firm is intimately familiar.

The design of the office is not just for show, as the main purpose is to encourage creative thinking and active participation. The creativity is evident in the integration of innovative products and systems into many of the metal building systems the firm specs and incorporates.

Send your comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com

Designs for a Metal Building System

In a former life, I worked on a large trade show, and had behind-the-scenes access that is rare for trade publication editors. I saw all the hard work being done months and even a year before the show floor opened, making sure the right exhibitors and there, ensuring everyone’s booths are flawless, and creating a compelling conference program. It’s an impressive undertaking.

But for most of my professional life, I’ve been on the outside, walking the aisles, talking to exhibitors and attendees while covering these large events for my magazines. Despite the toll it takes on my feet, I’ve come to enjoy trade shows. So it comes as no surprise that I’m very much looking forward to the upcoming AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition this June in Miami.

It will be my first time to attend this event, and I’m sensing a certain “buzz” in the industry regarding this opportunity for the architectural and design community to come together. As the economy has affected everyone, events like these are even more important to help facilitate face-to-face business relationships, bringing together like-minded people who can help each other out while working toward the same goal. They say a rising tide lifts all ships, and an event like the AIA Convention and Expo can play an important part in making that happen.

In our upcoming May issue, we provide a preview of the 2010 AIA Convention and Expo beginning on page 34, detailing the networking opportunities and educational sessions that should be on your day planner for the show.

May' cover story takes a look at how U.S. architects and firms are affected by taking work abroad. Of course, there is a certain financial impact as firms are looking for work outside of their traditional markets to make up for a lagging construction industry in the United States. But in addition, architects will likely find themselves either influencing their foreign counterparts, or being influenced by them. Take a look at the cover story on page 18 to discover if the “American style” of metal architecture is incorporating aspects of other regional styles, and how U.S. firms manage work abroad.

Don't forget, the July issue of Metal Architecture will feature our 2010 Metal Architecture Design Awards, so if you're interested in submitting your designs, the forms are available on our homepage, www.MetalArchitecture.com, under the 'Contest Forms’ tab.

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Send comments to boneill@moderntrade.com

Behind the Design

Architects and architecture firms are literally the faceless, nameless heroes behind the great metal architectural structures in North America. When I hear of an inspiring design that uses metal in creative, inventive ways, I go see the building or find photos online, and I marvel at the unique design, use of different materials, textures, etc. But in every instance, a non-architect like myself admires the actual building - and that's usually where it ends.

The problem is, I never get to see and meet the actual people behind building; the brains behind the design, so to speak. But all that will change soon in upcoming issues of Metal Architecture.

A few future issues will include profile stories and cover stories featuring in-depth looks at the important architects and firms behind the best metal building designs. To start, we're going beyond ther glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas CityCenter in our April issue, where we look at just how such a massive project came together on the Las Vegas Strip.

And don't forget, the July issue of Metal Architecture will feature our 2010 Metal Architecture Design Awards, so if you're interested in submitting your designs, the forms are available on our homepage under 'Contest Forms.'

For comments, e-mail me at boneill@moderntrade.com.

Massive Metal Projects

I've got my eye on two monstrous metal building projects: the Burj-Khalifa Tower in Dubai and the Las Vegas City Center. BOth are great examples of “extreme” metal architecture and construction, but both are very different.

The Burj-Khalifa Tower, formerly the Burj Dubai Tower, is the world’s tallest building, standing 2,717 feet (828 meters)and boasts 24,348 exterior aluminum panels forming a curtainwall covering 1,422,927 square feet (132,190 square meters). Simply put, this project was immense, and you’ll find out all the details of what went into this record-breaking achievement in an upcoming issue of Metal Architecture.

Not to be outdone, Las Vegas is now home to its own record-breaking example of modern metal architecture with the CityCenter, a multi-use retail and residential compound located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. You’ll find a taste of what went into designing this project - the largest project in the history of Las Vegas to implement BIM and 3-D modeling - on page 14 in our Architect Tools section of our February issue, which should be in your hands in a week or so.

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Architects & Designers: Connect With Us!

Hello, and welcome to my first offical blog post as Editorial Director for Metal Construction News, Metal Architecture and Metal Building Developer. While blogs are new to our site, I am not new to blogs. In my experience, blogs are a great way for our editorial department to share our thoughts and opinions on industry issues and trends, in a very informal, conversational manner.

More importantly, you'll find that our blogs are a great place for you - our readers - to connect with us and offer up your thoughts directly. If you have any comments or suggestions about issues, our Web sites or magazines, submit a comment on our blogs and we will do our best to address your issue.

Your input and interaction with Metal Architecture will help us provide a better product and improve our connection with the design community.

I fully expect metal architecture and design to take a leading role in the green building movement in 2010 and beyond. The metal construction industry is working hard to reinforce its place as the leader in the green build movement, and I believe that creative, effective design and architecture is the next piece in the puzzle toward expanding consumer and public acceptance of metal buildings. Increased education and acceptance will in turn result in a greater market share and new markets for metal architecture and construction.

On that note, if you have any videos related to metal construction - product videos, demo videos, installation tips, etc. please send them to us. We're excited to post your videos on our site, along with our own video news and trade show videos. Look for more in the coming weeks!