For the third straight month, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has gone up. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported that the April ABI rating was 48.5, up from a reading of 46.1 the previous month. The score is the highest since January 2008, when revenue at architecture firms headed into recession.
AIA Introduces New 2030 Information
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has set an example for its members. A number of architectural firms have signed on to the challenge to eliminate fossil-fuel consumption in buildings by 2030, even though some have said that the path is a bit murky. Now, AIA is promoting a more nuts-and-bolts approach to the goal through its AIA 2030 Commitment, and close to 50 firms have already signed on. The commitment offers firms step-by-step guidelines for achieving carbon-neutrality in building design and lowering a firm’s own environmental footprint through operational changes.