Archinect - News

Construction starts dip 1% in March despite encouraging signs in the residential sector

2024-04-26T13:56:00-04:00

Construction starts for March have dropped by 1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.06 trillion, according to the latest figures released in Dodge Construction Network's new Construction Starts Index.

For the month, nonresidential building starts went down 9%, while nonbuilding starts dipped another 7%, and residential starts were up by 1%. On a year-to-date basis, the total number of all starts was up 13% compared to the same three-month period in 2023. Residential starts increased by 24%, while nonbuilding starts gained 16%, and nonresidential building starts went up by 2%.

“The construction sector has hit a soft patch to start 2024,” Richard Branch, the chief economist for Dodge Construction Network, said. “However, this should not be overly surprising given high rates and restrictive credit. There are bright spots though, as single-family starts are moving higher and federal dollars are lifting nonbuilding starts. The recent hot inflation readings likely mean that rate...

Following a Frank Gehry overhaul, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hiring an exhibition designer

2024-04-24T17:28:00-04:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Deputy Director, Occupancy Management - Real Estate at the MTA Metropolitan Transportation Authority, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for an Exhibition Designer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The role calls for an individual who will design special exhibitions, gallery projects, and gallery furnishings for the display of works of art in the museum. Specific tasks may include managing the design and documentation process for exhibitions, creating technical drawings and models of objects and spaces, and developing schedules for construction and object installation. Among the requirements for the role are model-making skills, design training and experience, and preferably a degree in art, architecture, or art history.

The museum's North Entrance, for the first time in decades, was restored to public use in 2019. Steve Hall © Hall + Merrick Photographers, 2019, cour...

Noncompetes to be banned in the U.S. after FTC ruling

2024-04-24T11:36:00-04:00

The Federal Trade Commission has announced a rule banning noncompetes in the United States. According to the FTC, the ban seeks to “promote competition” by “protecting the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation.” The rule is expected to go into effect in six months.

The rule will not apply to existing noncompetes for senior executives (workers earning more than $151,164 annually and who are in policy-making positions), although employers cannot enter into or enforce new noncompetes for senior executives. In all cases, employers must provide notice to workers bound to an existing noncompete that the agreement will not be enforced against them in the future.

Related on Archinect: A Guide to Salary Transparency Laws Across the United States. Image: Pixabay

Noncompetes can be used in the U.S. to impose contractual conditions on employees that prevent workers from taking a new job or starting their own business, the FTC n...

Five high-end Long Island homes by Oza Sabbeth Architects: Your Next Employer?

2024-04-22T13:30:00-04:00

Following our previous visit to Connecticut-based Newman Architects, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Bridgehampton, NY this week to explore the work of Oza Sabbeth Architects.

Established in 2014 by architect Nilay Oza and artist Peter Sabbeth, the firm specializes in high-end residential projects in the Long Island area. “We think of the home as an instrument of shelter,” the studio told us in 2020. “It is an ambient environment that infuses our lives with the essential elements for balancing and recharging. We believe that the simple act of walking through a well-designed home, as it responds to the passing day and perennial seasons, should be a worthy experience in and of itself.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Project Architect to join their Bridgehampton office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up five residential projects by Oza Sabbet...

New York’s MTA is hiring a director for its real estate portfolio

2024-04-17T12:16:00-04:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Technical Architect - US Government Work at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Deputy Director, Occupancy Management - Real Estate at the MTA Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The role, based in New York City, calls for an individual from an architectural or real estate background to support the MTA’s real estate operations. Among the responsibilities for the position will be to “focus on focus on maximizing the efficiency and strategic use of the MTA’s substantial office space portfolio,” which encompasses up to 4 million square feet.

Related on Archinect: New public art commissions for NYC's soon-to-open Grand Central Madison expansion include mosaics by Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith. Image courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA/Facebook

Why the role interests us

The open role at the MTA offers us the opportunity to ...

Three contemporary education projects by Newman Architects: Your Next Employer?

2024-04-15T13:39:00-04:00

Following our previous visit to San Francisco-based WRNS Studio, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Connecticut this week to explore the work of Newman Architects.

Based in New Haven, the firm was founded in 1964 with the principle of “creating functional, nurturing environments that have a sense of belonging to the communities they serve.” Over the following decades, the firm has built a portfolio including educational, commercial, and community projects which have garnered over 150 awards, including an AIA/ALA Library Building Award for their Slover Library in Norfolk, VA.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Marketing Coordinator / Graphic Designer to join their New Haven office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up three education projects by Newman Architects that exemplify the studio’s ethos.

Lynn University Snyder Sanctuary. Image courtesy: New...

North American crane count drops 18% year-over-year

2024-04-14T08:00:00-04:00

Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) latest crane count index report, a key indicator of economic activity in major sectors, has shown a marked decrease in the overall count from its previous edition. Calgary, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles have seen an increase in crane counts, with the majority (73%) active at either residential or mixed-use projects. However, on a year-to-year basis, the count is down 18% (a difference of 94 cranes) and another 9% when compared to its previous Q3 edition.

Conversely, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington, DC have seen decreases in excess of 20%, while totals for Honolulu, Phoenix, Seattle, and Toronto have remained steady.

RLB states: "Despite the continued downturn in cranes, we remain cautiously optimistic. Ongoing investment in manufacturing and infrastructure will help offset any decline in privately funded projects in 2024. Overall, construction spending will be driven by public funding for manufacturing and in...

Construction input prices climb 0.4% in March

2024-04-12T11:42:00-04:00

A new analysis of the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has shown an increase in the cost of construction input prices of 0.4% for March.

In the month, nonresidential construction input prices increased by 0.4%. Both overall and nonresidential construction input prices are 1.7% higher than they were a year ago.

The overall increase came despite declines in the cost of energy inputs, with natural gas prices down 37%, unprocessed energy materials down 6.9%, and crude petroleum down 0.8%.

Chart credit: Associated Builders and Contractors

“There has been growing evidence of resurfacing inflationary pressures in the nation’s nonresidential construction segment during the past two months,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Were it not for declines in energy prices, the headline figure for construction input price dynamics would have been meaningfully higher. A new set of supply chain issues is emerging,...

Jeffrey Beers International presents new leadership team following the death of its founder

2024-04-10T15:20:00-04:00

Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) has announced a new leadership team in the absence of its namesake founder, who passed away last month from cancer at the age of 67.

The firm has appointed partners Michael Pandolfi, Nora Liu-Kanter, and Tim Rooney as new leaders of the 37-year-old New York-based studio practice. Together, they will now lead a team of more than 50 staff members. Pandolfi is the company’s longest-standing employee among the group followed by Kanter, who first joined the office in 2002.

“Jeffrey's impact on our studio, the architecture and design industry, and countless communities around the world is immeasurable. We are coming together to support the firm’s continued growth — our collaboration not only harmonizes our diverse design approaches and deep market insights but also underscores our shared ethos and dedication to upholding Jeffrey’s distinctive aesthetic, devotion to design excellence, and genuine kindness for everyone he worked with,” they each said in a s...

Major uptake in artificial intelligence use across creative industries, Autodesk survey finds

2024-04-10T11:53:00-04:00

Autodesk has released a report on the state of digitization and technological adoption across creative industries. The 2024 State of Design & Make Report found that companies see artificial intelligence “as a current tool rather than a futuristic pipe dream.”

The report’s findings were derived from survey results of 5,400 industry companies and figures across architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, media, and entertainment. Among the findings was a high level of optimism, with 73% of companies believing they were prepared to handle unforeseen economic or geopolitical changes.

76% of professionals said they trust AI in their industry, with application areas including productivity and sustainability. “More than half of companies say they are approaching or have already achieved their goal of incorporating AI,” Autodesk said about the report findings. “While AI adoption is high, we still have a long way to go to maximize AI’s potential.”

Related on Archinect: Au...

Your next job could be designing federal government buildings at SOM

2024-04-10T11:07:00-04:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for Visiting Faculty Fellowships in Design for Spatial Justice at the University of Oregon, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Technical Architect - US Government Work at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

The role, based in Washington, D.C., calls for an individual “responsible for the technical innovation, integration, documentation, and execution of the architectural and engineering design intent.” Among the responsibilities for the role will be contributing technical innovations to aid the design process, reviewing applicable codes, and tracking metrics such as energy, water, and carbon use in projects.

Related on Archinect: SOM shares photos of new John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge. Image: © Dave Burk/SOM

Why the role interests us

The open role at SOM offers us the opportunity to highlight some of the significant recent developments reporte...

Dodge Momentum Index continues to decline in March due to office, hotel, and education planning slowdown

2024-04-08T12:46:00-04:00

The latest Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) information for March has shown a continued decrease in economic activity, dropping 8.6% to a new score of 164.0 from February's revised total of 179.5.

Over the month, commercial planning fell 3.2%, while institutional planning dropped 17.2%. The decline in commercial performance is attributed by Dodge Construction Network to slow growth in office and hotel planning, while the institutional sector decline is linked to a decline in education planning.

“While strong market fundamentals should support institutional planning this year, this side of the Index is more at risk for a substantive correction after last year’s growth,” explained Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting for Dodge Construction Network. “Much of the decline on the institutional side is credited to lower levels of education planning. Between February 2023 and February 2024, life science and R&D laboratory projects account for roughly 34% of education planning value, wi...

Three tech giant headquarters by WRNS Studio: Your Next Employer?

2024-04-08T11:23:00-04:00

Following our previous visit to San Francisco-based Richard Beard Architects, we are keeping our Meet Your Next Employer series in the city this week to explore the work of WRNS Studio.

Founded in San Francisco in 2005, the firm operates across three principles: beauty, sustainability, and a positive contribution to the public realm. “We established our studio to provide a platform upon which we could freely explore our ideas and craft,” co-founder Sam Nunes told our Studio Snapshot series back in 2020. “We wanted to be a part of the community of architects seeking to redefine the relationship between the built and the natural environments and between the private and public realms.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for several positions to join their San Francisco office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up three headquarters for well-known tech companies by WRNS Studi...

Project abandonments rose sharply across the country during March

2024-04-05T15:48:00-04:00

Project abandonments have spiked recently across the country, according to a new analysis of construction project data contained in the ConstructConnect Project Stress Index for the week ending on March 31st.

Construction Dive has more on the latest economic indicators impacting nearly every sector of commercial architecture, including the startling revelation that outright abandonments have increased by 60% from 2021 base levels.

“Not many months after interest rates started rising in early 2022, the private sector was quick to respond with greatly heightened levels of abandoned projects,” Michael Guckes, ConstructionConnect's senior economist, explained. “This volatility, coupled with overall elevated weekly readings, has continued with little exception through present.”

However, the total number of privately funded abandoned projects was down 10.7% compared with the same month las...

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Ruth Carter to give keynotes at 2024 AIA Conference

2024-04-05T11:47:00-04:00

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Ruth Carter have been announced as keynote speakers for the upcoming AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2024. Gupta will deliver his speech to the Washington D.C. conference on June 7th, with Carter delivering her speech on June 8th.

Gupta is the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN, where he reports on health and medical news domestically and internationally. “Since 2001, Gupta has covered some of the world’s most important public health and safety stories, including the COVID-19 pandemic — reaffirming his role as a trusted guide to millions of viewers navigating between facts and fiction,” the AIA said.

Meanwhile, Carter is an Academy Award-winning costume designer most well-known for her work on Marvel’s blockbuster film Black Panther, where she made history as the first Black person to win the category. “Her career in film and television spans over three decades, collaborating with prolific directors like Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Ava DuVernay,” A...

Developer behind SHoP-designed The Brooklyn Tower is facing foreclosure on $240 million loan

2024-04-04T12:20:00-04:00

Michael Stern, the developer of SHoP’s new The Brooklyn Tower (also known by its address at 9 Dekalb Avenue), is facing foreclosure over a failure to pay a $240 million loan that was extended by Silverstein Properties in 2019 to complete the 93-story project, according to reports from The Real Deal.

As TDR pointed out, Stern is also responsible for 111 West 57th Street, which has had issues with cost overruns and other legal setbacks.

Stern, a veteran of the city’s high-stakes recent luxury market, is known for making huge bets on his projects. Speaking for a 2020 Financial Times profile, FXCollaborative’s Daniel Kaplan said of his approach, “He’s commissioned some very good architecture. The thing that’s really interesting about him is that all the things people say you can’t do — or you can’t do for the money — he says, ‘Forget it!’”

The tower, which stands as Brookly...

Nonresidential construction spending declines 1.0% for February, according to new ABC analysis

2024-04-03T12:53:00-04:00

Spending on nonresidential construction declined 1.0% in February to a seasonally adjusted total of $1.179 trillion, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data published this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The figures showed a decrease in spending for 15 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories on a monthly basis. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.9%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.2% in February.

“Virtually every nonresidential construction segment experienced a decline in spending in February,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “In certain instances, the monthly decline was sharp, including health care (-2.2%), commercial (-1.9%) and water supply (-1.8%). The optimist will likely shrug off both the January and February nonresidential construction spending declines as merely reflecting winter weather. The pessimist will proclaim this release a wake-up call to contractors and an indication that higher interest r...

Four rural California residences by Richard Beard Architects: Your Next Employer?

2024-03-25T15:02:00-04:00

Following our previous visit to Philadelphia-based KieranTimberlake, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to California this week to explore the work of Richard Beard Architects.

Led by Richard Beard, and based in San Francisco, Richard Beard Architects focuses on the design of private residences and special commissions, specializing in distinctive custom homes, luxury multi-family communities, and specialty commercial and hospitality environments. The studio describes its work as “significantly informed by how architecture can integrate with interior and landscape design to achieve a unified design that is more than the sum of its constituent parts.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for several positions to join their San Francisco office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up four rural California residences by Richard Beard Architects that exemplify the st...

Kimberly Dowdell hits back at anti-DEI push in business circles and academia

2024-03-25T14:21:00-04:00

The new AIA President and Principal in HOK’s Chicago office, Kimberly Dowdell, talked with Crain’s recently, stating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts must be sustained in the face of the latest anti-DEI pushback parroted by Elon Musk and other business leaders that contributed to the resignation of Harvard University President Claudine Gay and other rollbacks on Wall Street and in corporate America.

"It's really disturbing how quickly the pendulum is shifting back toward a less inclusive and diverse society," she says, referring to different policymakers who are beginning to codify their resistance in conservative states like Florida and Texas.

Revisit our 2019 Archinect Sessions interview with Kimberly Dowdell, then President of the National Organization of Minority Architects

Of her company’s ethos she says, "[It’s] about diversity and its multiple forms in terms of its people but also the work and the kinds of work that we do," something that has underpinned its success...

Construction starts fall 8% in February, driven by sharp nonresidential decline

2024-03-21T18:46:00-04:00

The total value of construction starts for February fell by 8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.07 trillion, according to the latest data from Dodge Construction Network.

For the month, nonresidential building starts dropped 16%, while nonbuilding starts were down 3%, and residential starts fell by 2%.

For the 12 months ending February 2024, total construction starts were up 2% from the 12 months ending February 2023. Nonresidential building starts were down 2%, while residential starts were 4% lower, and nonbuilding starts were up 19% on a 12-month rolling sum basis.

“Construction activity was hit hard by higher rates and more restrictive credit standards,” Richard Branch, the chief economist for Dodge Construction Network, said in a news release. “Starts struggled over the past several months as the lagged effect of higher rates impacted projects moving forward through the planning process. Additionally, the significant deficit of skilled labor led to further delays — e...

February Architecture Billings Index softens decline, shows encouraging signs of economic turnaround

2024-03-20T12:38:00-04:00

New data from the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for the month of February has revealed a continued decline to a new score of 49.5. The figure, however, represents the "most modest easing" since July 2023 (any score below 50 indicates a decline), suggesting an improvement over the economic downturn of last year.

"There are indicators this month that business conditions at firms may finally begin to pick up in the coming months. Inquiries into new projects grew at their fastest pace since November, and the value of newly signed design contracts increased at their fastest pace since last summer," Kermit Baker, the AIA’s Chief Economist, said of the data. "Given the moderation of inflation for construction costs and prospects for lower interest rates in the coming months, there are positive signs for future growth."

For the month, firms in the Midwest region showed a continued growth in billings for what is now the fourth out of the last five consecutive months.

February ...

SmithGroup files suit over copyright violations for Michigan hospital design

2024-03-19T18:24:00-04:00

An argument concerning a new pediatric hospital design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has spurred a lawsuit from SmithGroup against the local firm Pure Architects over an alleged violation of the copyright of an earlier unrealized project. Crain’s business journal is reporting on the disputed Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital project after SmithGroup filed a suit in federal court last week.

In the suit, SmithGroup alleges that the termination of their contract for the new Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital never resulted in the required payment of licensing and other fees on the part of the hospital. They say that, in the aftermath, the hospital “improperly copied, reproduced, prepared derivative works” before sharing the plans with other architects, “willfully” infringing the copyright to generate new renderings.

Both the firm and the hospital are denying these claims publically. The $60 million project is expected to get underway this spring and be completed in 2026...

Construction input prices climb 1.4% in February

2024-03-15T17:21:00-04:00

In the month, nonresidential construction input prices increased by 1.3%. Overall construction input prices are 1.5% higher than they were a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are a total of 1.8% higher.

The prices for softwood lumber (1.7%), concrete (0.3%), construction sand/gravel (1.0%), and insulation materials (2.1%) all rose, while a drop of 0.3% was recorded for fabricated structural steel metal products.

Chart credit: Associated Builders and Contractors

“For the last several weeks, inflation data have been coming in hotter than anticipated,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This was also true for the February construction input price data, which indicated that upward price pressures are reemerging after a period of calm. Month...

Your next role could be designing for increasing water demands with the US Bureau of Reclamation

2024-03-13T11:24:00-04:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Staff Architect at Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for an Architect at the US Bureau of Reclamation.

The role, based in Denver, CO, calls for an individual to “make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.” Among the responsibilities for the position, which requires a degree in architecture or a related field, will be developing designs for typologies such as hydroelectric powerplants, pump stations, and water and wastewater and treatment facilities.

Why the role interests us

The open role at the US Bureau of Reclamation offers us the opportunity to explore the role of a federal body responsible for the development of water infrastructure in the United States. Established in 1902, the bureau has constructed over 600 dams and reservoirs in the western United States,...

Editor's Picks #557

2024-03-12T15:03:00-04:00

For the first Studio Snapshots of 2024, Alexander Walter had the pleasure of chatting with Brent Linden and Chris Brown, founding partners of Portland, Oregon-based Linden, Brown Architecture. Noah Walker liked what he saw: "Beautiful work."

Plus, Niall Patrick Walsh lays out how Creativity Won’t Protect Architects from Automation — But Labor Unions Might. Responding to Thayer-D’s comment, Janosh writes: "Unions make a ton of sense in disciplines where there is significant profit being inequitably distributed - that's definitely not the case in Architecture as profit margins continue to fall".

News

Steven Holl Architects Terezín Ghetto Museum project in the Czech Republic is getting closer to groundbreaking. Gary Garvin is hoping "Holl redeems himself here…I'm curious about the interior."

Image courtesy Steven Holl Architects and SKUPINA

KPF released new images of a supertall tower, 520 Fifth Avenue, currently under construction in Midtown Manhattan. gwharton tried to summarize folks...

Michael Graves Architecture acquires Tennessee's Studio Four Design, its sixth firm since 2022

2024-03-11T16:08:00-04:00

Princeton, New Jersey-based Michael Graves Architecture has announced that the firm is expanding once again with the acquisition of Studio Four Design, a successful 17-person operation working with over twenty years of experience on various project types in the Knoxville, Tennessee, market.

The expansion follows five other acquisitions completed between March 2022 and June of last year. The move will allow the firm to compete in a new region, where they say they have identified a need for design services. The two share a similar organizational mission that's geared towards creating a "human-centric" architecture. Michael Graves' CEO and President Joe Furey says the addition "[encourages] us to embrace new perspectives and experiences, furthering our mission to create impactful design nationally."

Stacy Cox, Principal at Studio Four Design, added: "This merger leverages the skillsets and experiences at Studio Four Design, allowing us to take our capabilities and offerings to a new le...

Four geometric glazed facades by KieranTimberlake: Your Next Employer?

2024-03-11T13:42:00-04:00

Following last week’s visit to New York-based Bates Masi + Architects, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Philadelphia this week to explore the work of KieranTimberlake.

Founded in 1984, the firm describes its approach to architecture as an “alchemy of art, science, analysis, and intuition.” As we have previously reported, the firm’s impact on the built environment was honored in 2021 with their receipt of the 35th Louis I. Kahn Award while, in that same year, the team spoke with us in relation to their Tally life cycle assessment software as part of our feature ‘Meet the Architects Designing Software to Fight Climate Change.’

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for several positions to join their Philadelphia office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up four contemporary glazed projects by KieranTimberlake that exemplify the studio’s ethos.

Student Innova...

Your next career could be Staff Architect at Habitat for Humanity in Indianapolis

2024-03-08T11:25:00-05:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Japanese-speaking Retail Architect at O’Neil Langan Architects, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Staff Architect at Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity.

Based in Indianapolis, the role calls for an individual “responsible for overseeing the design and modifications of house plans and layouts to provide a cost-effective product that will serve the homebuyers' needs.” Among the requirements for the role are a college degree or commensurate residential construction-related experience with 5-10 years of specifically related experience and education.

Related on Archinect: Mississippi State University studio teaches the value of collaboration between its architecture and building construction science students. Photo: Megan Bean, courtesy of MSU College of Art, Architecture, and Design.

Why the role interests us

The open role at Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity offers u...

Dodge Momentum Index drops slightly for February, hampered by weak commercial planning

2024-03-07T17:12:00-05:00

The latest Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) information for February has shown a slight decrease in economic activity, dropping 1.4% to a new score of 180.5 from January’s revised total of 183.0.

Over the month, commercial planning fell 2.3% while institutional planning ticked up 0.1%. The drop in the commercial sector was caused primarily by a lag in new office planning. On the institutional side, slow healthcare and amusement planning was offset by a strong showing in the education sector to maintain a flat reading for the month.

“Weaker office and healthcare planning constrained nonresidential planning in February,” Sarah Martin, the associate director of forecasting for Dodge Construction Network, said in a press release. “However, the Index remains 25% higher than where it was just two years ago. Most other categories showed growth over the month, and Dodge remains optimistic that nonresidential planning will stay elevated throughout 2024 alongside rising confidence in 2025 market co...

Fluent in Japanese? Here’s a job opportunity to work on high-end retail projects for Japanese clientele

2024-02-28T12:48:00-05:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Design Research and Teaching Fellowship at Northeastern University, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Retail Architect with Japanese language skills at O’Neil Langan Architects.

The role, based in New York, calls for an individual to work on high-end retail projects “with an emphasis on Japanese clientele” with the firm therefore noting that “Fluency in Japanese is critical for this role.” Among the responsibilities for the role are project development from schematic design to construction in the retail sector.

Sephora flagship store by O'Neil Langan Architects. Image courtesy: O'Neil Langan Architects

Why the role interests us

The O’Neil Langan role’s emphasis on Japanese fluency offers us the opportunity to look back at some of the intriguing recently completed architecture projects in Japan to be profiled in our editorial. Last month, for example, we covered t...

Archinect - News

Construction starts dip 1% in March despite encouraging signs in the residential sector

Following a Frank Gehry overhaul, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hiring an exhibition designer

Noncompetes to be banned in the U.S. after FTC ruling

Five high-end Long Island homes by Oza Sabbeth Architects: Your Next Employer?

New York’s MTA is hiring a director for its real estate portfolio

Three contemporary education projects by Newman Architects: Your Next Employer?

North American crane count drops 18% year-over-year

Construction input prices climb 0.4% in March

Jeffrey Beers International presents new leadership team following the death of its founder

Major uptake in artificial intelligence use across creative industries, Autodesk survey finds

Your next job could be designing federal government buildings at SOM

Dodge Momentum Index continues to decline in March due to office, hotel, and education planning slowdown

Three tech giant headquarters by WRNS Studio: Your Next Employer?

Project abandonments rose sharply across the country during March

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Ruth Carter to give keynotes at 2024 AIA Conference

Developer behind SHoP-designed The Brooklyn Tower is facing foreclosure on $240 million loan

Nonresidential construction spending declines 1.0% for February, according to new ABC analysis

Four rural California residences by Richard Beard Architects: Your Next Employer?

Kimberly Dowdell hits back at anti-DEI push in business circles and academia

Construction starts fall 8% in February, driven by sharp nonresidential decline

February Architecture Billings Index softens decline, shows encouraging signs of economic turnaround

SmithGroup files suit over copyright violations for Michigan hospital design

Construction input prices climb 1.4% in February

Your next role could be designing for increasing water demands with the US Bureau of Reclamation

Editor's Picks #557

Michael Graves Architecture acquires Tennessee's Studio Four Design​, its sixth firm since 2022

Four geometric glazed facades by KieranTimberlake: Your Next Employer?

Your next career could be Staff Architect at Habitat for Humanity in Indianapolis

Dodge Momentum Index drops slightly for February, hampered by weak commercial planning

Fluent in Japanese? Here’s a job opportunity to work on high-end retail projects for Japanese clientele

Michael Graves Architecture acquires Tennessee's Studio Four Design, its sixth firm since 2022