Archinect - News

Economic Pressures and Labor Challenges: How 2023 Shaped Architecture and Construction Industries

2023-12-28T07:49:00-05:00

The architecture industry was impacted this year by market volatility, rising interest rates, and evolving labor dynamics. This unusual business climate was reflected not only in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) and the Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) but also in the pattern of job openings around the country, also observed through Archinect Jobs, the leading job board for the architecture industry in the USA.

AIA predicts slower growth in non-residential construction through 2023 and 2024

Hints of 2023's challenges began in late 2022, with a downturn in both the ABI and DMI to kick off 2023. This signaled a cautious approach by firm owners and clients alike amidst tightening credit conditions and rising interest rates. This recessed business landscape was quickly echoed in the job market, as seen by a substantial 51.9% decrease in job advertising volume in January 2023 compared to January 2022. This trend of reduced job postings continued throughout the year, with monthly declines r...

Architecture's top green projects and sustainability innovations in 2023

2023-12-27T20:28:00-05:00

Wrapping up a year in the wake of the recently concluded COP28 UN climate summit that resulted in, well, mild levels of agreement on the role of fossil fuels, it is possible to sense a slightly increased urgency toward this most pressing planetary issue on a high-minded diplomatic level. As we're quickly approaching the quarter mark of the 21st century, however, much more concrete action and innovation in various sectors of the AEC domain is needed — and is already happening — on the ground level as well, as we have seen in our reporting on Archinect.

Continuing with our 2023 Year in Review series, let's take a look back at some of the story highlights focusing on decarbonization efforts, material research, policy implementation, and successful applications of sustainability principles this year.

Building Electrification

Energy-efficient heat pump technology is gaining in popularity. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons user Øyvind Holmstad.

The process of gradually phasing out fossil f...

Exciting student projects, academic research, and fellowships at architecture schools in 2023

2023-12-26T14:20:00-05:00

Continuing with our 2023 Year in Review series, we look back at the exciting design and research projects from students and faculty at architecture schools across the U.S. and abroad.

2023 proved to be a year filled with new academic research expanding on building materials, applications in AI, and 3D printed fabrication and modeling. We also covered the appointment of new academic fellows and published in-depth conversations about the results of their work, including the Harry der Boghosian Fellow and Schidlowski Emerging Faculty Fellow.

Notable Thesis Projects

Archinect's ongoing Thesis Review series offers a look at the work and process of thesis projects produced each year by graduate and undergraduate students. In 2023, we connected with B.Arch and M.Arch graduates to dive into their process, architectural perspectives, and their post-graduation pursuits.

51mi + 25km = 13ft — Archiving the place that remains, thesis project by Sophie Akoury. Thesis advisor: Marcelyn Gow. Image...

Architecture's biggest project completions and openings of 2023

2023-12-25T08:00:00-05:00

Besides winning the commission, getting planning approved, breaking ground, and having that invoice paid, no milestone in an architectural project is as anticipated and satisfying as the opening celebration — welcoming actual building occupants into the new space after months, years, or even decades of collaborative work.

2023 saw plenty of projects around the globe reach completion. From shiny new skyscrapers in Manhattan to parametric cultural centers in China to sustainable classrooms in Denmark, here are some of our highlights from Archinect's news coverage this year.

MVRDV

Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photo: Xia Zhi.

MVRDV had another banner year in 2023, announcing new commissions left and right and also completing projects around the world, including the anticipated The Canyon tower in San Francisco's new Mission Rock community; a colorful conversion of an old '90s tower into the vibrant Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre; the transformation of Albania's commun...

In 2023, labor, unions, and salaries were up for discussion and debate in architecture

2023-12-24T08:00:00-05:00

At the end of last year, we described 2022 as the year that “architecture’s labor movement roared back to life.” In 2023, the movement kept the volume on 'high.' Across the U.S. and internationally, reforms in labor conditions continued from the top down and the bottom up.

Throughout the year, worker-led movements across both academia and practice exercised their right to form a union, as well as their right to strike against unfair or unsatisfactory working conditions. Meanwhile, conversations over working conditions in design studios were joined by concerns over treatment and protections for construction workers.

In tandem with conversations over workplace conditions, moves were also made to improve salary transparency, whether from the passing of new laws on a state level, or workers themselves taking the initiative to collect and share salary information.

To further explore these trends, we have set out the key developments and stories throughout 2023 related to topics surroundi...

In memoriam — those we lost in 2023

2023-12-23T08:00:00-05:00

The death of an architect offers the opportunity to reflect on past icons while narrating their careers through architecture with the thoughts of their peers and a list of achievements in tow. Looking back, we recount lives in the field all too often simplified into being preeminent or respected with their outputs, like the state of architecture, being too far spread and impermanent to ever adequately explain.

In 2022, we saw the passing of many foundational figures in the industry. This year, we add more familiar names as we remember their work and legacy as part of our annual Year in Review rundown.

Below are some of the influential architects, landscape architects, and industry leaders we lost in 2023.

Jean-Louis Cohen (1949–2023)

Jean-Louis Cohen, 1949–2023. Image: Mandanarch via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

In August, the passing of the beloved French theorist and architectural historian was shared widely as past students and other admirers remembered fondly what his writin...

2023's best in sports architecture and stadiums

2023-12-22T08:00:00-05:00

Throughout 2023, nearly every month featured exciting news related to forthcoming big-scale stadium projects and athletic developments. Many of these weren't limited to stadiums alone but were merely components of greater mixed-use districts that also include room for housing, office spaces, parks and green spaces, as well as retail. Schemes centered more around lifestyle, living, and entertainment seem to be a growing trend in this arena.

There were some common names, such as Populous and HOK, who were very busy this year. Other notable firms were active, as well, with projects including both renovations and completely new structures for various sports.

As part of Archinect's 2023 Year in Review, take a look at some of the best sports architecture and stadium projects in our news this year.

Image courtesy Indy Eleven and Keystone Group

Populous unveils $1 billion Eleven Park stadium design for Indianapolis

In February, Populous unveiled designs for a $1 billion, 20,000-seat multip...

Architecture and its many discontents: Looking back at some of the most controversial stories of 2023

2023-12-21T08:00:00-05:00

Coverage of the architecture industry and its (very) many discontents often delves into conflicts that reflect movements for change in the arts, law, academia, and business culture. The value of focusing on these stories at year's end extends beyond their subjects and results in a critical analysis of how far we still have to go in each area. Once again, the past year of news has provided us with a useful mix of lessons that help define the current state of architecture. Below is a look at some of the biggest controversies of 2023.

What would ordinarily be the year’s biggest architectural media event, the 2023 Venice Biennale, unfolded with nearly as many critiques and false starts concerned with its execution and curators as it had compelling artistic feats and worthy demonstrations of the power of design.

Patrik Schumacher’s wrought Facebook invective decrying a supposed lack of architecture at the exhibition had too many constituent parts and counterarguments (for example, the in...

Looking back at our in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence in 2023

2023-12-20T08:00:00-05:00

One of Archinect’s most significant editorial undertakings of 2023 was our Archinect In Depth: Artificial Intelligence series. Across the year, we spoke with over 30 experts in the field, producing dozens of interviews and features alongside almost 50 news stories covering the hyper-fast pace of progress emerging from the AI community.

The result is an all-encompassing, rigorous, and diverse collection of perspectives and reflections on what artificial means for the future of architects, architectural practice, and the architectural profession, along topics including ethics, labor, inequality, skills, and licensure.

Explore further insights on Archinect's leading coverage of architecture's relationship with artificial intelligence across 2023 below.

Conversations across the intersection of AI and architecture

Behnaz Farahi. Image credit: Behnaz Farahi

'The Notion of AI as a Form of Augmentation or Enhancement Is Fascinating to Me'; A Conversation with Behnaz Farahi

In May, we spoke ...

Reflecting on the growth and changes of architectural academic leadership in 2023

2023-12-19T08:00:00-05:00

Architectural academia was featured prominently in our 2023 news coverage, particularly in new leadership appointments. Notably, the year highlighted a significant increase in female leadership within academia, with Archinect covering the appointment of 14 women to key roles, such as deans, academic chairs, and program directors.

Explore further insights on Archinect's review of 2023 academic leadership highlights.

In-depth discussions with academic leaders

Mary Anne Alabanza Akers, Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design Dean. Image courtesy of Cal Poly Pomona.

'Leadership Is Not Linear': A Conversation with Mary Anne Alabanza Akers, the New Dean of Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design

In March, we had the opportunity to chat with Cal Poly Pomona's new dean, Mary Anne Alabanza Akers. After spending 14 years at Morgan State University, building its School of Architecture and Urban Planning program, we chatted with Akers to discuss her path to academic leadership...