HARTFORD — After recessions, architects are like crocuses.

When developers, governments or nonprofits hire architects, it's what they call a leading economic indicator — those contracts will result in workers in hard hats with paychecks many months or a year down the road.

Since any recession, no matter what its cause, leads to a pull back in new construction, months of sustained growth in architecture firms' billings is a concrete sign of business optimism and investment.

Bob Emma, one of the two founders of Amenta Emma Architects, said clients with vision start talking about projects two or three years ahead of when they think they can afford to build, and those conversations were happening as early as 2011 and 2012.

But Connecticut's past that now, he said. "All clients are suddenly asking: 'Can you be in the ground by June?' They recognize the market's back."

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