Last month fewer architecture firms reported a decline in billings, up slightly from previous months, but still lagging behind pre-pandemic numbers. The AIA's Architecture Billings Index (ABI) report for the month of September shows a score of 47.0, indicating that a little over half of firms are continuing to see a decline in revenue, up from 40.0 in August. The reported number of inquiries, however, are promising, up to 57.2 compared to 51.6 in August. 

Architectural employment is continuing to rebound, but remains volatile, as seen in Archinect's industry-leading architecture job board. 

More September ABI Highlights

• Regional averages: West 45.6 (41.7 in August); South 43.7 (41.6 in August); Midwest 45.6 (41.3 in August); Northeast 41.5 (33.9 in August)
• Sector index breakdown: residential 54.0; commercial/industrial 43.3; institutional 40.5
• Design contracts index: 46.0
• Firms reported that they expect their revenue to decrease by an average of 1.9% from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2020
• Firms with a multifamily residential specialization anticipate an increase in revenue by 2.9% in the fourth quarter
• Frms expect that their revenue will decrease by 5.5% from 2020 to 2021
• 29% of responding architecture firms indicated that their office was closed, but has since reopened, while an additional 29% indicated that their office never closed, and 3% indicated that they already operated a completely remote office prior to the pandemic

“Despite the multi-family residential sector showing signs of improvement, overall business conditions are recovering at a disappointingly slow pace,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Other sectors may begin to stabilize in the coming months, but across the board improvement shouldn’t be expected until the economic impact of the pandemic subsides significantly.”