The American Institute of Architects has released the results of its 2012 Firm Survey. While the results won't likely come as a surprise, the numbers are pretty staggering: since early 2008 revenue has dropped 40% and employment has dropped 28%.
The recession has had a profound impact on employment in many sectors of America's economy, but perhaps none has suffered more than those connected to real estate and development. The construction sector, for instance, continues to have the highest level of unemployment according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New data out from the AIA details just how bad the past four years have been for architecture firms and employees. According to the 2012 AIA Firm Survey, "Total construction spending levels, which exceeded $1 trillion in 2008,
fell to under $800 billion in 2011. As a result, gross revenue at
architecture firms declined from more than $44 billion in 2008 to $26
billion by 2011, a 40 percent decline over this three-year period."
Naturally, as revenues fell, firms were forced to cut their staffs dramatically. And although the recession officially ended in mid-2009, the lost jobs have not returned. "Construction payrolls peaked in early 2007 and steadily declined
through mid-2011 due to the housing downturn. Since then, there has
been very little recovery," says the report. "Between 2007 and 2011,
more than 28 percent of positions at architecture firms disappeared,
more than erasing the 18 percent increase in architecture positions seen
during the 2003–2007 upturn."
Looking for a silver lining amidst the bad news? With more time available for professional development, "The number of LEED APs on staff nearly doubled in the last three years."
FULL STORY: Economic Downturn Cut Architecture Firm Revenue by 40 Percent, Employment by Almost a Third

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Conspiracy Theorists Discover the 15-Minute City
USA Today debunks the false claim that the United Nations’ call for enabling 15-minute cities is a coded plan to institute ‘climate change lockdowns.’

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline
Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

Washington Could Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings
Supporters of ‘point access blocks,’ which are common in Europe and other parts of the world, say the design maximizes living space and lowers the cost of construction.

San Francisco Housing Plan Gets State Approval
The city cleared a major hurdle as its housing plan, which paves the way for 82,000 new homes by 2030, is certified by the state.

Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System
Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.
City of Grand Prairie
City of Grand Prairie
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Hercules
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.