Design firms in California are feeling a renewed—though cautious—sense of optimism. The top firms posted $3.49 billion in billings during 2012, an increase of just 1% over the previous year, but many company executives expect the pace of growth to pick up in the rest of 2013 and beyond.
"We started 2013 with the largest backlog in our firm's history, and while the market remains somewhat unsettled, we're seeing much more enthusiasm in our clients and they are embarking on new developments," says Rick Emsiek, partner at architectural firm MVE & Partners Inc., Irvine.