The world held its breath in 2002. Few had recovered from the year-earlier shock of the terrorist destruction of New York Citys World Trade Center complex. In addition, many were worrying about whether coalition military action in Afghanistan would escalate attacks on global political and economic targets. The uneasiness only grew by the end of the year, when the U.S. began ramping up for war in Iraq. Growing turmoil, heightened by the mysterious outbreak of the disease SARS that threatened to cut off key Pacific Rim commercial centers, caused a major halt in construction programs as the world watched and waited.
Still, design firms managed to find work around the world. ENRs Top 200 International Design Firms generated $18.9 billion in revenue from projects outside their home countries in 2002, up 7.4% from 2001s figure of $17.8 billion. But doing so proved costly. Of 172 firms providing profit-loss figures for 2002, 32 reported a loss in the international market. That compares to only 12 of 173 reporting in 2001.