Southeast design firms are making the most of an improving market for their services, but some are voicing a sense of caution, with one factor cited being the uncertainty that is historically associated with a presidential election year. At the same time, other sectors, such as health care, have reenergized and may continue to generate significant business opportunities over the short and longer terms.
Based on the data that more than 100 architectural and engineering firms provided to ENR Southeast as part of its annual Top Design Firms survey, 2015 proved mostly positive for regional designers. In total, the firms participating in this year’s online survey collectively reported nearly $3.9 billion in design revenue from projects located in the four-state region of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. That’s a gain of roughly $600 million, or 18%, compared with the overall total reported by last year’s respondents.