Leaders of the region’s design firms say they are cautiously optimistic about the post-pandemic economy. Their firms reported 2019 revenue that held nearly steady from the previous year, and most say they have sufficient backlogs to avoid widespread layoffs or furloughs—for now. But many leaders also say they already have had projects delayed or shelved by owners.
Their stories are confirmed by a sharp decline in AIA’s Architecture Billings Index for April. The index, which measures demand for design services, saw its steepest decline on record, with a score of 29.5 for the month. Any number below 50 indicates a decrease in billings. The ABI’s project inquiries and design contracts scores also declined significantly, posting scores of 28.4 and 27.6, respectively.