AIA report examines impact of COVID-19 on architecture business conditions

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has partnered with Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope in releasing a new report titled Business Opportunities & Sustainability Trends Amidst a Pandemic, studying the impact of COVID-19 on design firm business conditions. The report, which is freely available via the AIA website, was commissioned to understand the impact of the pandemic on business conditions, and also help firms identify new business opportunities. The study found that although demands for design services and construction activity decreased significantly during the pandemic, other design and construction sectors created positive business conditions for architects with aligned design focuses. For example, while the impact on commercial and institutional projects was particularly negative, the demand for architectural services on single-family homes increased. In addition, while client interest in sustainability declined during the pandemic, architects working on sustainable projects...