Contract - September 2013 - (Page 16)

pHoto: Meg Walton editorial Looking Ahead with Cautious Optimism or Confident Enthusiasm How is your firm faring as we enter the final months of 2013? Busier construction sectors will experience growth in 2014, but not nearly than ever with more work than your firm can handle, or still seeking out at the robust pace of hotels. Office construction is expected to grow projects to keep all staff engaged? As I travelled around the country 9.5 percent in 2014, and retail and other commercial construction will visiting architecture and design firms in recent months, I found that likely grow 11.7 percent. the answer varies based on region, firm size, and project expertise. In the institutional building sectors, healthcare construction is Most firms seem to be doing better than at this point in 2012 or 2011. forecast to increase only 1.4 percent this year over last, but projected to But outlooks range from cautious optimism to confident enthusiasm. increase 7.7 percent in 2014. Education facility construction will likely One firm with a national presence is adding staff like never before decline 2.5 percent this year compared to last, and will likely have a to ultimately be larger by the end of this year than it’s ever been. modest 4.8 percent increase in 2014 as municipal tax revenues rise What do the numbers tell us, and what can we expect for the with employment increases. The education facility sector is the largest rest of this year and 2014? While some sectors have experienced nonresidential building sector, but spending on education construction growth, others are stagnant or slightly declining this year. The 2013 has been flat due to fiscal difficulties at state and local levels. pause in growth is likely just that, a pause in a broader pattern of While forecast numbers for the remainder of 2013 are mixed, we construction recovery. That is the message released in August by know that much of your continued, sustained work is in renovations and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in its AIA Consensus adaptive reuse of existing building stock. With that in mind, we have Construction Forecast. The consensus forecast is computed as focused this issue on excellent interiors that are all transformations. an average of the projections provided by the six leading U.S. The projects include a hotel, restaurant, retail space, office, and a organizations that produce construction forecasts. performing arts facility, and the designers—from Australia to the U.S. In a look at 2012, 2013, and the consensus forecast for 2014, to Mexico—developed innovative solutions with existing structures. Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, the AIA’s chief economist, says, “Spending I hope that the transformative projects featured in this issue serve as on the construction of nonresidential buildings [overall] increased inspiration, with lessons learned, for the variety of work that you take on. almost six percent [in 2012]. The 2013 consensus forecasts were lowered to a 2.3 percent increase, with next year’s predictions enter your work in the interiors awards today! raised a modest 7.6 percent.” When you receive this issue, you still have a few days to enter The commercial/industrial sector, including office, retail, your work in the 35th Annual Interiors Awards. The deadline is hospitality, and industrial construction, is projected to continue to lead September 24, and all entries are submitted online (no more binders!) the upturn. Spending in 2013 is expected to match the almost eight at contractdesign.com/interiorsawards. Winning projects in 15 percent growth rate of last year in the commercial/industrial sector, and categories will be published in the January/February issue of Contract activity will likely increase in 2014 to a low double-digit rate of growth. and will be honored at the Interiors Awards Breakfast in New York Specifically, the hotel sector, as a subcategory within the on January 24, 2014. Good luck! commercial/industrial sector, experiences the widest range of highs and lows. After a steep decline in construction during the recession, Sincerely, hotel construction is projected to have a 15 percent increase in 2014, after a 17 percent gain overall in 2013. Just from January to May 2013, John Czarnecki, assoc. aia, Hon. iida lodging facility construction increased 20 percent. Office and retail editor in Chief 16 contractdesign.com september 2013 http://www.contractdesign.com/interiorsawards http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - September 2013

Contract - September/October 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Winning Work at the Interview: It’s All About Chemistry
Product Focus: Glow Sticks
Product Focus: A Touch of Yesteryear
Product Briefs: Products with a Sustainable Focus
Dropbox
Restoration Hardware
BAM Fisher
Prahran Hotel
Downtown Mexico
Lighting Lessons from an Artist
Competition: Design Is…
Designers Select: Eco-friendly Products
Sources
Ad Index
Interior Detail: A Flowing Aluminum Ceiling Symbolizes Water in a Japanese Beauty Salon

Contract - September 2013