Whenever two or three architects gather — over the coffeepot, at a cocktail party, in the elevator —a single topic emerges: When will the recession end? Faced with frequent layoffs and calls from their bankers, and with a dynamic marketplace that seems to be constantly shrinking, principals have been relying on help wherever they might find it, whether through anecdotes, colleagues, advice from professional practice consultants, or Ouija boards. Then on Friday, October 16, 2009, the construction economists spoke.

Interest in where the markets will trend always draws a crowd. We all want to know the effect of the general economy on our businesses, and how prices of commodities and even world trade will affect our work and our clientele. This year, more than most, all eyes remained on center stage at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., searching for clues. In full disclosure, McGraw-Hill Construction sponsors the annual Outlook Executive Conference, and I moderated this year’s event. However, as an editor I listened with as rapt attention as any onlooker. What would happen in 2010?