Graph courtesy AIA Despite noting that “the long-awaited recovery seems to be under way,” the AIA's newly released Consensus Construction Forecast offers little reason for optimism in 2010. It does, however, provide hope for 2011. The semi-annual report—compiled from data provided by McGraw-Hill Construction, Global Insight, Portland Cement Association, MoodysEconomy.com, and other sources—predicts that nonresidential construction activity will fall another 13.4 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars this year, which is notably better than the 20 percent drop-off in 2009. In the report, nonresidential construction refers to the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors. Commercial and industrial are projected to be weaker this

Philadelphia, with the nation’s largest concentration of health care resources within a 100-mile radius—including America’s first hospital, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin—has long provided a vigorous market for architects working in the health-care sector.  Image courtesy AIA New York Via Verde, a multifamily project designed by Grimshaw Architects and Dattner Architects, is planned for the South Bronx. Related Links: Architects in the South Feel the Economic Pinch Midwest Architects Slog Through Recession Architects in the West Hit Hard by Recession Architectural Billings Index Shows Signs of Hope Special Section: Construction Stimulus But in the past year, Mark Hebden, executive