So the latest Architectural Billings Index came out and I
was almost correct with my prediction of it being under water this month. The ABI came in at 50.4, which is barely
beating the break even 50 mark. I knew
softening was coming, just not as much as I thought. The analysts pointed to the tariff issue, the
US Government shutdown, and a feel for an unstable business landscape as the
reasons why. So now the watch continues
into next month- the overall attitude in the field has been on the positive
end, but there is a bit of malaise to start the year. There was solid news in that the project
inquiry number stayed robust at 55- so that is good. In any case I am not at all surprised about
the main number but I am pleased to be wrong in this case- no matter how small
the margin is on the plus side, I am glad to take it!
By the way with all of the forecasts in… AIA’s “consensus”
forecast for 2019 non residential construction is a 4.4% gain. For many that is not impressive or meaty
enough, for me I can’t see how you could complain about positive growth…
Elsewhere…
-- Annual Conference looked to be a major hit- I heard from
many that said the keynote was incredibly interesting. I hated missing it. Lisa Rammig, of Eckersley O'Callaghan &
Partners gave the talk about glass and trends and according to this tweet from
my friend Andrew Haring- it was pretty awesome but still scratching the
surface:
"Despite dropping jaws with transparent IGU’s, flexible thin
glass vent windows, 3D printed shading integrated directly into an IG unit, and
a freaking all-glass slide (!!!)... she claims “we’re not where we want to be.”
Fantastic presentation!"
Despite dropping jaws with transparent IGU’s, flexible thin glass vent windows, 3D printed shading integrated directly into an IG unit, and a freaking all-glass slide (!!!)... she claims “we’re not where we want to be.” Fantastic presentation!— Andrew Haring (@andrewharing) January 23, 2019
I surely hated missing it…
-- Have you noticed there’s surely a lot of airport
remodeling/rebuilding going on and the nice thing is the amount of glass being
used is awesome. Last week the drawings
for the update to O’Hare in Chicago came out and they all look to really want
to take full advantage of the greatness of the glazing!
Scary story about constructions cranes being hacked. That will be one of the worries with how
connected our world is these days and will be even more in the future.
I ran across some interesting numbers last week with regards
to website effectiveness. 84% of
industry/architectural buyers will check out a companies website before doing
business with them. So when I am on here
complimenting folks on their new sites etc. that is a big reason why… it
matters. So that said kudos to Heather
Monroe at Machines and Wheels on the re-launch of their site. Tremendous work- site is smartly done and
easy to navigate. Great work to Heather
and her team!
Last this week… back to the Annual Conference and the news
that Julie Schimmelpenningh was named as the 2018 winner of the C. Gregory
Carney Member of the Year Award. Julie
is flat out awesome. She so deserves the
recognition and I am thrilled she was honored with this amazing award. Also knowing that our friend, the late Mr.
Carney, would be so pleased that Julie was selected makes the day for me. Congrats Julie!
LINKS of the WEEK
A VERY creative way to remove snow…. Better than shoveling
right?
Wow the Weinermobile in an accident… worthless trivia when I
had client in Memphis, the Weinermobile used to be parked in the lot of the
hotel I always stayed at…
Sorry- no way can a Gator be an emotional support
animal!
VIDEO of the WEEK
Always awesome when a performer pulls a kid on stage and the
kid comes through with an epic performance… here’s one from a Foo Fighters
concert. On a side note I wish I could
play an instrument… love music, no skills whatsoever to play it!
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