UNITED STATES
Architectural Record has launched its Top 250 Firms list and it can reveal that — recession or no recession — last year the total architecture revenue for all firms on the list gained nearly 9 per cent over 2007 figure, rising from a total of $11.5 billion to $12.5 billion. However, to pop the champagne would be a false celebration the magazine points out, because a recession never hits architectural firms uniformly. “Headaches for architects who work in the hospital and education markets may have been more psychosomatic than not so far, but few were spared them,” says AR.
SPAIN
Entries for the 2009 World Architecture Festival will draw to a close today. The festival, which kicks off in Barcelona on 4 November, brings together the best in global architecture; from completed buildings, interiors and fit-outs, through to future projects, to showcase the best in tomorrow’s field. All entrants receive guaranteed exhibition space at the event and exposure to critics, historians and experts in the industry. Short-listed architects will have the chance to promote their finest work and go in the draw to win a range of WAF awards.
IRELAND
Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland has announced its big architecture awards and O'Donnell & Tuomey, BDP, Grafton Architects and Keith Williams Architects and Office of Public Works in Ireland are among the well-known recipients. The prizes were presented by John Gormley, minister for the environment, heritage and local government, to buildings that were completed in 2008. The award for the best cultural building went to Wexford Opera House, by Keith Williams and the OPW, which has already won an RIBA Europea 2009 Award.
UNITED STATES
The AIA Architecture Billings Index shows the rapid recovery seen two months’ ago has begun to slow. After rocketing from a near-record low of 35.3 in February, billings hit 43.7 in March, however, they have remained close to that mark since. Although well above the historic low of 33.3 the index hit in January, billings are also well below the break-even point of 50, at which firms’ payments are increasing instead of decreasing.
AUSTRALIA
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, has announced that Robert Caulfield will move from being managing director to taking on a new role coordinating communications and special projects. Caulfield was responsible for the concept of Archicentre 31 years’ ago. Commenting on his new position, Caulfield said he looks forward to increasing Archicentre's public relations output and continuing to build its role of providing housing pre-purchase inspections, renovation designs and consumer information to Australian home owners.
