Nonresidential architectural billings see big increase in November

The Architecture Billings Index jumped six points in November, reaching the second highest levels of 2006, according to a Dec. 20 release from the American Institute of Architects of Washington, D.C.

November’s ABI hit 57.5, up from 51.1 in October, with any score above 50 indicating an increase in billings, according to the release.

The large increase can be attributed in most part to strong performance in the commercial and industrial sector that took in record for the decade. The ABI for that sector reached 62.9, with the billings index for the institutional sector at 54.6, according to the release.

“The nonresidential construction sector continues to see a high level of demand for design services,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker. “Even though there has been some deceleration in growth the previous two months, an uptick in billings of this size is noteworthy in portending sustained construction activity in the months ahead.”

Billings for mixed-use construction held about steady, while the residential sector continued to show a decline in billings. The ABI for the mixed-use sector was 50.6, and for residential was 47.4, according to the release.