Schinnerer's RM Blog - architect tag

Architectural Majors May Have Trouble Finding Work

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:53:00 GMT

A new study conducted by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that recent college graduates with degrees in architecture have higher unemployment rates than most other majors. Recent college graduates with architectural degrees have an unemployment rate of 13.9%, which is almost twice the rate of those with engineering degrees. This can be attributed to the decline of the construction industry in the recession. While those with recent engineering degrees are doing relatively well at 7.5%, civil and mechanical engineers are still having trouble finding work for the same reasons that architecture degree-holders are.

Despite the struggles of recent college graduates with degrees that are tied to the struggling construction industry, the study suggests that it is still worth it to obtain a college degree. Job seekers with recent high school diplomas are facing an absurd 22.9% unemployment rate.

The full study can be found here.

Architects in Europe

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:25:00 GMT

The European Architectural Barometer is a quarterly study of 1,200 architects in Europe. Architects from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands participated in the quarter three study, which focused on architects’ expectations regarding the threats and opportunities for their companies this year. The study is intended to measure the economic activity of architectural firms via a series of questions. These opinions, obviously, are largely influenced by the economic crisis that has affected Europe much as it has here in the United States. However, it should be noted that the survey was taken prior to the most recent collapses and bailouts of Italy and Greece and the restructuring of the Spanish Economy.

Architects in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands have seen less work coming their way this year due to the economy. In the United Kingdom, architects are suffering from less assignments, and the assignments they are getting are smaller. As expected, German architects appear to be weathering these economic times better than other countries in Europe. Two out of three German architects were not affected by the economic crisis.

Opinions varied on what the biggest opportunities going forward would be. British architects see the biggest opportunities being renovation projects. Spanish architects see possibilities in new segments. Architects in Italy expect improvements only if impulses come from the government.

This study was conducted by Arch-Vision. The full results can be found at www.arch-vision.eu.

Demand for Design Services Predicted to Decrease

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:17:00 GMT

The architectural billings index rose 2.5 points to 49.4 last month. According to the American Institute of Architects, any reading below 50 indicates an overall decrease in demand for design services in the next 9 to 12 months. The AIA reported that while the 2.5 point increase was encouraging, they expect demand for design services to remain volatile in the coming months.

Sustainability Expectations Changing

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:55:00 GMT

Arch-Vision BV is a Netherlands-based architectural research firm. Recently it surveyed architects in six European countries—Germany, France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom—about their impressions of the acceptance and importance of designing for sustainability (links to press release download).