Minnesota architects still ‘treading water’

Posted: 4:54 pm Mon, November 5, 2012 By BRIAN JOHNSON Finance and Commerce Tags: American Institute of Architects, architecture, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, Beverly Hauschild-Baron, Jon Buggy, Kermit Baker, Mary Larkin 4:54 pm Mon, November 5, 2012

Pam Nelson, an AIA Minnesota staffer, holds a photo that will be displayed at the 78th annual AIA Minnesota Convention, which begins Tuesday and runs through Friday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Attendance is expected to be consistent with previous years, AIA says. (Photo: Joey McLeister)

Modest gains in employment, billings as AIA gathers

As the American Institute of Architects Minnesota chapter prepares for its annual convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota design firms may be feeling a bit more optimistic than they did this time last year.

AIAs leading economic indicator is looking up, employment at architecture firms appears to be getting better, and rental housing is riding high.

Still, theres plenty of room for improvement.

We are still treading water is probably the best analogy, said Jon Buggy, architect and president of AIA-Minnesota, which has 2,200 members. Its kind of plodding along right now.

The slow recovery apparently hasnt diminished interest in the convention. This year, AIA Minnesota expects about 1,500 people to attend the 78th annual convention, which starts Tuesday and runs through Friday at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

AIA says 200 companies will set up exhibits, and presenters at 56 programs will delve into topics such as research tax credits for architects and engineers, sustainable affordable housing, historic rehabilitation, fee negotiations, and architect-led design-build.

Participation is consistent with recent years, according to Mary Larkin, AIA Minnesotas communications director. The number of pre-registered visitors is pretty much dead-on from what it was last year, and the exhibitor space is sold out, Larkin said.

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Minnesota architects still ‘treading water’