2018 Design & Construction Outlook: Cheery or Dreary?

November 1, 2017 | 2:00 PM ET

Presented by ConstructConnect, AIA, & AGC

Miss the live presentation? Register to view the archive or download the slides.

Employment and revenues for architecture, engineering and construction have grown modestly for most of 2017. But the signals for the next 12 months are mixed. Architectural billings are positive, but construction project starts uneven. Contractors are hiring, but concerned about finding qualified workers. Meanwhile, uncertainty about the impact of changes in tax, infrastructure, immigration and other policies loom over investment decisions. How will these cross-cutting influences play out?

Join us as three leading economists from the construction industry discuss these inconsistencies and more during our 2017 Fall Design & Construction Economic Webcast.

The free webcast is open to all. AIA members who attend the live webcast are eligible to receive 1.5 AIA CEU credits.

Topics covered include:

• An in-depth analysis of the current state of the construction industry
• The major challenges and opportunities currently impacting the industry
• An overview of emerging technologies
• Industry and economic trends relevant to AEC professionals and building product manufacturers
• Material and labor costs overview and expectations
• What to expect in 2018

Who should attend?

• Architects
• Engineers
• Construction professionals
• Building product manufacturers
• Building Safety Officials

AIA Learning Units

AIA members can receive 1.5 learning units for attending the live webcast. Members must include their AIA member number during registration. Non-member architects and all who attend can request a certificate of completion.

Provider number: 40107831

Program number: 14CFW1112017

Program Name: 2018 Design & Construction Outlook: Cheery or Dreary?

Meet the Experts

Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA
Chief Economist, AIA

Kermit Baker is the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects. In this capacity, he analyzes business and construction trends in the U.S. economy and examines their impact on AIA members and the architectural profession. Kermit originated the AIA Architecture Billings Index, as well as the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel. He has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Harvard University and holds a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the same field. In 2002, Kermit was named honorary member of the AIA.

Alex Carrick
Chief Economist, ConstructConnect

Alex Carrick is the North American Chief Economist for ConstructConnect and CanaData. Alex has been analyzing U.S. and Canadian construction activity for more than 40 years. An award-winning author, Alex has leveraged social media and the ConstructConnect blog to become one of the most prominent authorities on the construction economy. He is regularly quoted and interviewed by major news outlets, and regular contributor to the Daily Commercial News and the Journal of Commerce. Alex has a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Toronto.

Ken Simonson
Chief Economist, The AGC of America

Ken Simonson has been the chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, a leading construction industry trade association, since 2001. Ken has more than 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. His weekly Data DIGest goes to 47,000 subscribers. Ken is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he serves as an appointed member of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Data Users Advisory Committee. Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.

Laura Marlow, LEED AP
Moderator

Laura Marlow is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at ConstructConnect. She manages relationships with AIA, AGC, USGBC and many AEC industry partners. Laura also leads ConstructConnect’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability efforts. She graduated from the University of South Carolina and is a LEED AP.

CAN’T ATTEND

Can’t make the time or date? Webinars will be posted in ConstructConnect’s Resource Center—and watch when and where it’s convenient for you. A recording of the webcast will be available after the webinar has been completed.