Blackstone Acquires Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for About $4 Billion

Real estate private equity firm Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII LP has acquired Chicago–based Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $4 billion.

Second Quarter 2015 ASID Interior Design Billings Index Remains Positive

Improvement was seen in all firm sizes and industry sectors, with the exception of education, indicating a market on the uptick. 

Associated Builders and Contractors Report a Rise in Nonresidential Construction Spending

The construction economic update is an analysis of the monthly economic indices provided by the federal government.

NCARB Announces 13 Schools to Implement the Integrated Path Initiative

The first round of approved schools include a diverse array of both public and private accredited B.Arch and M.Arch programs across nine jurisdictions.

New York’s Meatpacking District Emerges as an Upcoming Office Destination

The district could see as much as 600,000 square feet of new commercial and office space constructed over the next five years.

New York Building Congress Reports an Increase in Office Construction

A rise in employment, low interest rates, and major local developments currently underway may be influencing New York's recent surge in office space.

The Barack Obama Foundation Issues RFQ for Presidential Library Architect

The deadline to submit credentials and samples of work is September 16.

Architecture Billings Index Remains Steady through July

Although there was a slight decrease in the ABI score to 54.7, any score above 50 still equates to an overall increase in design services.

Architecture Schools Join NCARB Integrated Path to Licensure Initiative

The initiative aims to reimagine the curriculum with integrated opportunities for students to take each division of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and satisfy Intern Development Program (IDP) requirements before graduating

HDR Inc. Acquires CEI Architecture to Form HDR | CEI

The deal was made effective as of July 26, 2015, and will see both companies joining to provide a broader scope of services.

AIA Survey Reports Increased Industry Compensation Rates

Since 2010, revenue has risen to more than $11 billion, which accounts for approximately 75 percent of the decline felt from 2008-2010.

WeWork Acquires IT Consultancy CASE Inc.

Following the acquisition, the company now heads WeWork’s digital department and applies its consulting experience to enhancing and developing all WeWork locations.

New York Firm WASA Studio Files for Bankruptcy

The firm has been granted chapter 11 protection from creditors and its Broadway office landlord, while it seeks buyers and a new office space in the same building.

AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Predicts Increased Spending

The construction market saw its most activity occurring in the commercial sector, which will likely see an overall increase in spending of 12.3 percent in 2015. 

Sorg Architects Merges with DLR Group

DLR anticipates a complete assimilation of Sorg’s Washington, D.C., operations by September.

Architecture Billings Index Shows Continued Growth in June

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reports that the ABI score has indicated an increase in design services and has achieved its highest point in more than eight years.

NCARB Releases Annual Report on the Path to Architectural Licensure

The report explores the behaviors of candidates for architectural licensure and has revealed a growing number of architects licensed to practice in the U.S.

Architecture Billings Index Reveals Positive Growth in May

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported that the ABI score increased from 48.8 in April to 51.9 in May, reflecting an increase in design services.

ASID State of the Industry Report Foresees Continued Growth for Interior Design Industry

Several indicators, such as an increase of billing and inquiries, suggest that the design industry has recovered from the 2008 recession and that firms of all sizes will hire new employees within the next year.

NELSON to Acquire VeenendaalCave, Inc.

The firm will operate as VeenendaalCave, Inc., until it completes a full transition into the NELSON brand on June 30.

Architecture Billings Index Reflects Decrease in Design Services

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the ABI score for April was 48.8, reflecting a drastic decrease from March’s score of 51.7.

ASID Interior Design Billings Index Reveals Optimistic Projection After First Quarter 2015

IDBI data predicts stronger business conditions and continued expansion for interior design, with an index of 73 slated for the next six months.

2015 NCARB Report Preview Reveals Record-high Number of Architect Candidates

Slated for release in July, the full 2015 report will include data and minority numbers within the field, an updated status on graduates from accredited architecture programs versus non-accredited programs, and IDP and ARE year-over-year completion times.

NCARB to Discontinue Use of the Term Intern

 NCARB will discontinue the use of the term intern but proposes no new alternative. 

Pritzker Prize Award Ceremony to Stream Live Tonight

The Pritzker Prize will hold its annual award ceremony tonight at the New World Center in Miami Beach.

BLS Reveals Architectural Employment Data

The architectural and engineering services sector saw an addition of 3,700 jobs last month.

ADP Monthly Employment Report Indicates Decrease in Job Growth for April

This report marks the fifth consecutive month of decline.

QS Announces the 2015 Top 100 International Architecture Universities

QS is a global career and education network that publishes academic rankings annually.

Architecture Billings Index Shows Increase for March

The increase in design activity marks the second consecutive month of growth.

ADP Workforce Vitality Index Indicates Decline for First Quarter

The decline has caused a downturn from the overall upwards trending index since the last quarter of 2014.

AIAS Launches Early Licensure Campaign PASS

The program will assist aspiring architects in early licensure.

ADP Monthly Job Report Shows Decline for March

The report reveals a total of 189,000 private nonfarm jobs were added to the United States economy in March.

AIANY Names David Burney Interim Executive Director

David Burney, FAIA, has been named interim executive director of the AIANY and Center for Architecture.

Harrington College of Design Is Closing

Chicago’s 84-year-old Harrington College of Design is starting to shut down its operations and will permanently close by August 2018, according to school administrators.

BanG Studio Launches Funding Campaign for Governors Island City of Dreams Pavilion

BanG Studio recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for its winning pavilion, which will help restore and clean New York City’s waterways through oyster reef restoration.

ASID Offers Online Business Strategy Courses for Interior Designers

Completion of the courses will fulfill half of the 2015 ASID CEU requirements.

Architecture Billings Index Shows Improvement for February

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has shown an increase in design activity for the month of February, following its first negative score in ten months in January.

ASID Interior Design Billings Index Reveals Slowed Billings to End 2014

U.S. interior design firms ended 2014 with continued but slowed business improvement overall.

DOE and NIBS Announce New Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines

The guidelines will provide details in regards to President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, a national plan to make commercial and industrial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020.

Springs Window Fashions Acquires MechoSystems

Springs Window Fashions (Springs)—a provider of custom window covering products—has announced its definitive agreement to acquire MechoSystems, Inc., a design and manufacturing company that produces commercial solar shades.

BLS Reveals Architectural Employment Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that architecture and engineering services added 4,900 jobs in February.

David Geffen Gains Naming Rights to Avery Fisher Hall After $100M Donation

The hall will be renovated, beginning in 2019, and the cost is estimated to be at least $500 million.

Emerald Expositions Acquires Healthcare Design Brands from Vendome Group

Emerald Expositions, the parent company of Contract, today announced a significant acquisition primarily related to the healthcare design industry.

Architecture Billings Index Shows No Increase in Design Activity

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has had nine straight months of positive billings, but has shown no increase in design activity for the month of January.

ASID Interior Design Billings Index Shows Irregular Trends

Business conditions have remained steady for design firms in December.

Expanded Editorial Advisory Board, Guests Enjoy the 2014 Contract Design Forum

Contract magazine’s annual Design Forum was held at Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado.

USGBC Announces Top 10 U.S. States for LEED Green Building Per Capita

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced its fifth annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED.

Marcel Wanders and Casper Vissers Regain Ownership of Moooi from B&B Italia

Designer Marcel Wanders and entrepreneur Casper Vissers have regained complete control of Dutch design brand Moooi from Italian brand B&B Italia.

AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Projects Increase in Construction Spending in 2015

Demands for institutional projects will drive up construction spending in 2015 and 2016.

Architecture for Humanity Board Issues Statement

The board of directors of Architecture for Humanity issued a pubic statement six days after news broke that the organization has ended its operation.

CTBUH Reports 2014 as Tallest Year for Skyscrapers

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) published its annual report revealing that 2014 saw the highest number of skyscrapers completed that the CTBUH has ever recorded.

Architecture Billings Index Rebounds at the End of 2014

Ten out of twelve months in 2014 showed increasing demand for design services in the nonresidential construction industry, according to the Architecture Billings Index (ABI).

HOK Completes Acquisition of 360 Architecture

The acquisition of 360 Architecture by HOK allows for the creation of HOK's new global Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice. 

Architecture for Humanity Closes

Nonprofit organization Architecture for Humanity has ended its operation and all employees were laid off January 1.

Swanke Hayden Connell Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Swanke Hayden Connell has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming to be unable to collect more than $2 million from a project in Russia, The Wall Street Journal reports.

CIDA Elects Officers and Appoints New Directors

The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) board of directors has elected Dr. Pamela K. Evans, FIDEC, IIDA, as the 2015 board chair.

Glasgow School of Art Announces Shortlist for Restoration

A shortlist has been announced for the restoration of the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), a landmark building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Contract Editorial Office Has Moved

The editorial office of Contract moved in the past year. 

Berkeley’s Art Museum Closes in 44-year-old Brutalist Building

The Museum will relocate to a new downtown Berkeley building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

Uncertain Future for Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Uncertain Future for Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Demand Softens While Outlook for Architecture Billings Index Remains Positive

The ABI has kept stable by sustained demand for apartments and condominiums and state and local governments moving forward with delayed public projects. 

IHG to Acquire Kimpton Hotels for $430 Million

 England-based InterContinental Hotels Group Plc (IHG) is buying San Francisco–based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants for $430 million.

Charter Members of the AIA Design & Health Research Consortium Announced

The consortium will help fund basic research on how design affects public health.

ASID Interior Design Billings Index Reports Three-Year High

Inquiries for interior design projects have reached a three-year high.

American Express Provides $1 Million Grant to Restore Historic Lockkeeper’s House

American Express has announced a $1 million grant to the Trust for the National Mall to preserve and restore the historic Lockkeeper’s House

ICFF Partners with Fiera Milano

ICFF will be held May 16-19, 2015, at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

ThyssenKrupp Develops Revolutionary Elevator

The system allows for several cabins in one shaft.

Clemson Rejects Spaulding Paolozzi Center Plan

The design called for a three-story metal, glass, and concrete building divided into three vertical sections.

NCARB Survey Reveals Growth in the Architecture Profession

The number of licensed architects in the United States has risen to 107,581, a 1.6 percent jump from 2013, and a 3.1 percent rise from 2011, according to the 2014 Survey of Architectural Registration Boards—conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).  

Inscape and West Elm Announce Partnership

Inscape Corporation and home furnishings retailer West Elm announced a partnership on Thursday.  

GlobalShop Partners with International Interior Design Association

IIDA will endorse, promote, and act as a knowledgeable partner for GlobalShop.

U.S. Architecture Schools Rankings Announced

DesignIntelligence—a bimonthly report by the Design Futures Council—has released its 2015 list of the Best U.S. Architecture Schools.  

Perkins Eastman to Merge with LBL Architects

The combined firm will total 880 employees internationally.

Conneaut Leather Acquires Cortina Leathers

The acquisition will strengthen Conneaut Leather's manufacturing capabilities

Benoy to Design Greenland GIC

Greenland Group recently purchased six separate plots of land to form the 925,696-square-foot development.

Equity by Design Conference Examines Gender Gap in Architecture

The Missing 32% Project, a committee of the AIA San Francisco, undertook a nationwide survey at the beginning of the year.

Nendo Designs Optical Illusions for Japanese Exhibit

The exhibit features more than 40 products and includes glassware, tableware, and furniture.

EYP Acquires WHR Architects

EYP, an Albany, New York–based architecture firm, is acquiring Houston-based WHR Architects Inc.  

Chinese Insurer buys Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion

The Waldorf Astoria in New York is being sold by Hilton Worldwide to a Chinese insurance company, Anbang Insurance Group, for $1.95 billion.

General Motors' Warren Technical Center Named National Landmark

The complex marked Eero Saarinen's emergence into the national limelight

Getty Foundation Awards Grants to Conserve 20th Century Architecture

Each project has been chosen for its architectural significance

U.S. Architecture Firms' Billing Index Fell to 53.0 in August

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell slightly in August, after hitting a seven-year high in July.

The Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Commercial Real Estate

Interface Announces Commitment to Expand Net-Works

During the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting in New York this week, Interface, Inc., announced its partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to expand Net-Works.

IIDA Foundation Backs CIDA Standards Development Project

The IIDA Foundation has granted funds to support the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) Standards Development Project, which helps generate new accreditation standards for interior design programs.

De Blasio Calls for Greater Energy Efficiency in New York Buildings

As part of a pledge to be announced Tuesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has unveiled a plan to overhaul the energy standards in city buildings and encourage private landlords to make improvements.

NCARB Board Approves Streamlining and Overhauling of the Intern Development Program (IDP)

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has voted to approve significant changes that will streamline and overhaul the Intern Development Program (IDP), which most states require to satisfy experience requirements for initial licensure as an architect.

Architecture Research Office to Present in NYC Sept. 29

Stephen Cassell, AIA, and Kim Yao, AIA, will give a lecture presenting a number of their recent projects as principals of the New York-based firm Architecture Research Office at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 29, at the AIA New York (AIANY) Center for Architecture.

Interior Design Industry Shows Positive Momentum

The quarterly ASID Business Outlook score was 68.7, comparing favorably to the December 2013 score of 66.5

Trimble Acquires Gehry Technologies

Trimble has acquired Gehry Technologies, a software and consulting services business founded by Frank Gehry.  

Neiman Marcus to Debut in New York City

The three-level Neiman Marcus will anchor the one million square foot Shops at Hudson Yards

High-Tech Sector Drives Office Jobs

High-tech accounts for 20 percent of major leasing activity thus far in 2014

HD Americas Focuses on the Latin American Market

The Aquafil Group Acquires W & J Knox Carpet Fiber Division

Architecture Billings Index Shows Improvement in Design and Construction

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May

ASID Q2 Billings Index Shows Positive Momentum

In June, the ASID IDBI stood at 55.8 and the Inquiries Index was 58.2

HOK to Acquire 360 Architecture

The deal gives the firm a significant presence in Kansas City when the deal finalizes in October

Stantec Acquires Add Inc.

The deal is expected to close in September

UIA Declares Commitment to Phasing Out CO2 Emissions in Built Environment

The declaration recognizes the urgency of the UIA and its member organizations committing to a sustainable and equitable future

Study: Classroom Design Strongly Influences College Student Engagement

Nearly three-fourths of participants reported that a flexible learning environment increased their motivation to attend class.