[Originally published 2nd quarter 2011, in arcCA 11.2, “The Business of Architecture.”]
“Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything.”
— John Kenneth Galbraith
Number of new licenses issued in California
1989 – 1,339
2010 – 548
www.cab.ca.gov
Number of ARE divisions taken by California candidates
2009 – 11,262
2010 – 5,187
www.cab.ca.gov
Number of out-of-state architects receiving reciprocity in California
2003 – 224 (20 year high)
2010 – 77 (20 year low)
www.cab.ca.gov
Number of licensed architects in California
1995 – 20,367
2010 – 20,433
www.cab.ca.gov
Business structure of California architectural firms
3% Partnerships
6% Limited Liability Partnerships
15% Sole Proprietorships
38% C Corporations
38% S Corporations
www.managementdesign.com/survey.html
Construction types of jobs designed by California architectural firms
49% New Construction
33% Rehab / Renovation
6% New Interiors
6% Renovated Interiors
6% Other
www.managementdesign.com/survey.html
Client type for work done by California architectural firms
25% Private Individuals
21% Government
19% Institutional
14% Commercial
12% Developers
10% Other
www.managementdesign.com/survey.html
Project type of jobs designed by California architectural firms
20% Single Family Homes
17% Education
12% Office
10% Healthcare
6% Retail
6% Housing
5% Civic
4% Hospitality
4% Industrial
3% Master Planning
3% Recreation
3% Transportation
2% Mixed Use
2% Religious
www.managementdesign.com/survey.html
Average hourly billing rates used by California architectural firms
$200 Principal
160 Associate
150 Project Manager
135 Project Architect
130 Senior Designer
90 Junior Designer
www.managementdesign.com/survey.html
Architectural Record 2011 Good Design is Good Business Awards
Trumpf Campus, Stuttgart
Barkow Leibinger, Berlin
Mills College Gradate School of Business, Oakland
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, San Francisco
The Power House Restoration/Renovation, St. Louis
Cannon Design, St Louis
Eileen Fisher, Inc., Corporate HQ: Irvington, NY
Earl Everett Ferguson Architect, Irvington, NY
Roca Gallery, Barcelona
Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB)
300 North LaSalle, Chicago
Pickard Chilton, New Haven, CT
Denver Art Museum Shop, Denver
Roth + Sheppard, Denver
The Ledge, Chicago
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago
Mercy Corps Headquarters, Portland, OR
THA Architecture, Portland, OR
archrecord.construction.com/news/2011/
“Carpe per diem—seize the check.”
— Robin Williams
