Dive summary:

• The American Institute of Architects' monthly survey of its members' business, reported as the Architectural Billings Index, stood at 54.2 in January, which is the highest it has been in 5½ years, the organization reported.
• AIA also did some revisions to its seasonal adjustments, and the changes in historical data then showed that a national upward trend is still in effect and that the West Coast actually has been participating in it for several months.
• Answering questions about the shortening or lengthening of design times, 75% of clients who had less time to finish said client urgency was why and 52% of firms that got longer to work said client nervousness about the economy was why.

From the article:

Inquiries into new projects also remained strong in January, and firms reported a strong increase in the value of new design/design-build contracts. ...