Executive Counsellor Guild

CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW

The construction industry enjoyed great expansion in the late '90s. Thanks to a steady new housing market, the industry has not been impacted as much as other industries in today's hard times. Overall, however, construction remains fairly flat.

U.S. Census Bureau figures on construction spending show solid growth -- from $766 billion in 1999 to a projected $870 billion this year. However, measured in constant 1996 dollars, the industry has actually dropped slightly, hovering below the $700 billion mark for 2003.

Residential building, which accounts for just over half of the total spent on construction over the last four years, has helped offset a sharp dip in private nonresidential construction, down to a projected $167 billion in 2003 from $202 billion a year earlier. Housing starts have grown from 1.6 million in 1999 to a projected 1.8 million this year. The U.S. Census Bureau's Steve Berman says the number of single-family homes sold in 2002 (1.39 million) was the most since 1978, a boom year for the U.S. construction industry. The primary driver for the jump in single family home construction is historically low interest rates.

We work with construction businesses including the variety of companies and businesses that are involved in the building of residential and commercial structures and the systems within those structures, such as plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems.

Online Resources:

American Institute of Architects
www.aia.org
The world's premier architectural association with 300 chapters in the U.S. and around the world.

American Society of Interior Designers
www.asid.org
The leading professional organization for interior designers with the largest residential and commercial memberships. Includes more than 34,500 members.

Associated General Contractors of America
www.agc.org
The voice of the construction industry and an organization of qualified construction contractors and industry-related companies.

Associated Builders and Contractors
www.abc.org
A national association representing 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 80 chapters across the U.S.

National Electrical Contractors Association
www.necanet.org
The leading representative of a segment of the construction market comprised of over 70,000 electrical contracting firms. NECA includes 120 U.S. chapters in addition to others in countries around the world.

National Association of Women in Construction
www.nawic.org
Advances the causes of all women in construction whose careers range from business owners to the skilled trades.

Mechanical Contractors Association
www.mcaa.org
Membership of 2,200 firms involved in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, piping and mechanical service. Includes Mechanical Service Contractors of America, National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau and the Plumbing Contractors of America.

Building Owners and Managers Association International
www.boma.org
Enhances the human, intellectual and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research standards and information.

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association
www.smacna.org
An international trade association dedicated to providing products, services and representation to enhance members' businesses, markets and profitability.

American Society of Professional Estimators
www.aspenational.com
A professional society that promotes the highest standards and ethics in the practice of construction estimating.

Construction Industry Institute
www.construction-institute.org
A research institute for engineers and construction that is comprised of more than 90 member organizations representing leading owners, contractors and suppliers in both the public and private sectors.

Construction Innovation Forum
www.cif.org
An international, non-profit organization formed in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovation that improves quality and reduces cost of construction.

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