The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced monthly by the AIA Economics and Market Research Group, indicates that following March’s plummet, billings at architecture firms sank even lower in April, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to severely affect firm business. The ABI score declined to 29.3, a new all-time low for the index (a score below 50 indicates decreasing billings), with more than half of responding firms reporting a further decline in their firm billings from March to April.

Video and session notes of the National Institute of Building Sciences' second virtual town hall are now available on the NIBS website. Stakeholders offered advice on how to prepare for safely reopening businesses and offices to workers and customers. Sponsored by NIBS Consultative Council, the town hall featured leaders from across the building industry talking about re-occupancy of spaces used to house COVID-19 patients and/or medical personnel, sanitation, and mental health.