Top architects are clearly in an apprehensive mood about the upcoming year, the latest WA100 survey shows.  The annual survey of the world’s top architecture practices shows a slight decline in the proportion of respondents expecting growth in the global construction economy. In total, 59% of those surveyed predict growth next year, including 5% expecting this growth to be strong. This was slightly down on last year’s overall growth figure of 61%.

There was a big increase in the proportion of respondents expecting stagnation, rising to 33% from 23% last year. This growth squeezed the proportion of firms anticipating decline over the next 12 months to 8%, down from 10% last year.

The most significant slump in confidence is in North America, where just 53% expect growth over the next year, compared with 67% last year, with the next highest proportion (38%) anticipating stagnation.

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