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Architects, landscape architects, et al, are not immune to economic downturns.  Indeed, these professionals are, like their brethren in the construction trades, among the most susceptible to layoffs, unemployment, and months of uncertainty.  Unfortunately for these designers however, elected officials generally plowed stimulus dollars toward projects that would primarily benefit the trades (i.e., “Shovel Ready Projects”).

Displeased with such favoritism, the AIA chapter of Nevada architects has spent many months lobbying state and local governments to devote stimulus funds to “Pencil Ready Projects,” which AIA Nevada defines as those projects that communities expect to build, but have yet to design, let alone fund.

By funding the design phase with stimulus funds, the reasoning goes, designers will avoid unemployment during the recession and construction will be able to begin as soon as public revenues rebound with a broader economic recovery.  Or as chapter president Sean Coulter frames the issue:  “[I]f we’re not working now, contractors aren’t working in the future. With shovel-ready, the state can get jobs done in a year, but after that there’s nothing.”

Normally, I’d be smirking at the chapter’s unabashed lobbying for its own members’ pocketbooks - for whatever reason, the AIA has struck me as being more noble - even public interest-oriented - of an institution, preoccupied with more pressing issues than, effectively, union pay.

But notwithstanding that and my generally suspect view of real estate developments in Nevada’s biggest metropolitan area, this band of embattled architects, consultants, and engineers have a point.  Unemployment in the design industry is oppressively high (most estimates run higher than 50%); most policy wonks agree that the various stimulus programs for construction projects are unwisely focused on solely projects that lack any lasting economic impact.

But is AIA Nevada’s proposal the solution to an admittedly unsatisfying stimulus policy?  At this point (nearing 2 years of economic turmoil), it can’t hurt to give a chance.

Related Posts:  (1) Doubtful: Norman Foster primarily at fault for wobbly Harmon Hotel & Spa & (2) Inexplicably, the bar still went out of business…

Image courtesy of kevglobal.