Construction spending is expected to grow in 2024 but at a significantly slower pace, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Construction Consensus Forecast Panel made up of leading economic forecasters. The Panel forecasted that nonresidential construction spending will slow to 4% growth in 2024 and further slow to 1% growth in 2025.

A major contributor to the economy is construction, which overall exhibited very strong growth in 2022. Despite a strong finish to the year, however, nonresidential construction spending is expected to moderate in 2023 and slow significantly in 2024, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Construction Consensus Forecast Panel made up of leading economic forecasters. The Panel forecasted that nonresidential construction spending will moderate to grow a healthy 5.8% in 2023 but then slow to less than 1% in 2024.

According to the AIA Construction Consensus Forecast Panel of leading economic forecasters, nonresidential building construction spending is expected to expand 5.4% in 2022 and strengthen to a 6.1% expansion in 2023.

In January 2021, the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, projected a 5.7% decline in nonresidential construction spending in 2021. Construction spending is then projected to grow 3.1% in 2022 as the renewal of economic activity unleashes pent-up demand for nonresidential space.

The U.S. economy grew by 2.2% in 2019 and is expected to slow to 2% in 2020, according to the most recent forecast released by the Federal Open Market Committee Meeting on December 11, 2019. The slowdown in 2019-20 is considered a byproduct of the trade war. A major contributor to the economy is construction, and the outlook for construction spending in 2020-21 is positive but lower than 2019. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting 1.5% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2020 and 1% in 2021.

The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting 4.4% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2019 and 2.4% in 2020. This article by Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP reviews the forecast and leading construction industry economic indicators.

The U.S economy grew by 2.5% in 2017, outpacing 2016, and is expected to produce similar growth in 2018. A major contributor to the economy is construction, and the outlook for construction spending in 2018 overall is positive, particularly nonresidential. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting 4% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2018 and 3.9% in 2019.

U.S. real GDP slowed to 1.6% in 2016, the lowest growth rate since 2011. However, the outlook for construction spending in 2017 continues to be positive for all market sectors. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting nearly 6% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2017, [...]

GDP ended 2015 strongly with an annual estimated growth rate of 2.4%. The overall U.S. economy continues to improve. Positive economic conditions continue to support growth in demand for nonresidential construction. The nonresidential construction sector enjoyed double-digit growth in 2015, and strong momentum is expected to continue in 2016. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, [...]

The overall economy continues to improve, with all major economic indicators signaling a trajectory of continuing growth. GDP ended 2014 very strongly, with forecasts calling for 3% growth in 2015. Business confidence reached a level of 61, signaling average belief in expansionary business conditions. Economic conditions are supporting growth in demand for construction activity, particularly [...]

Despite a national recovery from the recession in 2009, construction activity in the United States continued to spiral downward in following years. Total construction spending declined to under $800 billion in 2011 from its peak of more than $1 trillion in 2008. In 2012, the market turned a corner and achieved a level of growth [...]

Although the national economic recovery is now two and a half years old, construction spending has continued to contract. A multitude of factors prevented a recovery for this beleaguered industry in 2011. Lenders that have been extremely reticent to finance construction projects, budget shortfalls at all levels of government, the ripple effect of overbuilding, depletion [...]

While activity for institutional projects should hover near 2010 levels, there is likely to be a modest decline in commercial construction in 2011, according to the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel. Overall nonresidential construction spending is expected to decrease by 2% for the year. The Panel believes 2012 will produce stronger gains, however, with overall building construction rising about 5%, with growth twice the rate of the more cyclical commercial sector. This construction outlook reviews the year’s top line construction numbers, shows where leading construction and electrical industry indicators are trending, and provides a summary of the latest AIA Consensus Construction Forecast for 2011.

Green construction codes and standards are beginning to emerge on the national code stage. The standards go beyond energy standards such as 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to cover additional areas such as site sustainability, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and materials and resources. The first is ASHRAE Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, published by ASHRAE in January 2010 in conjunction with the USGBC and the Illuminating Engineering Society.

This construction outlook reviews the year’s topline construction numbers, examines the directions that leading construction and electrical industry indicators are pointing, and provides a summary of the latest AIA Consensus Construction Forecast for 2010.

Casambi recently published a project story involving a sophisticated lighting and control solution installed as part of a high-end, two-story renovation of a historic Soho building, produced by Lynch Eisinger Design Architects partner with WALD Studio.

The Lighting Controls Academy is pleased to announce it has updated its popular Education Express course, EE301: Wireless Lighting Controls, now available at NEMA Academy.

Based on an updated version of EE201: Daylight-responsive Lighting Control, a course in NEMA Academy, this article describes a process for designing and applying lighting control solutions that utilize daylight-responsive lighting controls.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Narissa Grufferman, Vice President Channel Sales, Cooper Lighting Solutions about developing trends in the lighting field.

As lighting control systems become more sophisticated to satisfy increasingly stringent energy codes and evolving project demands, clear documentation has become even more essential. To address this need, the Lighting Controls Academy developed Design Express.

The primary legacy source for general lighting in most school spaces is fluorescent. These can be replaced by LED products for 20 to 60 percent energy savings, greater longevity, controllability, and improved quality of light. A lighting upgrade is the ideal time to install advanced lighting controls to enhance energy savings and flexibility in light levels and color.

In the world of building projects, the Control Intent Narrative (CIN) and Sequence of Operations (SOO) have long been essential and elusive. They define how a lighting control system will function, but too often they arrive late in the process (or not at all), are inconsistent from one project to the next, and are misaligned with energy codes or industry standards. The Lighting Controls Academy set out to change this dynamic with a new resource: Design Express.

“Wireless Light, Free Chase” was recognized with a Lighting Control Innovation Award of Excellence in the 2025 Illumination Awards held by the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Commercial building energy codes regulate the design of nonresidential buildings to minimize energy consumption. While the majority of U.S. states adopt model codes and standards, the State of California developed its own code: Title 24, Part 6 of the state’s Building Standards Code. The latest version was released in 2025 and will take effect January 1, 2026.

In February 2025, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) released a new resource to facilitate integration between networked lighting controls (NLC) and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The NLC-HVAC Integration Toolkit includes tools and guidance applicable to new and existing construction projects. The toolkit’s goal is to support maximized energy savings with integration by ensuring clear project team communication.

The National Lighting Bureau recently announced the winners in the 2025 Lighting Transformation Awards, co-sponsored by the National Association of Lighting Maintenance Companies (NALMCO). These projects recognize outstanding achievements in lighting retrofit projects that feature innovative solutions with minimal alteration to the existing building structure. This is the first year that a project is also being recognized with a Special Citation for Exemplary Design and Implementation of Lighting Controls, sponsored by the Lighting Controls Association. The winning project receiving the Special Citation is Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, WA, which also won an Award of Excellence.

Networked lighting control systems play a crucial role in optimizing lighting energy use, enhancing occupant comfort, and interacting with building automation systems (BAS). However, simply installing a lighting control system does not guarantee it will function as intended. This is where a startup comes into play.

VIDEO COURSES   The Lighting Controls Association video offers education and training on a wide range of topics to create lighting control experts. Below is a series of short (30-60 minute) education presentations on a wide range of lighting control topics. Numerous new presentations will be added by the end of 2025 and into 2026, [...]

This month, we explore a major refurbishment of a vacant office tower into a 5-star hotel, which was recognized with as Lighting Control Innovation Award of Merit in the 2024 IES Illumination Awards.

The 2025 winning project is The New Valley Hospital in Paramus, NJ. Lighting and control design by HDR. Lighting control solution by nLight.

The Lighting Controls Association is proud to announce the latest offerings in lighting controls from industry-leading manufacturers in this year’s annual product guide. Check them out!

Leviton recently announced the opening of its latest Leviton LIVE customer experience center in Nashville, Tennessee. Developed by retrofitting an industrial wholesale building built in 1892, the new Leviton LIVE experience center provides customers with a hands-on experience specific to their unique projects’ needs for both residential and commercial settings.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) has released an innovative resource designed to boost energy savings in the commercial building sector by encouraging the integration of networked lighting controls (NLC) with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Research shows that adding NLCs to commercial lighting upgrades can cut a project’s new lighting load in half. Taking [...]

The Lighting Controls Association has published a new offering in its popular Education Express system, EE203: Lighting and Commercial Building Energy Codes, Part 6: 2024 IECC.

As part of a new Lighting Controls Association series of short articles providing an in-depth introduction to new products, Craig DiLouie talked to Kevin Arndt, Technical Product Manager, Barron Lighting Group about the company’s new LE-C6 UL924-compliant emergency lighting controller.

The Lighting Controls Association’s Craig DiLouie recently talked with Kevin Arndt, Technical Product Manager, Barron Lighting Group, about the company, its lighting control offering, and its distinct value proposition. Check out this interview to learn more about one of the LCA’s newest members.

Craig DiLouie recently had the opportunity to interview Adam Mack, Product Manager, Caséta Wireless, Lutron Electronics, about what’s new in home automation for upcoming articles in Electrical Contractor and tED magazines. Transcript follows.

Whether you use traditional lighting control devices or newer systems such as networked lighting controls (NLCs), you have to communicate and document how you want those devices or systems to behave. This documentation should include a Control Intent Narrative and Sequence of Operations.

As part of a new Lighting Controls Association series of short articles providing an in-depth introduction to new products, Craig DiLouie talked to Chad Watters, Product Manager Lighting Controls, mwConnect, about the company’s recently introduced Indoor Bluetooth NLC ZBD Sensor-Controller.