39th Annual Architects Survey

by Stacy Rinella | March 26, 2025 7:17 am

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Each year, architects across the United States enthusiastically take part in our annual Architects Survey. Now in its 39^th year, this survey has become a vital resource, offering valuable insights into the ever-changing world of metal architecture. It serves as a comprehensive platform where architects from diverse backgrounds, specialties, and locations share their perspectives on emerging trends, challenges, and innovations within the field. Whether they are experienced professionals or rising stars, participants eagerly contribute their experiences, philosophies, and insights into the industry’s evolving needs.

Beyond fostering a sense of community among architects, this survey sparks meaningful industry-wide dialogue, encouraging collaboration in a rapidly advancing field.

 

Architectural firms weigh in

As we have in the past, this year, we were fortunate to see a record number of survey participants. The numbers show the largest number of respondents, 46.4 percent, are employed at architecture firms, and from those many, 53.6 percent are firm owners or partners. Staff architects also had plenty to say, with 9.5 percent sharing their views.

When asked if their firms were registered to practice in more than one state, the majority, 61.6 percent said “yes,” while 38.4 percent said “no.” Results were not far off compared to the 2024 survey, with 62.7 percent versus 37.3 percent.

 

Cross-country perspectives

Survey results across the United States provided a clear snapshot of regional participation—the largest group of respondents hailing from the South at 30.8 percent. Close behind, the West and Midwest, with 27.8 percent and 25.7 percent of responses, respectively. While not far behind, the East Coast rounded out the results with 22.8 percent. These numbers highlight the geographic diversity of the survey sample and offer valuable insights into regional trends and opinions nationwide.

 

Firms report 2024 growth

Last year’s billings revealed vast results. Across the country, 47.5 percent reported less than $1 million in billings. Broken down by region, 54.5 percent for the East Coast, 47.8 percent for the South. The Midwest reported 42.1 percent, and the West Coast 40.9 percent.

As a nation, 17.5 percent of firms brought in more than $10 million in billings, with the East again leading the way at 27.3 percent. The West was next with 18.2 percent, the South at 17.4 percent, and the Midwest trailing at 15.8 percent.

When firms reflected on 2024 billings, all corners of the country experienced growth, but some more than others.

Comparing 2024 to 2023, noteworthy numbers are as follows:

• In the South, 42.1 percent were up less than 5 percent
• In the West, 40 percent were up between 5 and 10 percent
• In the Midwest, 33.3 percent were up between 10 and 25 percent

 

Fortunately, only 2.8 percent of the country was down between 25 and 50 percent, and zero firms were down more than 50 percent.

 

Metal Building Products: Past, Present, and Future

Metal building products offer cost-effective, sustainable solutions with innovative aesthetics and performance. The future of metal architecture will likely be driven by smart technologies and further sustainability initiatives, ensuring stronger, more efficient, and adaptable structures for future generations.

Forecasting 2025 is consistent nationwide. When asked if they predict 2025 to be more, about the same, or less than the previous year, all regions selected “about the same.” Metal roofing came in at the top with 87.5 percent. Next, metal framing at 79.1 percent, metal building systems at 74.4 percent, and metal wall panels at 72.3 percent.

 

Sustainability Objectives

As sustainability continues to be a predominant theme, many companies did not look to metal building products to help gain LEED certification or green building objectives in 2024. Across the country,
85.7 percent said “no,” with just 14.3 percent responding “yes.” Of those, the highest numbers came from the South, with 33.3 percent.

 

Metal Roofing Systems

Consistency was and is the name of the metal-roofing game. Differences between 2023 and 2024 were negligible, with a difference of just 1.4 percent. The year ahead is forecasted around the same.

In forecasting 2025, most say expectations remain about the same compared to last year. At the national level, 76.8 percent responded with “about the same,” with the biggest numbers coming from the East at 87.5 percent.

Last year, a variety of metal roofing types were specified, with batten seam at the top, followed by corrugated, low-slope standing seam roof (SSR) and insulated metal roof panels. The least common were individual shingles and stone coated.

The average size of metal roofing projects had interesting results. None of the firms were involved with a project over 7,400 m² (80,000 sf).
A little more than 34 percent said they worked on projects between 930 to 1,850 m² (10,000 to 20,000 sf), and almost 28 percent worked on less than 1,850 m² (10,000 sf).

Across the country, 82.7 percent said they did not specify retrofit metal roofing on an existing building, and 73.1 percent did not specify cool metal coatings in their metal roofing solutions. Of the 26.9 percent that did, the biggest group was the East Coast, with 33.3 percent.

Did firms specify solar panels, photovoltaics, or solar films in their metal roofing projects in 2025? Most said “no,” with 17.3 responding “yes,” and most do not expect this number to increase in 2025.

 

Metal Building Systems

In 2023, 60.7 percent of survey respondents said they specified at least one metal building system. The following year, that number dipped to 57.1 percent. Things look hopeful for 2025, with projections back up at 62.5 percent.

 

Metal Framing Systems

Specifying numbers jumped 9 percent from 2023 to 2024, with 57.1 percent and 66.1 percent, respectively. The year ahead foresees more metal framing systems, with projections at 67.9 percent. Breaking it down by region, at 73.3 percent, the West anticipates specifying at least one metal framing system in 2025.

 

Metal Wall Panels

Numbers remained consistent from the previous year, as do 2025 projections. When asked, 62.5 percent of architects and firms are projecting specifying at least one metal wall system. Breaking it down by region, 66.7 percent came from the West, 64.7 percent from the South, 62.5 percent from the East, and trailing at 53.3 percent in the Midwest.

When asked what types of metal wall panels their firm specified in 2024, the biggest category was corrugated, with 62.5 percent, with the biggest numbers coming from the South at 72.7 percent. Next was concealed fastening, with 52.2 percent, with the East coming in at 60 percent. Rounding out the bottom were steel/aluminum plate, metal-faced composite and custom flat seam, at 12.5 percent, and individual shingles, at 7.5 percent.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/39th-annual-architects-survey/

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