No two years look alike. But one item on the agenda remains constant: the truth of God and the miracle of His Son. That constant is like a shining star, propelling us ahead. Then, the celebration of Christmas -- soon to be upon us -- gives way to the exhilaration of the unknown: a New Year where anything is possible.
We can take heart in some encouraging signs of what's to come. WFM recently reported on news from McGraw-Hill's 2011 Construction Outlook report. Despite an 8% overall increase in construction starts leading into 2011, the institutional sector, of which churches are a part, is expected to drop 1% in overall building starts. However, at a closer look of the data, church construction (overall, just a slight portion of the institutional pie) is slated to show a 4% increase in construction starts in 2011 -- in a surprising and encouraging twist for growing churches. And in a year when the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), as reported by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C., bobbed up and oftentimes down, September showed a glimmer of an especially encouraging trend. For the first time in over two years, the ABI showed upward movement in new project requests.
This much is clear: leading indicators, while moving in more than one direction, are oftentimes favorable. Other advances in commercial construction show promise for the future of church design and building as well. In mid-November, a 15-story hotel in China was constructed of high-quality, earthquake-resistant modular components in just six days. A feat that has captured the attention of building designers and constructors in the United States and around the world.
With so much changing in the design and building landscape, and so much promise moving forward, I'm happy to report that WFM has some advancements for you as well. Watch for improvements in the design and functionality of www.worshipfacilities.com in the months ahead. And watch for greater interactivity in our print and online properties to help you access deeper layers of information on the topics you want to learn more about. In our Nov/Dec issue, be sure to check out our smart codes on pages 9 and 20, and let us know how you like where they take you.
We're looking forward to the journey, alongside you, that's 2011.
