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Global Architectural Services - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: June 2024 L6721-GL

Revenue

$259.6bn

2024

$259.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

367k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Global Architectural Services industry analysis

The Global Architectural Services industry has endured some complications over the five years to 2023. Despite economic growth and an infusion of government-funded building projects in emerging nations fueling revenue early in the period, the industry did not fare as well in the latter half of the period. The COVID-19 pandemic decreased employment and consumer spending in developed economies, in addition to negatively affecting the global economic operating environment. Still, industry performance will rejuvenate as the economy continues its recovery following the worst effects of the pandemic. The Global Architectural Services industry's revenue has been inching upward at a CAGR of 0.7% to $255.3 billion over the five years to 2023, including an estimated 2.4% jump in 2023 alone.Most companies are small-scale contractors that operate within narrow regional markets or in specialized services. Still, there are also numerous large-scale companies capable of operating outside national boundaries. International activity is mainly confined to the large-scale architecture and design companies from developed economies, such as the United States, Europe and Japan. Many of the largest architectural services companies also serve as engineering and construction companies, offering clients a one-stop shop for design, procurement and construction services. Small- and medium-sized architects have found themselves in direct competition with multidiscipline design, engineering and building companies, making it difficult for companies that offer only architectural services to secure contracts for large-scale building projects. Industry profit has declined over the past five years due to competitive pricing pressures.Industry revenue is expected to improve over the five years to 2028 due to a recovery in construction activity, particularly in the United States. The industry will also benefit from a strong increase in global aggregate private investment and greater demand for government and institutional structures, such as healthcare facilities, schools and airports in emerging economies. Interest rates are set to stabilize, limiting demand volatility in downstream construction industries. The Global Architectural Services industry's revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2.7% to $292.4 billion over the five years to 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • Growth in global investment in projects that require architectural services fuels the industry. World GDP, which represents the aggregate health of downstream industries, has increased over the past five years.
  • Architectural services for residential building construction are the industry’s most popular service. Services aimed at the institutional building sector also accounts for a significant portion of demand.
  • Knowledge-based consulting industries are most common in developed countries. This results in a high concentration of industry establishments in North America and Europe.
  • Competitive pricing is key to attracting customers. Architects must be able to deliver a wide range of services at a favorable price.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $259.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The majority of architectural work relates to the design and framework portion of the construction process

  • The Global Architectural Services industry, which is composed of architects that are engaged in the planning and design of residential and nonresidential structures, has benefited from growing demand over most of the five years to 2023.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Global Architectural Services
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Industry performance is set to increase amid a recovering economy

  • The Global Architectural Services industry is expected to benefit from an increase in construction activity over the five years to 2028, especially nonresidential construction, as architects commonly provide building predesign and design services for construction projects.

Biggest companies in the Global Architectural Services

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Gensler
1,276.6
N/A
N/A
Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
765.9
N/A
N/A
AECOM
510.6
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Global Architectural Services
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Residential building projects, Nonresidential building projects and Institutional building projects. Residential building projects is the largest segment of the Global Architectural Services.

Trends and Insights

Residential building projects have increased as a share of revenue due to favorable interest rates

  • This includes single-family and multifamily residential projects. Often, residential projects are less common, as it is less expected for individuals to have the level of disposable income necessary to obtain architectural services.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry is composed of operators primarily engaged in planning and designing residential, institutional, leisure, commercial and industrial buildings and structures by applying knowledge of design, construction procedures, zoning regulations, building codes and building materials.

What's included in this industry?

Basic designingProviding construction phase servicesPlanning and providing predesign servicesInterior designing and providing building fit-out servicesRestoration

Companies

GenslerNikken Sekkei Ltd.AECOM

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNCOMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN (CAD)GREEN BUILDING

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Growth in global investment in projects that require architectural services fuels the industry. World GDP, which represents the aggregate health of downstream industries, has...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Architectural services for residential building construction are the industry’s most popular service. Services aimed at the institutional building sector also accounts for a ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Knowledge-based consulting industries are most common in developed countries. This results in a high concentration of industry establishments in North America and Europe.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Business Locations Charts
  • Share of global output by region in 2024
  • Share of population compared to output in each region in 2024
  • Data tables
  • Share of global output by region in 2024
  • Detailed analysis
  • Geographic spread of the industry across Global, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competitive pricing is key to attracting customers. Architects must be able to deliver a wide range of services at a favorable price.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Most architectural companies are small in size. The industry contains many small architects and sole proprietorships, in addition to a smaller share of medium- to large-scale...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Gensler's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nikken Sekkei Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of AECOM's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Gensler, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nikken Sekkei Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for AECOM, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Architects operate in a highly regulated environment in most developed countries. Still, the regulatory regime seldom crosses national borders, leading to inconsistencies amo...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Labor costs are very high due to the specialized nature of most contracts. Skilled architects are needed to adequately service a variety of markets.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Global Architectural Services industry in Global in 2024?

The market size of the Global Architectural Services industry in Global is $259.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Global Architectural Services industry in 2024?

There are 367k businesses in the Global Architectural Services industry in Global, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Global Architectural Services industry in Global grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Global Architectural Services industry in Global has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Global Architectural Services industry in Global over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Global Architectural Services industry in Global is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Global Architectural Services market in Global?

The biggest companies operating in the Global Architectural Services market in Global are Gensler, Nikken Sekkei Ltd. and AECOM

What does the Global Architectural Services in Global include?

Basic designing and Providing construction phase services are part of the Global Architectural Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Architectural Services in Global?

The company holding the most market share in Global is Gensler.

How competitive is the Global Architectural Services industry in Global?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Global Architectural Services industry in Global.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Global Engineering Services

Complementors

  • Global Insurance Brokers & Agencies
  • Global Commercial Real Estate

International industries

  • Architects in the US
  • Interior Designers in the US
  • Industrial Designers in the US
  • Architects in Canada
  • Interior Designers in Canada

View all industries in Global

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources globally include:

  • United Nations Comtrade
  • Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
  • World Bank

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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