Western Region is Hotbed of Healthcare Construction

More than half of architecture and engineering firms see the West Coast as the action market for health care construction in 2010 reveals a recent ZweigWhite survey, whose results are being published in the company’s quarterly “Market Advisor” report.

According to the health care survey, 28% of respondents are identifying the Southwest as the hottest geographic area, while 24% are pointing to the Northwest. The Northeast and the Midwest, both at 16%, also fared well. Only 4% respondents pointed to the international arena as where they see potential in 2010.

“Southern California is an active aging market,” says Edward Caruana, president of c|a Architects in Long Beach, Calif. “We feel health facilities, whatever complexion they take on in the future, will be needed in this busy area.”

Additional survey findings include:

• 37% of respondents are optimistic about health care being a hot market this year, but 40% are in the “wait-and-see” mode, and 23% are not touching it.
• 44% of respondents say new hospital projects will lead healthcare in 2010; a significant percentage (32%) say they will work mostly on renovations and upgrades, due to lack of funding for all-new facilities.
• 67% of respondents pointed to lack of financing as the biggest hindrance to this market in 2010.