Total Exposure
November 2010
http://totalinteriors.net/
U.S Architects Billings Increase (>50) For the First Time Since
Special points of
2008 By: Gary Seaton Jr.
interest: As discussed in the
first Total Exposure issue,
 Market Analysis
billings by U.S. architects
(page 1)
(Architects Billing Index,
 Big 12 Basketball ABI) is the most accurate
preview (page 2) predictor of future construc-
tion activity. In Kansas City,
 2010 Best of Kan- we expect to see the impact
sas City (page 3) of a respective ABI score
roughly 12 months in ad-
 Want your project
done right? Give us vance. Also recall that any
a call (page 4) score above 50 indicates an
increase in billings while a
score below 50 reflects a con-
traction in design services.
In September of
2010, the ABI “rose above 50
for the first time since Janu-
ary of 2008, suggesting a
recovery in construction
spending is finally under-
way.” After the ABI sunk to
33.9 in January of 2009, its
lowest level since the insti-
tute began tracking data in
1995, billings have been on
the rise and the mood of the
construction industry is in-
52
Expected Construction Spending
50
48
46
44
42
40
38
creasingly positive.
“We’re moving in
the right direction,” said
Kermit Baker, chief econo-
mist of the architects’ insti-
tute. “It certainly looks like
a sustainable recovery on the
commercial and industrial
side.”
“The index for
commercial and industrial
billings rose to 56.3 from
54.6 in August, the fifth
straight gain.”
The graph below
illustrates expected construc-
tion activity based on the
ABI and its impact on the
construction industry 12
months later. From October
of 2010 to September of
2011, construction activity is
expected to increase signifi-
cantly.
My personal
thoughts (I am by no means
an economist): There is
without a doubt a positive
Volume 1, Issue 2
correlation between ABI fig-
ures and future construction
spending. However, the cor-
relation between the two fig-
ures is far from an exact sci-
ence. Because the index is
compiled using feedback
from architects nationally,
it’s difficult to gauge exactly
how/when a particular ABI
score will impact Kansas City
specifically. Further, the
value in the ABI for construc-
tion contractors is to prepare
for the future by taking a “big
picture” perspective. Quite
simply: from October of 2010
to September of 2011, we can
expect market conditions to
gradually improve.
Sources:
Bloomberg, The American
Institute of Architects (links
below).
http://www.aia.org/practicing/economics/AIAS076265
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=ARCHWOTB:IND
 Big 12 Basketball Preview
# 3 Kansas State Wildcats
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=teamreports-2010-ncaab-kab
Kansas State was
bestowed some lofty pre-
season acclaim it never re-
ceived before.
For the first time, the
Wildcats were picked by con-
ference coaches as the Big 12
preseason favorites. In addi-
tion, senior guard Jacob
Pullen was named the pre-
season player of the year.
Many analysts have K-State
slotted in the top 10 to begin
the season.
Fourth-year coach
Frank Martin doesn’t mind
the accolades. He maintains
that is precisely how he wants
his program to be regarded.
But he also knows the validity
of any preseason claims is
based on nothing but poten-
tial.
“All that’s great and
#7 Kansas Jayhawks
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=teamreports-2010-ncaab-kaa
Kansas captured the
Big 12 championship by four
games last season with a 15-1
league finish. The title was its
sixth straight. The Jayhawks
also claimed the postseason
conference tournament.
Yet in the final year
of the conference’s current 12-
team configuration, the Jay-
hawks were not picked to re-
peat by the Big 12 coaches.
Instead, Kansas State, which
has won two of the last 43
meetings in the in-state ri-
#15 Missouri Tigers
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=teamreports-2010-ncaab-mbh
After recruiting a
strong class, which he will mix
with a strong returning nu-
cleus, fifth-year Missouri
coach Mike Anderson sees a
variety of potential.
“The thing I like
about this team coming up
this year, we’ve got more op-
tions,” Anderson said.
Be advised, Ander-
son is big on options. The
frenetic pace he hopes to cre-
ate, which he learned as an
assistant at Arkansas under
Nolan Richardson, requires
depth.
And if promising
newcomers materialize as
dandy, and it makes for news
in October,” Martin said. “But
the reality is that when we
play 16 games against (Big 12
opponents), I wish they told
their teams, ‘Hey, they’re bet-
ter than us. Don’t play as
hard.’”
That won’t happen,
just as Kansas State won’t
catch anyone off guard. The
Wildcats, after reaching the
regional finals of the NCAA
Tournament last season and
setting a school record for
victories by going 29-8, will
get everyone’s best shot.
But enough talent
exists for Kansas State to
counter quite nicely. Pullen
has scored in double figures
in 37 consecutive games and
needs 14 such performances
at the outset of the season to
valry with Kansas, was se-
lected as the preseason favor-
ite.
Gone from that team
are two lottery picks in the
NBA Draft, center Cole Al-
drich and wing Xavier Henry,
as well as the winningest
player in Kansas history,
point guard Sherron Collins.
But it’s not as if
some impressive pieces don’t
exist, beginning with return-
ing forward Marcus Morris,
who was one of the nation’s
expected, Anderson will get to
tap into a long bench. Mis-
souri could go 10 or 11 deep
after settling on a nine-man
rotation much of last season.
Reserves still set a
Missouri record by averaging
31.6 points.
Among those who
should offer an immediate
impact is Ricardo Ratliffe,
who was possibly the top jun-
ior college transfer in the
country.
The 6-foot-8 power
forward averaged 26 points
and 11 rebounds over two
seasons at the College of Cen-
tral Florida, and he gives the
By: Yahoo Sports
break the K-State record held
by Mitch Richmond. Pullen is
coming off a 91-point salvo
in the four NCAA games the
Wildcats played.
He is not alone,
however. Curtis Kelly came
on at the end of the season,
and even more improvement,
and consistency, is expected
of the Connecticut transfer as
a senior. He averaged 11.5
points and 6.2 rebounds last
season, while forward Jamar
Samuels chipped in 11.0 and
4.9 averages as a sixth man.
The addition of 6-foot-10,
280-pound junior college
transfer Freddy Aspirilla en-
ables the Wildcats to play
bigger.
(Continue reading by clicking
the link above).
most improved players a year
ago as a sophomore.
They will lead a
quicker, more athletic team
that figures to fast-break
more, run considerably more
half-court sets and also take
more risks defensively with-
out Aldrich in the middle.
Making up for the big man’s
rebounding and blocked shots
will be a challenge.
(Continue reading by clicking
the link above).
Tigers a burly option on the
low block when they don’t
score off the break.
Alongside Ratliffe,
junior forward Laurence Bow-
ers gives Missouri an emerg-
ing threat after he steadily
improved last season and av-
eraged 10.2 points. He is also
the team’s top returning re-
bounder after averaging 5.7
boards.
(Continue reading by clicking
the link above).
 Page 3
2010 BEST OF KANSAS CITY
http://www.pitch.com/2010-10-07/news/best-of-kansas-city-2010/

Best Place to Hear Live Music: but the restaurant's clam classes.
chowder and rack of lamb are
Knuckleheads Saloon worth a little advance plan- Best Manhattan:

Knuckleheads' outdoor porch ning. For a quick bite, try the The Drum Room
is a honky-tonk dream come Weston Café, where the ome-
lets are plate-sized. At night, As much as we love to see
true. Bikers, cowboys and
descend into one of the two bartenders recognized as the
greasers gather under the
remaining stone cellars at artists that they are, we
neon glow of this East Bot-
O'Malley's 1842 Pub for a pint shouldn't forget that the true
toms roadhouse to commune
of Emerald lager and some measure of a bar is how well it
over smoky blues licks and
live Irish music. If one pint masters the classics. Nowhere
twangy country two-steps.
turns into six, the quaint, hos- is this more evident than at
Grab a seat at the long, lunch-
pitable Saint George Hotel, the Drum Room, located in
room-style tables under the
built in 1845, is only a five- downtown's Hilton President
sheet-metal overhang, kick up
minute walk from O'Malley's. Hotel. Whiskey, sweet ver-
your boots and whip out a
mouth and a dash of bitters
cigar. Best Night Out: shouldn't be hard to screw up,
Best Day Trip: The Culinary Center of Kansas City but you'd be surprised how
many bars serve a flat, overly
Weston, MO At the Culinary Center of Kan- simple variation of the Man-
Steamboats no longer dock at sas City, cooking isn't a chore. hattan that, when done right,
the port of Weston, but you It's a true art. Instead of trad- is as robust and complex as
can pilot your motor car up to ing brain cells for vodka in an the Drum Room's. And don't
the town any day. Just 45 idle evening of martini drink- worry about looking like
minutes north of Kansas City, ing, the Culinary Center helps a Mad Menwannabe when you
the state Route 45 shopping you hone a new skill with your order it with rye. It's how God
district and the historic down- pals. A wide and smartly cu- intended it.
town are made for antiquing. rated range of classes offers
Take your appetite over to instruction in sushi, Cajun
Green Dirt Farm to learn how fare, and pretty much every-
sheep's-milk cheese is made. thing else. All of the learning
That tour neatly complements takes place in a kitchen that
a visit to the Pirtle Winery for looks like it was extracted
a sip of mead or cherry- from some perfect Food Net-
chocolate wine. You'll need a work studio, and you can
reservation at the Vineyards, bring your own bottle to most

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