PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the nation’s largest accounting, tax and advisory practices announced the release of its 22nd annual Architectural and Engineering Studies at the organization’s inaugural Mid-Atlantic A&E Summit, held at the Pyramid Club in Philadelphia. Based on a survey of industry participants, the two studies provide architectural and engineering (A&E) firms with comprehensive benchmarking data, multiyear trend analysis and strategic guidance to support informed business decisions in an increasingly complex marketplace.
The studies provide comparative data across key performance indicators — including utilization rates, billing multiples, overhead expenses and balance sheet metrics — with expanded insight into AI adoption trends shaping the A&E industry. This year’s data reveals notable differences: architectural firms saw profitability strengthen in 2025, while engineering firms saw consistent levels of profitability compared to previous years. AI use has become widespread among survey participants — 100% of architectural firms and 82% of engineering firms report current use of AI tools internally, though its application remains concentrated in operations and marketing rather than core design and engineering work.
“Thank you to the firms that participated in this year’s studies and shared their insights,” said David M. Sullivan, Jr., Professional Services Practice Leader at PKF O’Connor Davies. “The 22nd annual studies reflect both the resilience and evolving complexity of the A&E industry. We look forward to continuing to support our clients as they benchmark their performance and plan for long-term growth.”
Backed by decades of industry expertise, PKF O’Connor Davies’ dedicated A&E team delivers specialized advisory, tax and assurance services tailored to the industry’s unique challenges, helping clients optimize performance, manage growth and navigate an evolving business landscape with confidence.
Access the 22nd annual Architectural and Engineering Studies and subscribe to the firm’s Architectural & Engineering e-newsletter at pkfod.com for the latest industry insights, events and resources for A&E firms.