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Economy Hits Architects In Kansas City

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-836642.mp3

Kansas City, MO – According to a recent report from the Commerce Department, unemployment rates for artists have risen even more rapidly than the rates for U.S. workers as a whole. That doesn't surprise architect Ryan Townsend. He was recently laid off, just one of many Kansas City architects who've been directly affected by a dramatic drop in architectural billings, which reached their lowest point in 13 years this January.

According to Kansas City's chapter of the American Institute of Architects nearly all of its 88 member firms have had layoffs or work reductions - including some of Kansas City's top architecture firms, like BNIM, HNTB, 360 Degree Architecture, and Populous, formerly known as HOK. To find out more, KC Currents' intern Annie Walsh caught up with Ryan Townsend, a friend of hers, at Pecha Kucha, at regular event at Crosstown Station.

She also spoke to Dawn Kirkwood, executive director of KCAIA.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

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