Learning Opportunities Drive 85% of Subscribers to ArchitecturalRecord.com

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional development and continuing education are important drivers for web traffic, a new readership study from Architectural Record has found. 85% of subscribers say continuing education is a primary reason they visit ArchitecturalRecord.com; and 43% of them took at least one Architectural Record course in the past year, up nearly 50% from 2009. In the past two years, more than 25,000 architects have taken courses offered at Architectural Record's Online Continuing Education Center.

ArchitecturalRecord.com receives over 184,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million page views each month. Its popular photo sharing gallery is another top traffic driver, with more than 13,000 photos uploaded by users and approved by editors. Hundreds of comments to blogs, features, projects and user-generated content are also posted each month.

Architectural Record spearheaded distance learning in 1997 and is the single largest provider of continuing education courses to the profession. Over the years, more than 600,000 learning units approved by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have been earned through Architectural Record's print and online offerings. Today, over 250 courses spanning 12 subject areas are available in the library, and over 45 of these are also approved by the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED credential maintenance. Architects, designers, construction professionals, and sustainable design experts find exceptional value in Architectural Record's multimedia continuing education program, which emphasizes quality, variety and availability.

"There are many providers of distance learning courses to the profession, but none come from a source as rich in the heritage of education as McGraw-Hill or the design knowledge of Architectural Record," said Laura Viscusi, publisher, Architectural Record. "Architectural Record's Continuing Education Center is synonymous with quality and credibility, and our association with McGraw-Hill Education distinguishes us further. We offer high quality and unique features in our courses, so architects keep coming back."

In 2010, architects, designers, and other construction pros will take 90,000 tests in print and online through Architectural Record, GreenSource, Engineering News-Record, SNAP and the Online Continuing Education Center. Last year, 72,000 tests were taken.

Architectural Record's award-winning editorial team contributes continuing education articles, video courses and interactive tests on a variety of subjects, such as the exterior façade of the Burj Kahlifa and lighting controls featured in Architectural Record, Greensource, and SNAP. The best-in-class Continuing Education Center also offers sponsored courses from building product manufacturers that provide highly specialized technique expertise and insights into new innovations, products and services.

About McGraw-Hill Construction:

McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the construction industry. For more than a century, it has remained North America's leading provider of project and product information, plans and specifications, and industry news, trends and forecasts. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers in the $5.6 trillion global construction industry through Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record, GreenSource, and SNAP. To learn more, visit www.construction.com or follow @mhconstruction on Twitter.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global education and financial information company that plays a crucial role in the knowledge economy with leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Construction