While this month's ABI indicates a modest increase, the nationwide index foretells an eventual deceleration in the coming months.

Although the pace of new architectural billings continued to slow, the AIA reported increased demand for design services in May.

The latest architectural billings indicate that renovations on existing buildings are outpacing new construction for the first time in decades.

Architectural billings surged and architects' backlog of projects reached an all-time high, indicating the industry's ongoing struggle to keep pace with demand.

Despite concerns over meeting hiring demands, firms end the year on a high note.