The dog days of design work struck in August, with architects reporting a drop in billings for upcoming projects, according to the American Institute of Architects. The AIA reported their billings index dropped to 49.1 last month from 54.7 in July. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings, which lead construction activity by nine to 12 months. Inquiries about new projects drooped to 61.8 from 63.7. Architects in the Midwest reported the most billings activity. “This step back is common and something that we have seen over the past several years following a period of sustained growth,” AIA Iowa Executive Director Jessica Reinert said in a release. “This small backslide should not be cause for concern in the industry.”