American Institute of Architects

Professional association for architects

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American Institute of Architects

The American Institute of Architects

Abbreviation| AIA
Formation| 1857; 168 years ago (1857)
Type| Nonprofit
Purpose| Architectural profession

Professional title

| AIA
Headquarters| Washington, D.C., U.S.

Region served

| United States
Membership| 96,000+
Website| www.aia.org

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach programs, and collaborates with other stakeholders in the design and construction industries.[1][2][3]

## History

[edit]

The Octagon House in Washington, D.C., built in 1799 and owned by the American Institute of Architects 1957 stamp commemorating the AIA's centennial

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was founded in 1857 in New York City by a group of thirteen architects.[4] The founding members include Charles Babcock, Henry W. Cleaveland, Henry Dudley, Leopold Eidlitz, Edward Gardiner, Richard Morris Hunt, Detlef Lienau,[5] Fred A. Petersen, Jacob Wrey Mould, John Welch, Richard M. Upjohn, and Joseph C. Wells, with Richard Upjohn serving as the first president. They held their inaugural meeting on February 23, 1857, and invited 16 additional architects to join, including Alexander Jackson Davis, Thomas U. Walter, Frederick Clarke Withers, and Calvert Vaux. There were no architectural schools or licensing laws in the United States at the time, allowing anyone to claim to be an architect.[4]

By March 10, 1857, they had drafted a constitution and bylaws under the name New York Society of Architects. The name was later changed to the American Institute of Architects at the suggestion of Thomas U. Walter. On April 15, 1857, the members signed the new constitution, having previously filed a certificate of incorporation two days earlier.[4] The following year, the constitution was amended to include the mission of promoting the artistic, scientific, and practical aspects of architecture, facilitating professional interaction and camaraderie, raising the profession's standing, and uniting architects for the advancement of the field.[4]

In the 1860s, architects from other cities began joining the AIA. By the 1880s, chapters had been established in Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. As of 2008, the AIA boasted over 300 chapters.[4]

In the mid-1960s, a design competition was held to select an architect for a new AIA headquarters located at 1735 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C. Mitchell Giurgola Architects won the competition but failed to gain approval from the United States Commission of Fine Arts for the design concept. Subsequently, the firm resigned from the commission, and The Architects Collaborative (TAC) was chosen to redesign the building. Led by TAC principals Norman Fletcher and Howard Elkus, the design was ultimately approved in 1970 and completed in 1973.

In 2007, on the organization's 150th anniversary, the building was officially renamed the "American Center for Architecture." It also serves as the home of the American Institute of Architecture Students, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

## Organization

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### Membership

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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has a membership of over 98,000 licensed architects and associated professionals. AIA members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct designed to demonstrate commitment to upholding the highest standards in professional practice and dedication.[6]

AIA offers membership at five different levels:[7]

1. Architect members (AIA): These individuals are licensed to practice architecture by a recognized licensing authority in the United States.
2. Associate members (Assoc. AIA): While they do not hold a license to practice architecture, associate members work under the supervision of an architect in a professional or technical capacity. They may have earned professional degrees in architecture, work as faculty members in architecture programs, or be interns earning credit toward licensure.
3. International associate members: This category is for individuals who hold an architecture license or its equivalent from a licensing authority outside the United States.
4. Emeritus members: These members have maintained AIA membership for 15 consecutive years and are either at least 70 years old or incapacitated and unable to work in the architecture profession.
5. Allied members: Allied members are professionals whose work is related to the building and design communities. This includes engineers, landscape architects, planners, and senior executive staff from building and design-related companies, such as publishers, product manufacturers, and research firms. Allied membership represents a partnership between the AIA and the American Architectural Foundation.

The AIA's most esteemed recognition is the Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) designation. This honor is awarded to members who have made nationally significant contributions to the profession. Approximately 2% of all members, or slightly more than 2,600 individuals, have been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows. Prominent foreign architects may also be elected as Honorary Fellows of the AIA, gaining recognition within the college.[8]

### Structure

[edit]

The AIA operates under the governance of a board of directors and maintains a staff of nearly 200 employees.[9] While the AIA serves as a national organization, its reach is extended through its 217 local and state chapters. Chapters span the United States and its territories. AIA components also operate in several international locations, including the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Canada. These chapters offer programming and direct services to support AIA members at various stages of their professional careers.[10]

In June 2013, the American Institute of Architects unveiled the "Designing Recovery" initiative during CGI America, an annual event of the Clinton Global Initiative. This initiative involved a design contest conducted in partnership with charitable organizations such as Make It Right, SBP, and Architecture for Humanity.[11] The contest focused on single-family housing designs aimed at enhancing the quality, diversity, and resilience of housing in each community.[11] The portfolio of designs, including those from non-winning entries, was made available to communities recovering from natural disasters.[11] Dow Building Solutions sponsored the contest, providing a total prize money of $30,000. The prize was equally distributed among three winning designs from New Orleans, Louisiana; Joplin, Missouri; and New York City.[11]

### Professionalism

[edit]

AIA members actively contribute to their profession and communities by participating in various professional interest areas, ranging from design to regional and urban development. They also engage with professional academies that foster the generation of new ideas and responses. Local components provide support to younger professionals through programs such as the Intern Development Program, Architect Registration Exam preparation courses, and employment referral services.[12]

The AIA organizes an annual conference held in late spring or early summer, which attracts the largest gathering of architects worldwide.[13]

### Public education

[edit]

The AIA attempts to meet the needs and interests of the nation's architects and the public by raising public awareness of the value of architecture and the importance of good design. To mark the AIA's 150th anniversary and to showcase how members have helped shape the built environment, the AIA and Harris Interactive released findings from a public poll that asked Americans to name their favorite 150 works of architecture, America's Favorite Architecture.[14]

### Honors and awards

[edit]

The AIA recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in support of the architecture profession and the AIA.[15]

## Presidents

[edit]

The following individuals served as presidents, all of whom were elevated to Fellows of the American Institute of Architects:[16]

* Richard Upjohn 1857–1876
* Thomas Ustick Walter 1877–1887
* Richard Morris Hunt 1888–1891
* Edward Hale Kendall 1892–1893
* Daniel H. Burnham 1894–1895
* George Browne Post 1896–1898
* Henry Van Brunt 1899–1900
* Robert Swain Peabody 1900–1901
* Charles Follen McKim 1902–1903
* William S. Eames 1904–1905
* Frank Miles Day 1906–1907
* Cass Gilbert 1908–1909
* Irving Kane Pond 1910–1911
* Walter Cook 1912–1913
* Richard Clipston Sturgis 1913–1915
* John Lawrence Mauran 1915–1918
* Thomas Rogers Kimball 1918–1920
* Henry H. Kendall 1920–1922
* William B. Faville 1922–1924
* Dan Everett Waid 1924–1926
* Milton Bennett Medary 1926–1928
* Charles Herrick Hammond 1928–1930
* Robert D. Kohn 1930–1932
* Ernest John Russell 1932–1935
* Stephen F. Voorhees 1935–1937
* Charles Donagh Maginnis 1937–1939
* George Edwin Bergstrom 1939–1941
* Richmond Harold Shreve 1941–1943
* Raymond J. Ashton 1943–1945
* James Richard Edmunds Jr. 1945–1947
* Douglas William Orr 1947–1949
* Ralph Thomas Walker 1949–1951
* Glenn Stanton 1951–1953

* Clair W. Ditchy 1953–1955
* George Bain Cummings 1955–1956
* Leon Chatelain Jr. 1956–1958
* John N. Richards 1958–1960
* Philip Will Jr. 1960–1962
* Henry L. Wright 1962–1963
* J. Roy Carroll Jr. 1963–1964
* Arthur G. Odell Jr. 1964–1965
* Morris Ketchum Jr. 1965–1966
* Charles M. Nes Jr. 1966–1967
* Robert L. Durham 1967–1968
* George E. Kassabaum 1968–1969
* Rex Whitaker Allen 1969–1970
* Robert F. Hastings 1971
* Max O. Urbahn 1972
* S. Scott Ferebee Jr. 1973
* Archibald C. Rogers 1974
* William Marshall Jr. 1975
* Louis de Moll 1976
* John McGinty 1977
* Elmer E. Botsai 1978
* Ehrman B. Mitchell 1979
* Charles E. Schwing 1980
* Robert Randall Vosbeck 1981
* Robert M. Lawrence 1982
* Robert C. Broshar 1983
* George M. Notter 1984
* R. Bruce Patty 1985
* John A. Busby Jr. 1986
* Donald J. Hackl 1987
* Ted P. Pappas 1988
* Benjamin E. Brewer Jr. 1989
* Sylvester Damianos 1990

* Jim Lawler 1991
* W. Cecil Steward 1992
* Susan A. Maxman 1993
* L. William Chapin II 1994
* Chester A. Widom 1995
* Raymond Post Jr. 1996
* Raj Barr-Kumar 1997
* Ronald Arthur Altoon 1998
* Michael J. Stanton 1999
* Ronald L. Skaggs 2000
* John D. Anderson 2001
* Gordon H. Chong 2002
* Thompson E. Penney 2003
* Eugene C. Hopkins 2004
* Douglas L. Steidl 2005
* Katherine Lee Schwennsen 2006
* R. K. Stewart 2007
* Marshall Emmiett Purnell 2008
* Marvin J. Malecha 2009
* George H. Miller 2010
* Clark Manus 2011
* Jeff Potter 2012
* Mickey Jacob 2013
* Helene Combs Dreiling 2014
* Elizabeth Chu Richter 2015
* Russell A. Davidson 2016
* Thomas Vonier 2017[17]
* Carl Elefante 2018[18]
* William J. Bates 2019 [19][20]
* L. Jane Frederick 2020[21]
* Peter J. Exley 2021[22]
* Daniel S. Hart 2022 [23]
* Emily Grandstaff-Rice 2023[24]
* Kimberly Dowdell 2024[25]
* Evelyn M. Lee 2025[26]

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## See also

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* American Architectural Foundation (AAF)
* AIA Columbus, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects
* Architecture Billings Index
* Boston Society of Architects (BSA), a chapter of the American Institute of Architects
* Society of American Registered Architects
* Architecture of the United States
* Architecture of Washington, D.C.

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Dreith, Ben (January 22, 2025). "AIA "extremely concerned" about Trump architecture executive order". Dezeen. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
2. ^ "Architects denounce Trump's call for 'traditional and classical' architecture". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. January 22, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
3. ^ "AIA objects to Trump rule on new policy for procuring designs for federal buildings". Building Design+Construction. February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
4. ^ a b c d e "History of The American Institute of Architects". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
5. ^ "A History of the GHS Research Center". Georgia Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
6. ^ "Become a Member!". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
7. ^ "Rules Of AIA Designations" (PDF). American Institute of Architects. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
8. ^ "AIA College of Fellows". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
9. ^ "AIA Board of Directors". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
10. ^ "Local Components of the AIA". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
11. ^ a b c d PR Newswire (June 13, 2013). "American Institute of Architects, Make It Right, St. Bernard Project and Architecture for Humanity Launch Housing Design Contest to Aid Disaster Survivors". PR Newswire US (Press release). Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
12. ^ "AIA Knowledge Communities". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
13. ^ "AIA Conference on Architecture 2020". Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
14. ^ "America's Favorite Architecture". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
15. ^ "Awards Handbook" (PDF). American Institute of Architects. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
16. ^ "AIA Presidents". American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
17. ^ Massie, Caroline. "Thomas Vonier Elected AIA 2016 First Vice President / 2017 President-Elect". Architect Magazine. Hanley Wood. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
18. ^ Busta, Hallie. "The AIA Announces Carl Elefante as 2018 President". Architect Magazine. Hanley Wood. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
19. ^ Testado, Justine. "William J. Bates inaugurated as 2019 AIA President". Archinect. Archinect. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
20. ^ Keane, Katherine. "William J. Bates Elected 2019 AIA National President". Architect Magazine. Hanley Wood. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
21. ^ Keane, Katharine (June 22, 2018). "Jane Frederick Elected 2020 AIA President". Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
22. ^ "Three new leaders elected at AIA Conference on Architecture 2019". June 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
23. ^ "Dan Hart, FAIA, inaugurated AIA 2022 President (current)". December 13, 2021. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
24. ^ "Three new leaders elected at AIA Conference on Architecture 2019". June 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
25. ^ "Kimberly Dowdell elected AIA's 2024 president". June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
26. ^ "Evelyn Lee, FAIA, inaugurated as AIA 2025 President". December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Institute of Architects.

* American Institute of Architects official website
* American Institute of Architects Records at Syracuse University (60 years of primary source material)
* Florida Institute of Architects Publications Digital Collection', including the American Institute of Architects' Florida Association's Florida Architect, Florida/Caribbean Architect, and others
* AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) (archived 24 March 2011)
* AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Awards (archived 1 May 2004)
* e-Oculus, the AIA New York Chapter's e-zine (archived 29 July 2012)

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