About Us
About Us
The Message Spreads
By the mid-1860s, architects from other cities wanted to join the AIA, so the members began a series of debates on the best way to include them. Some suggested the AIA invite architects from Mexico and Canada to join, but nothing came of this idea, and the focus returned to architects in other U.S. cities.
While it was obvious that groups should be formed in other cities, the burning question was what to call them. Debate raged over the use of the terms "branch" versus "chapter." Eventually, the membership determined that "branch" had a negative connotation, implying subservience to the Institute, while "chapter" had a more egalitarian tone. With this decided, the membership voted to make their original group the first official chapter. The newly minted New York Chapter of The American Institute of Architects held its first meeting on March 19, 1867. By October the chapter had held four meetings and built a membership of 32 regular members and four associate members.
By 1887, AIA chapters had been formed in Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, Boston, Baltimore, Albany, Rhode Island, San Francisco, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. Today, the AIA has more than 300 chapters, now called components, in the United States and its territories, as well as in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and Hong Kong.
The AIA constitution called for a special meeting to take place annually on February 22 to commemorate the organization of the Institute and the birthday of George Washington. Many of the early meetings were held at the same Delmonico's restaurant where the founders celebrated the creation of the Institute. The AIA held its first convention in New York City on October 22 and 23, 1867. Participants read reports regarding the Institute and its committees and presented papers about advances in the field of architecture. The proceedings of the convention were printed and distributed to the membership. Later editions of the proceedings included reports from chapters and lists of members. Convention proceedings were published until 1931.
These gatherings provide members with opportunities to network, learn about the latest technologies and products, and gain continuing education credits. The AIA's 2005 annual convention, held May 19-21 in Las Vegas, was the largest in AIA history, attracting more than 24,400 registrants.
Convention locations
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