The historic Payne Shoemaker Building, home of the AIA Pennsylvania Headquarters, overlooking the State Capitol

We are the foundation for great architecture in Pennsylvania - advancing, inspiring, and advocating for Pennsylvania's architects.

AIA Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), represents nearly 3,000 architects and industry professionals across the Commonwealth working at the forefront of a nearly $17 billion construction industry.

We advocate for the value of architecture and policies that promote economic prosperity and the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

As a professional association, the chapter provides members with the statewide community, advocacy, and knowledge to affect positive outcomes through the power of design.

Our Strategic Plan Framework

Annual Reports

Mission

Advance, inspire, and advocate for the profession of architecture while providing for the health, safety, and welfare of the built environment and the public.

Vision

Lead our industry with a vision for all issues important to the profession, particularly with regard to energy, the environment, and equity of architecture as a life-sustaining force.

Value

Deliver quality services and tangible benefits to Pennsylvania members and the architecture profession so that we may improve the value of the built environment.

Voice

Advocate as the voice of the construction industry in Pennsylvania in favor of high-quality, sustainable development favorable to the architecture profession.

What We Do

Before a building gets built, it has to be designed. Efficiency, safety, wellness, and longevity are just a few of the qualities that architects design into our buildings to generate value for clients and communities.

As the collective voice of the profession, we represent the architect’s leading role in design and construction to policymakers, the public, and the construction industry in Pennsylvania while advocating for the value of design.

Toxic schools, an affordable housing shortage, rust-belt communities left behind, towns devastated by flooding, abandoned historic buildings, and greenhouse gas emissions. These are just a few of the challenges impacting Pennsylvania’s built environment and communities.

We serve as a trusted resource for our state’s legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders to address the infrastructure, construction, planning, and development issues facing our state.

We advocate for standards, policies, programs, and incentives that empower architects to design a more resilient, sustainable, healthy, and prosperous Pennsylvania for all.

Our Policy Priorities

As licensed professionals, architects regularly face encroachment from those looking to carve out a piece of their business. We work to ensure that architectural services in Pennsylvania are only provided by those who have demonstrated competency through examination, experience, and education.

We educate state legislators on the importance of upholding architects' licensure and establishing mandatory continuing education for the public's health, safety, and welfare.

Building codes define the minimum standard of design and construction for building performance. They are an essential tool architects use to ensure building occupants' basic life safety.

We advocate for the comprehensive adoption of the most up-to-date building codes into Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code (UCC) for greater public safety and accessibility, resilience, long-term cost-savings, and economic benefits.

Policy impacting how architects practice and do business is enacted by our state government including both architectural and non-architectural issues spanning state tax law, legal reform, and procurement.

We support policies and reforms that spur firm prosperity, limit liability without jeopardizing public protection, and promote fair business in the construction industry.

We educate policymakers on the importance of a system that enables firms to focus more time on design that moves our state forward.

Our Policy Issues

Who We Are

AIA Pennsylvania is governed by a Board of Directors made up of board officers (an Executive Committee), representatives elected from eight local AIA chapters throughout the Commonwealth, and appointed volunteer liaisons to the national chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). As the stewards of the association, the board oversees strategic direction and planning, budget, policies, bylaws, and positions.

Meet the Board

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We are the foundation for great architecture in Pennsylvania - advancing, inspiring, and advocating for Pennsylvania's architects.

Mission

Vision

Value

Voice

What We Do

Who We Are

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