Resources

AIA Seattle provides the architecture community with the resources to make a difference through design.

Contract Documents

Start your project off right with AIA Contract Documents. AIA contract documents set the industry standard with their reputation of fairness to all parties.

Career

AIA Trust

The AIA Trust offers insurance and benefit programs and serves as a risk management resource for members and components of the American Institute of Architects. Read the AIA Trust Annual Report to discover the growing number of risk management benefits and resources provided by the AIA Trust and designed to enhance AIA Member value.

NCARB

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a nonprofit organization made up of the architectural licensing boards of 55 states and territories. While each jurisdiction is responsible for regulating the practice of architecture within its borders, NCARB develops and administers national programs for licensure candidates and architects to ensure they have the mobility to go wherever their career takes them.

ARE

The Architect Registration Examination® (ARE) assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required in the practice of architecture. AIA National offers a variety of resources to assist you in passing the exam and getting that architect stamp you’ve been working for. AIA Seattle also has a directory of digital resources, and a select set of study materials.

Compensation Reports

Compensation reports are available for purchase from AIA National. Current members of AIA Seattle have access to Compensation Reports from AIA National for review. If you would like to have a digital version of a Compensation Report emailed to you, please complete the Compensation Report Agreement form confirming you will use reports for personal use and not share the reports with others. Return the completed form saved as a PDF with your surname in the document name to info@aiaseattle.org.

AIA National also has a free Salary Compensation Calculator  – a quick assessment tool to supplement the information in the Compensation Reports.

Practice

Racial Justice Resources

Social justice is inextricably linked to the built environment. Architects choose this profession out of a passion to make our communities better. Never has that urge been more important. We have compiled a list of Racial Justice Resources that will continue to be updated, and invite you to contribute to our collective dialogue, learning, and action.

AIA Seattle is committing to a process of transparency in what measurable actions we are taking in our pursuit of racial justice. We have established an evolving list of commitments for the sake of mutual accountability — so you may see what we are doing and tell us where we should be moving in the future. You can also read our statement here.

2030 Commitment

The AIA 2030 Commitment, born out of the 2030 Challenge, was created as a framework to help firms achieve the vision that all new buildings, developments, and major renovations be carbon-neutral by the year 2030. Each year the AIA publishes a report on the progress toward the 2030 goals made by participating firms.

Blueprint for Better

Human activity is warming our climate to dangerous levels, and carbon is the primary culprit. Buildings contribute about 40% of that carbon. The harm that results affects us all but doesn’t impact us all equally. As authors of that environment, architects are crucial to addressing and mitigating the damage. Blueprint for Better is a call to action. AIA, the largest design organization in the world, is asking architects, design professionals, civic leaders, and the public in every community to join our efforts. Help us transform the day-to-day practice of architecture to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, just, and equitable built environment.

Center for Practice

The Center for Practice is a new initiative addressing the needs of AIA members and members’ firms on themes related to prosperity. The mission of the AIA Center for Practice is to facilitate easy and effective access to and integration of relevant AIA resources and services to enable its members’ practices to thrive.

Code of Ethics

In addition to AIA Seattle’s Community Standard there is an expectation that members of the AIA are dedicated to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence. The AIA Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, & Complaint Policy states guidelines for the conduct of Members in fulfilling those obligations.

Disaster Assistance Handbook

The AIA AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook is designed to help architects better understand their role and how to prepare for and respond to disasters. For a brief overview, check out the Disaster Assistance Handbook quick guide.

Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity

Floods, cyber-attacks and the unexpected loss of a team member can easily interrupt operations for any firm. Will you be able to provide clients with the assurance that work will continue despite a disruption? Updated for 2021, the Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity helps firms become more resilient with a step-by-step process and accompanying worksheets for assessing and reducing risks associated with disruption.

Global Practice Primer

The Global Practice Primer is a resource developed by the AIA International Practice Committee, which provides important information to industry members on foreign markets, trade, procurement and practice issues, as well as on the critical cross-cultural aspects of working in international venues. The full AIA Global Practice Primer is available for download.

Guides for Equitable Practice

The Guides for Equitable Practice are a resource that will help you make the business and professional case for ensuring that your organization meets the career development, professional environment, and cultural awareness expectations of current and future employees and clients. Each chapter includes real-world-derived best practices, relevant research, and other tools to help you address a variety of employment and personnel issues about equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Harassment Resources

There is no place in the architectural profession for sexual harassment. If you are an architect/designer, and believe you have been sexually harassed, AIA’s Harassment Resources lays out options for you to consider.

Small Firm

The AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is a resource designed specifically to support small firm practitioners and design professionals. SFx advocates for small firms, promotes Small Firm leadership and professional development and practice, and supports local component roundtables and small firm networks. Visit the Small Firm Exchange homepage to learn more, including how to join SFx.

The AIA Small Firm Compensation Report is dedicated to the unique needs and structure of small architecture firms, including details on benefits offered and detailed compensation tables broken out for six positions by firm type, firm revenue, region of the country, and more. Available for purchase via AIA National website. We are offering read-only copies by returning this signed agreement to info@aiaseattle.org.

COVID-19 Resources

Visit our COVID-19 Resources page for a list of membership-, business- and management-related resources to connect you with what you need. We’ve also compiled resources for returning to the office on our Reopening the Workplace Resources page, as well as Project Related Resources during COVID-19.

Library

Messages from the AIA Seattle Executive Director and White Papers are archived in our online Library.