The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization of architects based out of Washington D.C. and has over 90,000 members. It is one of the most influential architect organizations in the world and has ramifications on how construction and architecture are performed especially in the United States. Moreover, it is the industry-standard process for commercial construction invoicing, making it a very important aspect of real-estate and construction. Once this organization is joined, there are a host of rules that must be followed so that a high standard of quality is delivered.

What Real Estate Developers and Construction Companies Need to Know

According to Contract ERP, “AIA billing (sometimes called the percentage-of-completion method or progress billing) first became prominent in 1888 with the publication of the Uniform Contract.” The AIA was essentially founded to raise the bar in terms of architectural quality and promote a more precise nature for construction as a whole. Professionalism is the cornerstone of the ideals of the AIA and members are expected to export certain qualities and exude professionalism in order to please clients. This has built the image that the AIA produces some of the best architecture work in the world.

The AIA has five tiers of membership that directly relate to licensing privileges. These different licenses alter how much work an architect is allowed to do autonomously. A full-fledged member is allowed to practice anywhere in the United States while an associate member is not technically licensed, but is permitted to work under a licensed architect for the time being. Other variables that determine membership status: the amount of time spent in the organization, if the individual is physically capable of working or if they are licensed in another country. They also have more missions than simply raising professional standards. The AIA also aims to educate people on what good architecture should look like and try to spark public interest.

Conclusion

Overall, the AIA is a massive organization that any contractor or real-estate manager is going to have to be familiar with. The AIA influences everything from architecture licenses to governmental policy on rules and regulations in the construction world. Everything from the strict rules that members must follow the different types of memberships is important to know. Being well-versed in this pertinent organization can help anybody navigate the difficult world of real-estate and construction and enhance their prospects in those fields.