5 Reasons to send your team to AIA26!

AIA26 drives firm & individual success

AIA26 is more than the architecture and design event of the year—it’s a strategic investment that empowers your team for long-term success. Here are five reasons why sending your team to AIA26 is good for business.

1. Customized professional development

A firm’s success is directly linked to the growth and development of its team members. In fact, 83% of all firms—and 97% of large firms—invest in sending employees to conferences and workshops. AIA26 offers a diverse range of courses, events, and experiences tailored to different career needs, including getting licensed, developing leadership skills, or winning new work. With 350+ CE sessions and themed tracks, there’s something for everyone at your firm—plus the opportunity to earn their CE for the year!

Associates

Leadership & Growth Track: Courses on skill development, getting licensed, advocacy, and professional growth to prepare the next generation of architects.
Multiple Pathways, One Profession: Expanding Access to Architectural Licensure: Learn how NCARB’s multiple licensure pathways are expanding access to the profession.
Mind the Gap: Strategies to Develop Competencies in Emerging Professionals: Discover research-backed strategies for early career architecture professionals that strengthen professional development.

Architects

Design Solutions Track: Courses on exemplary design in commercial, residential, health care, education, and public architecture that balance aesthetics, function, and societal impact.
Negotiating with Confidence: Building a Career That Works for You: Gain practical negotiation strategies to confidently advocate for compensation, flexibility, and career-supporting benefits.
Architects in Work Boots: Participate in an interactive workshop covering real-world construction contract administration scenarios, emerging trends, and common challenges.

Firm owners

Business & Firm Success Track: Courses on winning new work and achieving firm operational success, profitability, and global practice expansion.
Running Your Own Firm: Balancing Business, Risk, and Resilience: Learn how to build a sustainable firm through business planning, risk management, and leadership succession.
The Nuts & Bolts of Succession Planning: Gain practical strategies, industry insights, and guidance on internal succession, ESOPs, M&A, and private equity.

Explore the full schedule—available in February!

2. Team learning & bonding

AIA26 isn’t just about individual growth—it’s a team learning event designed to foster collaboration and innovation within your firm. Workshops, tours, seminars, and beyond encourage teamwork and group problem-solving, cultivating a culture of continuous learning while earning HSW, GBCI, RIBA, and AIA LU credits.

Team bonding is another intangible benefit that strengthens internal relationships and mentorships across career stages. By participating together, you can develop the mentorships that come from mixing staff at various career stages. Check out open studios for behind-the-scenes access to leading San Diego design firms, and pair that with relevant education sessions.

Relevant sessions on firm culture:

Culture Mapping: Unlocking Personal Success
Architecture at a Crossroads: Redefining Business, Culture, and Value

3. Networking with future collaborators

AIA26 is a networking platform like no other, bringing together thousands of architects, designers, and AEC professionals. With nearly 100 networking events, your team can build new connections, discover potential design partners, and identify specialty consultants for future projects. Every new connection represents potential revenue.

Key networking events:

AIA Awards Gala: An inclusive, red-carpet style celebration of this year’s AIA Award winners. Bring your team to meet and be inspired by the best in architecture and design.
Women’s Leadership Luncheon: Female team members will find a unique space where women gather to network, celebrate, and grow—leading to potential mentorships and/or career opportunities.
Small Firm Meetup: The perfect opportunity to make new connections with fellow small firms and learn about small firm practice resources available through AIA.

4. The latest products & materials

The AIA26 Expo is the go-to place for the latest and greatest building products, materials, and solutions. Featuring hundreds of exhibiting companies, the expo is your team’s key to staying competitive long-term. Whether you’re a product specifier or involved in any facet of project design, the expo is the best opportunity of the year to get hands-on with cutting-edge products, innovative materials, and state-of-the-art technologies all in one place.

Plus, we know architecture professionals often lack access to technical experts who can answer their important product questions. That’s why your team can also schedule one-on-one meetings with technical experts from exhibitors in advance using the AIA26 app—making it easy to plan as a group.

5. Discounted member rates

Sending your entire team to AIA26 in San Diego is an investment. That’s why AIA26 offers special AIA member pricing—saving you up to $1,490 per attendee, depending on the rate. Not a member? Join AIA today!

These savings, combined with all the benefits of participating together, make attending AIA26 as a team even more cost-effective.

Early bird discounts for AIA members:

AIA members: $859
Associate & Emeritus members: Save an additional $200!
New members: $159
California-based new members: See your special offer!

Take advantage of early bird pricing (ends April 10) to maximize the value of your investment.

Registration opens in early February—start planning to bring your team today!