5 Reasons to send your team to AIA24! – AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025

AIA24 drives firm & individual success

AIA24 is so much more than this year’s premier AEC industry event, it’s a strategic investment that empowers your team for long-term success. Here are five reasons why sending your team to AIA24 is good for business.

1. Customized professional development

Success of a firm is directly linked to the growth and development of its individual team members. In fact, 82% of all firms and 86% of large firms pay for employees to attend conferences and workshops. That’s why AIA24 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 nearly 300 CE sessions earning HSW credit and seven themed tracks, there’s something for everyone at your firm.

Associates

The Career Success Track: Courses on skill development, career branding, advocacy, and inclusive practices to prepare the next generation of architects.
Architectural Resolve to Evolve (ARE): Getting Licensed: Learn current tips and information for taking the ARE to improve your chances of licensure from the people designing and operating ARE 5.0.
Charting your Path to Leadership: Building an Impactful Career: Workshop strategies to build agency and skills for long-term impact while reimagining an equitable and inclusive path into the business of architecture.

Architects

The Exceptional Design Track: Courses on exemplary design in commercial, residential, healthcare, education, and public architecture that balance aesthetics, function, and societal impact.
2 + 2: Achieving Outstanding Design: Learn from Fellows and award winners on achieving outstanding design that engages the interests of clients and communities, addresses climate change, and fosters your success as an exceptional practitioner.
AI Generative Imagery for Architects: Get hands-on with AI in this engaging workshop where you can develop core skills and explore vital tools in AI generative imagery.

Firm owners

The Winning Work Strategies Track: Courses on achieving firm operational success, profitability, and global practice expansion.
Staying Relevant: PR, Branding and Storytelling for Design Firms: Learn the components of a successful brand communications strategy that build a memorable brand and grows your bottom line.
Practice Simulation Lab: Workshop strategies for working collaboratively and communicating effectively while under simulated design, economic, and cultural constraints.

2. Team learning & bonding

AIA24 isn’t just about individual growth—it’s a team learning event designed to foster collaboration and innovation within your firm. Your team can participate in workshops, tours, seminars, and beyond that encourage teamwork and group problem-solving. By sending your team together, you’ll cultivate a culture of continuous learning, plus they’ll earn HSW, ADA, GBCI, RIBA, and AIA LU credits in one convenient location for one price.

Time for team bonding is one of those intangibles that builds internal relationships and camaraderie. See how other firms do it by checking out open studios—which take you inside D.C.’s leading design firms—and relevant education sessions. By participating together, you can create social support and develop the mentorships that come from mixing staff at various career stages.

Relevant sessions on firm culture:

3. Networking with future collaborators

AIA24 is more than just a conference—it’s a networking platform like no other, drawing thousands of architects, designers, and AEC industry professionals.

Take your pick from nearly 100 networking events to build new contacts, discover potential design partners, and identify specialty consultants for future projects. Every new connection represents potential revenue.

Key networking events:

AIA Awards Gala: For the first time ever, AIA will be announcing its award winners live at an inclusive, red-carpet style celebration. Don’t miss this opportunity for your team to meet the best in architecture and design.
Opening Night Celebration: Build camaraderie among your team as you enjoy drinks, dessert, entertainment, and stunning exhibits at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery.
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 AIA24 Expo is the go-to place for the latest and greatest building products, materials, and solutions. Featuring nearly 600 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 don’t always have access to technical experts to answer their important product questions. That’s why AIA24 is proud to offer you and your team the ability to schedule one-on-one time for technical advice with leading exhibitors on the expo floor. You can schedule meetings in the AIA24 app (available in May) before the show to plan as a team.

5. Discounted group rates

Sending your entire team to AIA24 in Washington, D.C. is an investment. That’s why AIA24 offers special AIA member pricing and discounted group rates. Those savings, combined with all the benefits of participating together, make attending AIA24 as a team more cost-effective than sending multiple individual attendees.

Early bird discounts for AIA members:

Architect member, $759
Associate member, $599
New member, $159

Take advantage of early bird (until April 10) and advance rate (until May 8) discounts in addition to special group rates—which can save you up to an additional 20%—to maximize the value of your investment. To learn more about discounted group rates, email us at event@conferenceonarchitecture.com.

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