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Get ready to attend AIA24

Lauren Liles
, Lauren Liles

Here’s everything you need to know!

The information you need, all in one place, to have the best conference experience. Read it, save it, and contact us with any questions!

Before you go

Download the AIA24 app

The AIA24 mobile app is your go-to digital conference companion, featuring real-time conference updates, interactive maps, networking capabilities, and the ability to schedule one-on-ones with exhibitors. You’re also able to build your schedule, favorite exhibitors, and add your own notes.

Download via the App Store or Google Play Store, then log in with the email address you used when you registered for conference.

Note: You cannot use the app to make changes to your registration. If you need to register for keynotes, purchase tickets to an event, or make any other changes, please log in to your registration dashboard.

Build your schedule

Your pre-registered tours, open studios, symposia, and events are listed in your badge confirmation email and automatically added to “My Schedule” in the AIA24 app. To purchase additional tickets or make changes, please log in to your registration dashboard.

Build out the rest of your schedule using the app. Bookmark your favorite CE seminars, workshops, pro series, and expo-credit sessions. Since you cannot register for these sessions in advance, we recommend selecting a first-, second-, and third-choice session during each time slot in case your first choice is full on-site. All seating is first-come, first-seated, so plan to arrive at classrooms early to snag your seat!

Please note your pre-registered and bookmarked sessions will both appear in “My Schedule.” Any session with a program code that starts with ET, EV, or SYM is one you pre-registered for and have guaranteed access to. All other program code prefixes are first-come, first-seated sessions. You can always refer to your badge confirmation email to confirm your pre-registered sessions, too.

On-site, you can check each session’s seat availability using the in-app “Seat Tracker.” Use your bookmarked session program code (WE112 or TH109, for example) to look up how many seats are available starting 30 minutes before each session.

Pack layers, comfortable shoes, & a reusable water bottle

You can expect daytime high temps in the high 70s to mid 80s and evening temperatures in the high 60s. Pack layers that will keep you comfortable, especially since convention centers tend to be well air-conditioned.

Although most sessions will be hosted inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, some tours and other events will be hosted outside. Comfortable shoes are a must, and you may want to consider bringing a hat, sunscreen, close-toed shoes, and a rain jacket or umbrella for late afternoon showers.

Don’t forget your reusable water bottle! Refill stations are located throughout the convention center as part of the building’s commitment to sustainability.

Badge pick up

AIA24 is completely ticket-free this year! The QR code on the front of your badge gets you into sessions and events you’re registered for.

Registration services

Pick up your badge, make schedule changes, check your record of attendance, and add missing credits to your transcript at Registration services, located in the East Salon of Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Hours
Tuesday, June 4: 3-5pm
Wednesday, June 5: 7am-5:30pm
Thursday, June 6: 7am-5:30pm
Friday, June 7: 7am-5:30pm
Saturday, June 8: 7:30am-1pm

Details for your AIA24 experience

Conference hashtag!

If you’re posting on social media, be sure to use the conference hashtag, #AIA24.

Seminar seating: How it works

All seating is first-come, first-seated, so please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to grab a seat.

When adding sessions to your schedule using the AIA24 app, remember that you’re bookmarking favorites you want to attend on-site, not registering for them. Select first-, second-, and third-choice options during each time slot in case your first choice is full before you get to the classroom.

Check seat availability using the in-app “Seat Tracker” from 30 minutes prior to and 15 minutes into each session, and use the interactive maps to quickly and effectively navigate between sessions.

Earning CE credit

Over 375 conference sessions offer CE credit, including HSW, GBCI, ADA, RIBA, and AIA LUs. Please be sure to scan the QR code on the front of your conference badge at the sessions you attend to track your CE credits.

Keynotes

Thursday, June 6: 8:30–9:45am
Arthur C. Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School & Harvard Business School

Friday, June 7: 8:30–9:45am
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent, CNN

Saturday, June 8: 8:30–9:30am
Ruth Carter, President, Ruth Costume Design, Inc.

AIA Design Shop & book signings

Located in the West Salon of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the AIA Design Shop is the place to pick up your AIA products and gear, the official conference t-shirt, home decor, books, as well as meet some of your favorite architects and designers!

AIA Design Shop hours
Wednesday, June 5: 8am–5:30pm
Thursday, June 6: 8am–6pm
Friday, June 7: 8am–5:30pm
Saturday, June 8: 8am–12:30pm

Book signings
Don’t miss these exclusive book signings, all happening at the AIA Design Shop!

Wednesday, 12–12:45pm
Dr. Joseph Allen

Wednesday, 4:15–5pm
Gail Brager, Ph.D.

Thursday, 9:45–10:30am
Arthur C. Brooks

Thursday, 2–2:45pm
Ken Yeang, Hon. FAIA

Friday, 10–10:45am
Carol Ross Barney, FAIA
Ted Flato, FAIA & David Lake, FAIA (Lake|Flato)
Alan Hantman, FAIA
Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA, & Roy Decker, FAIA (Duvall Decker)
Corey Squire, AIA, & Helena Zambrano, AIA

Friday, 3:30–4:15pm
Immigrant Architects Coalition

Parties & receptions

Tickets are still available for several parties and events, including the AIA Awards Gala After-Party where you can mingle with AIA award winners at the historic National Building Museum over drinks and dessert!

Get your tickets now before they’re completely sold out! (See the full list here.) At the event, use the QR code on your conference badge to get in. If your event includes drink tickets, you’ll get them at the door.

Your AIA24 registration also includes free entry to the National Building Museum—only a short 10-minute walk from the convention center! Just show your conference badge at the Visitor Center, June 5-10, for free access. Museum hours are available here.

The AIA24 Expo

We’re creating an AEC networking hub centered around the full product experience from nearly 550 building product manufacturers to immerse you in what’s new, now.

More than ever before, the expo is designed to help attendees connect, discover, learn, and exchange ideas. That’s why we’re introducing five new experiential zones (Inspire, Innovate, Design, Build, Prosper) to foster learning about emerging trends and connection with peers who share common goals.

Inspire

  • Earn CE on topics like sustainability, new ideas and approaches, and social change.
  • Share your inspiration or add a fun photo to the digital mosaic gallery.
  • Take a break or get a massage at the Relax & Recharge Lounge.

Innovate

  • Earn CE on topics like design software and systems, AI, generative design, design simulation, AR/VR, digital twinning, building automation, and the metaverse.
  • Network with attendees at a dedicated space to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions to today’s industry challenges.

Design

  • Earn CE on topics like interior architecture, interior design, design awards, design trends, and designing with AI.
  • Explore AIA’s prestigious award programs showcasing how design can transform communities, people, and the climate.
  • Participate in a live art installation featuring a local Washington, D.C. artist.

Build

  • Earn CE on topics like wood, metal, and concrete construction, project collaboration, material science, sustainable materials, automation, additive construction, and prefab construction.
  • Participate in (and add your name to) a collaborative community building project.
  • Watch a live demo on how to build architectural elements using a large-scale LEGO model.

Prosper

  • Earn CE on topics like practice management, investing, firm finance, careers, business development, and succession planning.
  • Get free career coaching, portfolio reviews, professional headshots, and more at the NextGen Lounge—the home base for students and emerging
  • Find out what architectural style you are with an interactive architect personality profiler.

That’s not all! This year’s expo also features new-to-market product launches, the ability to schedule one-on-one dedicated time with exhibitors and technical experts, the Puppy Park—back by popular demand, and so much more…

Visit the AIA Sample Gallery powered by Swatchbox, where you can explore, touch, learn about, and order material samples, all for free!

Swing by the AIA Booth (#2419)—the conference hub for the AIA community—where you can connect with fellow members, discover member benefits and resources, and get an exclusive preview of the new AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design, set to open in 2025!

Enter to win the Grand Prize Drawing by visiting participating sponsors! Pick up your Bingo Card at either registration or the AIA Booth (#2419) and then visit each corresponding exhibitor for a chance to win cash prizes, including $500, $1,000, and $2,000.

Expo hours

  • Thursday, June 6: 9:45am-5:30pm
  • Friday, June 7: 9:45am–4pm

Information Desk & App Help Desk

Conference questions? Stop by the Information Desk, located in the Grand Lobby.

  • Tuesday, June 5: 3–5pm
  • Wednesday, June 6: 7am–5:30pm
  • Thursday, June 7: 7am–5:30pm
  • Friday, June 8: 7am–5:30pm
  • Saturday, June 9: 7:30am–1pm

Need some help with the AIA24 app? Stop by the App Help Desk, located in the Grand Lobby.

  • Wednesday, June 6: 7am–4pm
  • Thursday, June 7: 7am–4pm

AIA24 Shuttles & public transportation

A free shuttle service will operate between the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and most AIA24 hotels at approximately 10- to 30-minute intervals. Don’t forget your badge because you’ll need it to ride the shuttle.

Attendees requiring ADA transportation should make advance arrangements with the shuttle supervisor by calling (619) 952-7012. Please note: This number is active only during shuttle service hours.

Walking distance hotels include:

  • Hampton Inn Convention Center
  • Homewood Suites Convention Center
  • Washington Marriott Marquis
  • Westin Washington DC Downtown
  • Embassy Suites Convention Center
  • Conrad Washington DC
  • Courtyard Convention Center
  • AC By Marriott Convention Center
  • Moxy Washington DC
  • Cambria Suites
  • Residence Inn Convention Center
  • Morrison-Clark Inn
  • Henley Park Hotel

The Convention Center sits atop the Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center station, served by Metro’s Green and Yellow lines. Alternatively, you can take the Red Line to the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station which is a five-minute walk from the convention center.

Visit WMATA.com for maps, schedules, and more information on traveling by metro or bus.

Sustainability & community impact

We’re prioritizing sustainability at AIA24 with the goal of hosting an event that leaves the D.C. community better off than before, including planning local transportation and tours logistics to minimize carbon emissions, highlighting exhibitors with a commitment to sustainability, and offering educational sessions on climate action.

AIA24 is set to provide a lasting impact on the D.C. community through an estimated $18 million economic boost to the travel, hotel, tourism, and restaurant sectors, in addition to providing a platform for 15,000+ attendees to contribute to community growth and innovation locally and globally.

Accessibility

Closed captioning will be available on screen for all keynote sessions. For classroom and expo CE sessions, you can access closed captioning on your personal device through a URL in each session description in the AIA24 app or scan the QR code posted in each session space.

ASL interpreters will be available at the front of the stage for all keynote sessions. All sessions will have reserved seating for attendees with impaired mobility. For help locating, please ask a staff member or volunteer, and they can direct you.

Scooters for use in the convention center can be borrowed from the Information Desk in the Grand Lobby, based on availability.

AIA Code of Conduct

All participants must abide by this Code of Conduct and all other AIA policies.

The profession of architecture appeals to the highest ideals of design thinking, problem solving, and intellectual exchange in support of protecting the health safety and welfare of society. Participants at AIA conferences, events, and programs reflect a vibrant network of design professionals who come together to learn, grow, and contribute. As such, we expect everyone engaged in our in-person, virtual, or hybrid events to foster a welcoming and safe environment at all times for all participants.

Accordingly, the following is expected of all event participants:

  • DO NOT engage in disruptive or disrespectful behavior. We do not tolerate disruptive or disrespectful behavior, messages, images, or interactions by any participant, in any form, at any aspect of the program including business and social activities, regardless of location.
  • AIA will not tolerate harassment or discrimination based on age, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
  • Harassing or discriminatory posts in an online forum are unacceptable. DO NOT write such posts. Though time, logistics, and legal constraints may not allow AIA to make an immediate determination or take any action during a live chat in an online forum, AIA reserves the right to analyze and take any available action, as appropriate, after the chat, and doing so is not intended to nor does it make any statement about a post.

We encourage everyone to assist in creating a welcoming and safe environment. Please report any concerns, or suspicious or disruptive activity to the General Counsel at generalcounsel@aia.org or the AIA Events team at events@conferenceonarchitecture.com. For discrimination or harassment complaints, please refer to the Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Complaint Policy (PDF).

Save the date!

AIA25 takes place June 4–7, 2025, in Boston. We’ll see you there!