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Best Practices


What Are the AIA Best Practices?

AIA Best Practices represent the collective wisdom of AIA members and related professionals. As a group, they are

  • A compendium of relevant knowledge gained from experience
  • Immediately applicable to a task at hand
  • Distilled to their essentials
  • Usable information
  • Linked to related resources
  • Kept relevant and up-to-date by inviting feedback from practicing professionals 


What Knowledge Is Included?

The scope of knowledge and information that can be included in AIA Best Practices is unlimited. The collective knowledge of AIA and allied members is a realm that is constantly expanding.

Chapter 1: Understanding Clients
Chapter 2: Clients and Change
Chapter 3: How Clients Choose Architects
Chapter 4: How Architects Choose Clients
Chapter 5: Working with Clients
Chapter 6: Firm Planning
Chapter 7: Marketing and Outreach
Chapter 8: Financial Operations
Chapter 9: Human Resources
Chapter 10: Delivery Methods/Compensation
Chapter 11: Contracts and Agreements
Chapter 12: Risk Management

 

Chapter 13: Technology/Information Systems
Chapter 14: Project Management
Chapter 15: Regulation
Chapter 16: Defining Services
Chapter 17: Planning/Predesign Services
Chapter 18: Design/Construction Services
Chapter 19: Operations/Maintenance Services
Chapter 20: The AIA/The National Component
Chapter 21: The AIA/State Components
Chapter 22: The AIA/Local Components
Chapter 23: Resources for the Public
Addendum: International Professional Practice

Sources include

  • The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice
  • AIArchitect articles
  • Articles from Practice Management Digest and other eNewsletters of the AIA knowledge communities
  • Seminar materials
  • AIA continuing education and online learning programs
  • AIA convention workshop presentations
  • Case studies and articles sponsored by AIA knowledge communities


How Can I Share My Knowledge?

Contributions to AIA Best Practices are welcome at any time and in any form. Completed articles are preferred, but ideas and knowledge are most important. If the topic is worthwhile, we will work with you to develop even the barest outline of an idea. Suggestions for topics are also welcome.

We strongly encourage submissions by practicing professionals, allied professionals, strategic partners, and industry consultants. To encourage contributions, there are no submission forms and no submission deadlines. The only criteria are that articles consist of knowledge gained from experience, immediately applicable to a task at hand.

If you have developed a practice you would like to share with your colleagues or have encountered a situation in which the knowledge of others would be of value to you, write to us at bestpractices@aia.org.