Mission

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has served as the leading voice for architecture professionals since its founding in 1857 and continues to be the most prominent membership organization for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners.

With the national association based in Washington, DC, the AIA is also able to meet the needs of its members at the state and local level via nearly 300 chapters both domestically and abroad. The mission of AIA is to serve as a resource for its members, allied professionals, and the general public through advocacy, community, education, and outreach.

AIA Central Valley is the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Our local mission is to serve as the voice of the profession in our 17-county region of central California, and is dedicated to professional development, advocacy and sharing the value and contributions of AIA architects. Our 17 northern California counties we serve include Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba.

The Chapter has been in existence since 1942 and has grown from a group of 5 charter members to a current membership of nearly 600, serving architects, associates working towards licensure, students and allied professionals.

The Chapter holds regular events and activities including: building tours, continuing education programs, design dialogues, joint events with allied associations, Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) preparation classes, a biennial design awards program, and a public-outreach event: Experience Architecture to name a few.

We celebrated our 75th year as a Chapter in 2017. Click below to view our:

“Did You Know?” presentation that includes fun facts and memories about AIACV and its members throughout the years.

Timeline Exhibit featuring our founding firms: Lionakis, Nacht & Lewis, CRM / Carissimi Rohrer McMullen Architects & Planners, Stafford King Wiese Architects, Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture, and HMR (previously Herbert Goodpaster)

Curious what all those letters mean after a design professional’s name? We’re here to help decipher that alphabet soup for you. AIA members fall into different designations based on the status of their license as well as other criteria. With the exception of the Allied category, you’ll see our members using these abbreviations after their name to proudly indicate their AIA affiliation to the public and their clients.

AIA: U.S licensed architects
FAIA: Members elevated to the AIA College of Fellows for exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society
Assoc. AIA: Unlicensed to practice architecture but meeting other professional criteria
Hon. AIA or Hon. FAIA: Honorary members
Intl. Assoc. AIA: Those with an architecture license or equivalent from a licensing authority outside the United States
Allied: Other building- or design-related professionals
Emeritus: Architect or associate members in good standing for at least 15 successive years who meet certain age and/or retirement criteria, who may continue using the designation they had prior to approval of their application for emeritus status

Bylaws

AIA Central Valley Bylaws – revised 2020

The Institute Bylaws

Strategic Plan

2020-2025

MISSION

AIA Central Valley Diversity & Inclusion Statement

AIA Central Valley Housing Position Statement

A Primer on AIA Membership Designations