The Committee on Design creates city guides of not-to-miss architecture in the cities they visit. Download a copy and take it on your next trip.

Boston | Columbus | Copenhagen | Denver | Detroit | Houston | Philadelphia | Phoenix | Prague | Seattle | Tokyo + Nagoya+Takayama+Kanazawa

See other conference resources.

The AIA’s previous edition of the Handbook of Architectural Design Competitions was published in 1988. While not wholly outdated, that document needed to be revised in view of the proliferation of the new varieties of competition types and because competitions have become more visible and common. As architectural practice has grown to be more global and as the collaborative nature of the profession’s work has become more linear, the competition model demands a more sophisticated methodology. Download the 2010 edition.

Drawing of the Old City Hall in Columbus, Indiana by Donald Henke, AIA.

The Committee on Design (COD) was founded to promote design excellence among members of the AIA, the broader design community, and the public at large, both nationally and internationally.  The Committee on Design is led by a volunteer advisory group of eight architects and an adjunct leadership team of 11 additional individuals. 

In realizing our mission, we promote a range of activities intended to encourage a dialogue on the art of building. Our goals are:

    to examine and promote knowledge of contemporary design issues; 
    to compare current design and historic precedents; 
    to learn from the contrast or progression of ideas; 
    to advocate leadership roles for architects within the fields of design and planning. 

In addition to visits to and consideration of great architecture, COD also nominates candidates for many of the AIA's most important design awards and organizes design related events at the national convention.  Volunteer assistance and corporate sponsorships are always welcome.

Question? Contact our communications coordinator, Jim Childress FAIA at childress@centerbrook.com.