AIA is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society. AIA Chicago works to increase public awareness of the built environment and the role architects, contractors, engineers, suppliers, and other allied professionals play in making Chicago one of the world’s leading architecture capitals.  

To join AIA Chicago, simply download and complete the application which fits your membership category by following the appropriate link.

NATIONAL AIA MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:

PLEASE NOTE: these categories require three-tiered (membership in local, state, and national components), and the applications are returned to AIA National, which processes all architect and associate memberships. Each application has the correct return address at the end of the form.

Architect Application (Word document)

Associate AIA Application (Word document)

Graduate Member Application (Word document)

International Associate Application (Word document)

Architects (AIA) - registered architects in any U.S. state.

Associate members (Assoc. AIA) - architectural interns, those working under the supervision of an architect, those that hold a professional degree in architecture, or those that are faculty members in university architecture programs. Associate members cannot be licensed architects.

Recent Graduate members (Assoc. AIA) - this membership is open to those who graduated from an accredited architecture program in the U.S. after January 1, 2008. Membership is free through December 31, 2009. The complimentary membership is not offered at all the local and state components.

International Associates (Intl. Assoc. AIA) - those holding an architectural license or equivalent from a country other than the U.S.

Existing Membership Upgrades - if you are an existing Associate AIA member and have received your license, or a retired or disabled architect member, click here for a Membership Upgrade Form. The requirements for upgrading memberships are listed on the form.

Architect, Associate, Recent Graduate and International Member Benefits -

AIA Local and State Chapters
300 state and local chapters serve AIA members around the country. Local chapter participation provides members the opportunity to network with peers while keeping you connected with issues that affect their business locally. Visit your local chapter web site to learn more about networking activities, educational seminars, and regional updates.

AIA-sponsored Events
Develop key business contacts with industry professionals at Knowledge Communities Conferences and the annual AIA National Convention and Design Exposition.

AIA Publications
Keep up-to-date with the profession’s trends and issues through more than 20 online publications, including AIArchitect, our weekly newsletter. Membership also includes an annual subscription to Architectural Record, the magazine of the AIA.

AIA Knowledge Communities
Here’s your chance to connect with like-minded professionals to learn, collaborate, and share ideas in 26 areas of professional interest. Increase your understanding of a specific area of the profession, from sustainable green design to technology in practice.

AIA Compensation Report
Know your professional value by comparing your compensation performance regionally and nationally.

AIA Advantage and Exclusive Discounts
Save on beneficial products and services offered through strategic partnerships with Dell, UPS, and Bank of America. All of the services you need to keep your business running more efficiently. Keep current with savings on professional resource materials at the AIA Bookstore.

AIA Career Center
Employees can find professional and internship opportunities throughout the nation to advance your career or your practice. Employers can post jobs instantly, search resumes, and choose from thousands of highly qualified candidates.

Professional Education Programs
More than 100 programs per year, most of them free to members. The programs relate to many areas of the architecture and design industry and are held on a regular basis.  

Designight
Membership will include an invitation to the AIA Chicago annual awards dinner, where more than 700 members of the architecture and design industry gather to celebrate and recognize achievements in the categories of Distinguished Building, Interior Architecture, Divine Detail, and Urban Planning.  

Professional Development Conference
Opportunity to attend AIA Chicago’s concentrated professional education series held over a two-day period.   

Invitation to Annual AIA Chicago Holiday Party  

ArchiPages Directory
An expansive directory of architects, firms, members, consultants, products and services in Illinois. ArchiPages contains a listing for each member architectural firm, a list of AIA members and affiliates. A copy is free to every member. Members receive a 10% discount on any ArchiPages advertising booked through Dawson Publications, Inc.

AIA Chicago Job Board
AIA Chicago members receive a $100 member rate for online Job Board listings. Our office also maintains a portfolio of job listings and archive of resumes. 

Chicago Architect Magazine 
Membership includes a subscription to the AIA Chicago publication which contains discussions of important issues related to architects in Chicago, and other information. Members receive a 15% discount on any Chicago Architect advertising booked through magazine publisher McGraw-Hill. 

AIA Construction Documents
For sale in the Chapter office and on this Web site. AIA members receive a 25% discount on all documents.  

Dues are prorated quarterly, with members joining in the fourth quarter paying a full year's dues but receiving memberships through the end of the following year (up to 15 months of membership for the price of 12). The above annual dues amounts are effective for memberships activated from April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008.

AIA CHICAGO LOCAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES: 

Student Application (Word document)

Professional Affiliate Application (Word document)

2008 Affiliate Firm Application (Word document)

The dues for professional affiliates, affiliate firms, and student members are listed on the respective applications.

LOCAL STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Students- Current students enrolled in architecture programs. This membership is open to students from any US University.

Student Member Benefits -

LOCAL AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP

Professional Affiliates – Professional Affiliates can work in architecture firms or related industries in a capacity other than architect. Sales, marketing, finance, legal, etc. are all welcome to join.  

Affiliate Firms - AIA Chicago Affiliate Firm membership is open to non-architecture firms specializing in areas related to architecture or design. Up to three individuals per firm may subscribe to mailings and receive membership benefits under a single Affiliate Firm membership. Additional individuals may join as individual Professional Affiliate members at a discounted rate. 

Professional Affiliate and Affiliate Firm Member Benefits -

Networking Opportunities:

• Professional Education Programs
  More than 100 programs per year, most of them free to members. The programs relate to many areas of the architecture and design industry and are held on a regular basis. These presentations are fantastic opportunities to meet peers and potential business alliance partners. Industries include: architecture, design, construction, engineering, green technologies, interiors, healthcare design, historic preservation, practice management, and religious architecture.  

• Knowledge Communities
  Opportunities to join committees which focus on a particular area of the architecture or design industry. These committees organize and present programs and events throughout the year, and provide occasions to interact with other professionals who have complementary interests and vocations.

• Designight
  Membership will include an invitation to our annual awards dinner, where more than 700 members of the architecture and design industry gather to celebrate and recognize achievements in the categories of Distinguished Building, Interior Architecture, Divine Detail, and Urban Planning. Designight presents an excellent opportunity to celebrate the best in Chicago’s built-environment with leaders of the architecture, design and construction community. 

• Professional Development Conference
  Opportunity to attend AIA Chicago’s concentrated professional education series held over a two-day period.  

• Invitation to Annual Holiday Party

Web Links:
Both Professional Affiliate and Affiliate Firm members have the opportunity to become a sponsor of the AIA Chicago Web site. Any sponsor will be acknowledged via a link to their own company’s site. The links appear on the AIA Chicago Web home page and the AIA Chicago Important Links page. The sponsorship level is $500. Each link remains active for one calendar year. The sponsorship rate is pro-rated from the month of the link's posting.             

ArchiPages Directory:
An expansive directory of architects, firms, members, consultants, products and services in Illinois. ArchiPages contains a listing for each member architectural firm, a list of AIA members and affiliates. A copy is free to every member. ArchiPages is also available for sale to the general public, is featured as a reference guide at many public libraries and is a valuable resource for the Illinois Architecture and Design industry. Members receive a 10% discount on any ArchiPages advertising booked through Dawson Publications, Inc.

Job Board:
AIA Chicago members receive a $100 member rate for online Job Board listings. Our office also maintains a portfolio of job listings and archive of resumes. 

Chicago Architect Magazine: 
Membership includes a subscription to the AIA Chicago publication which contains discussions of important issues related to architects in Chicago, and other information. Members receive a 15% discount on any Chicago Architect advertising booked through magazine publisher McGraw-Hill.  

AIA Construction Documents:
For sale in the Chapter office and on this Web site. AIA members receive a 25% discount on all documents. 

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Riforgiato, Membership Manager for AIA Chicago, at 312-670-7770 or riforgiatos@aiachicago.org.