AIA Convention Draws Over 18,000

Atlanta, GA, May 18, 2015—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) convention, held in Atlanta May 14 to 16, was attended by between 18,000 and 19,000 architects and members of the A&D community.

An expo larger than a football field showcased 750 manufacturers of products and services.

Moishe Safdie received the architecture of the year award. Safdie’s work ranges from the groundbreaking Habitat 67 in Montreal to the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Edward Mazria--founder of the 2030 Challenge and 2050 Global Imperative, two movements that are addressing climate change—was also honored. The 2030 Challenge is specifically focused on lowering building energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through architecture. The 2050 Imperative, unanimously adopted by the International Union of Architects, is a plan to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the built environment worldwide by 2050.

Also announced at the opening session was the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial, North America’s largest international survey of contemporary architecture, which will launch in October 2015. Supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Biennial will invite the public to engage with architecture in new ways and take part in a global discussion about the future of the field.

Following these announcements and awards, Bill Clinton gave a speech about the Clinton Global Initiative.

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