AIA Fellows are recognized with AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.
Architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the College of Fellows. Only 3% of AIA members have this distinction.
Criteria
- AIA architect members who have been in good standing for at least 10 years may be nominated.
- Nominees must have completed 10 cumulative years as an AIA architect member prior to the nomination deadline.
- If uncertainties exist about the period of membership, and after consulting with the local chapter, please contact Membership History to verify the candidate's eligibility prior to preparing the submission.
Objects of nomination
Object One: Design, urban design, or preservation
To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have produced extensive bodies of distinguished work that has been broadly recognized for its design excellence through design, urban design, or preservation. This may be accomplished through individual or organizational effort. Works submitted may be of any size, for any client, of any scope, and reflecting any type of architectural design service.
Object Two: Practice Management, or Practice Technical Advancement
To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of practice.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions through their work in the practice of architecture. Practice management includes firm management, administration, and project management. Practice technical advancement includes specific building types, and technical expertise. For example, practice technical advancement of preservation projects might be based on the architect’s strong commitment to historical research, implementation of unique preservation technique, and coupled with their strong focus on the actual construction implementation to enhance our physical heritage.
Object Three: Led the Institute, or a related organization
To coordinate the building industry, and the profession of architecture.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have actively, efficiently, and cooperatively led the Institute or a related professional organization over a sustained period of time and have gained widespread recognition for the results of their work.
Object Four: Public service, government, industry, or organization
To ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions in public service or work in government or industry organizations through leadership in the development of civic improvements and needed governmental projects, including such elements as conservation, beautification, land-use regulation, transportation, or the removal of blighted areas, or who have clearly raised the standards of professional performance in these areas by advancing the administration of professional affairs in their fields.
Object Five: Alternative career, volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment, or service to society
To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions to one of the following: an alternative career related to architecture that illustrates outstanding achievements that supports the architectural profession; extensive volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment; or service that transcends the customary architectural practice that have wide reaching impacts that serve as a national model.
Object Six: Education, Research, Literature
To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education and training.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions through their work in education, research, or literature. Work in education may be teaching, research, administration, or writing and should have a lasting impact, be widely recognized, and provide inspiration to others in the field and the profession. Research areas may include building codes and standards, specifications, new material applications, or inventions.
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