For 120 years, the AIA has defined the relationships and terms in design and construction projects through its AIA Contract Documents. With nearly 200 forms and contracts that have been prepared by owners, contractors, attorneys, architects, and engineers from around the United States, these documents have been finely tuned and embraced by the industry, to the point that they are now widely recognized as the industry standard.
The AIA Documents Committee has been a standing committee of the American Institute of Architects since its inception in 1887. Over the years, the committee has gone by several names, but its purpose has remained consistent: develop and maintain reliable, relevant, and rock solid agreements for the A/E/C industry. The Committee has gradually added members since the 1970s and presently features 25 to 30 members from various practices, including insurance experts, legal counsel, and architects from around the country. Today, the committee continues to draft and update suites of Contract Documents on a uniform ten-year cycle. The next releases, in 2017, mark the 130th anniversary of the AIA Documents Committee.