The AIA national convention seems to grow bigger and better every year. When the AIA 2004 Convention and Expo met June 10–12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, more than 22,000 building design professionals—the largest convention attendance ever—visited 877 leading-edge companies displaying products and services for the design and construction industry and occupying more than 182,000 square feet of exhibit space. Attendees also collectively earned more than 66,415 learning units from 29 interactive pre-convention workshops, 150 seminars, 49 professional tours of Chicago’s spectacularly varied architecture, and selected AIA/CES Registered Providers.

Attendees also eagerly attended the convention’s daily presentations built on this year’s theme of “Learn. Celebrate. Dream,” which opened with a keynote by Mayor Richard Daley.

• June 10: Celebrated journalist Erik Larson, author of the bestseller, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, discussed the making of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the nation’s first serial killer/media celebrity.
• June 11: Renowned architect Helmut Jahn, FAIA, presented his work as a celebration of architecture and the dreams those celebrations inspire.
• June 12: Author, analyst, and award-winning commentator Virginia Postrel discussed social trends and their economic implications, including the recent trend that focuses on aesthetics and their fundamental importance to our personal, social, and economic lives.

Visit AIArchitect’s coverage of convention highlights.

Next Year: Las Vegas!
If you missed this year’s convention, start planning now to attend the AIA 2005 Convention and Design Exposition, May 19–21, 2005, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas. The casinos, shows, golf courses, Elvis, and neon lights that make Las Vegas the “Entertainment Capital of the World” should provide a fascinating venue though which architects can explore the 2005 convention theme: The Power of Architecture: Imagine, Create, Transform.

The theme centers on the concept that architects have the power—and the responsibility—to shape the communities where people live and work. By creating livable, dynamic spaces; fostering affordable transportation; and creating and protecting “green” spaces in a parched environment, architects can foster economic vitality and build stronger, more vibrant communities. Las Vegas provides an interesting case because it is, in reality, two co-existing communities: the economic driver defined by tourism and entertainment (The Strip), and the community of permanent residents. The architectural dichotomy in these two diverse sides of Las Vegas will make a unique backdrop in which to explore the power and responsibility of design!

For the most up-to-date convention information, visit AIA.org.

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