Summary: The deadline for submitting presentation proposals for the 2010 AIA Convention is July 1, 2009. The convention, with the theme “Design for the New Decade,” will be held in Miami, June 10–12, 2010.

The three convention theme presentations will focus on the critical role of design on an ever-widening scale or context:

Building design
The architect focuses primarily on the scale of individual buildings—housing, schools, health-care facilities, and public and private projects—where materials, technologies, typologies, interior space, sustainability, affordability, and preservation come most specifically into play.

City design
Architects’ decisions affect physical space far beyond any one site, involving myriad infrastructure, planning, and ecological issues to serve clients in a range of civic capacities on the neighborhood, community, municipal, and regional scales. More than half of the world’s people now live in cities, reinforcing the city as the primary platform for architecture.

Global design
Many architects, from sole practitioners to those in large interdisciplinary firms, now work internationally. Emerging digital technologies, global talent pools, and the changing political landscape will reinforce the worldwide value and impact of architects’ design expertise.
The AIA encourages proposals from industry leaders and forward-thinking professionals who are on the cutting edge of design, practice, technology, leadership, collaboration, research, training, and mentoring.

Successful proposals will offer programs that contribute to the educational and professional development needs of the AIA and its members. The review committee will evaluate proposals based on:

• Integration of the convention theme
• Well-defined focus and clarity of proposal
• Overall quality and potential to contribute to a well-balanced convention program
• Relevance to the profession and to practitioners’ knowledge priorities
• Timeliness of topic
• How the session will help participants improve their career, practice, and service to the profession or the community
• Whether the session will expand attendees’ perspectives, challenge their thinking during the session, and provoke discussion after the session
• Practical applications of materials or ideas
• Speaker qualifications and experience.

Download the Call for Presentations PDF or visit visit AIA.org.