The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has cancelled its upcoming 2020 Conference on Architecture due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The 2020 edition of the conference was originally planned to be held on May 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles but the AIA later decided to postpone the event for a later date. 

In a recent press announcement sent on April 16, the AIA has announced that they will not reschedule the conference to be held this year due to the number of uncertainties they face during this period. The AIA 2020 Conference on Architecture will be held next year, confirmed the AIA.

"After carefully monitoring COVID-19 developments, we have determined that we will not be able to reschedule conference given the number of uncertainties we face as a nation in the coming months," said AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick, FAIA. 

"We believe this decision is in the best interest of the health and safety of our members, colleagues, exhibitors and speakers and out of consideration for all attendees." 

"At this time, we are focusing all of our efforts on assisting our members through these economic uncertainties and supporting their important work in contributing to the COVID-19 response," added Frederick.

Bjarke Ingels was going to deliver a lecture at the 2020 Conference on Architecture

AIA refunds the registration fees

The AIA has announced that they will be refunding the registration fees. Participants can see more information on the AIA Conference on Architecture website.  

Exhibitors, who registered for the 2020 Conference on Architecture, will be able to apply their booth and sponsorship investments in the conference to A’21 in Philadelphia, which will be held June 17-19, 2021, and the AIA will offer incentives to these exhibitors. 

The exhibitors will also be able to receive a full refund, further details on both will be sent to exhibitors, the AIA explained. 

The annual event was going to host over 500 sessions, tours, parties, networking and host over 650 exhibitors at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 

This year, Bjarke Ingels, founder and principal of BIG, was going to deliver a keynote as a special guest. Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress Ashley Judd and architect-trained fashion designer and artist Virgil Abloh were also among the speakers at the event.

AIA is planning to develop a virtual event

The AIA also stated that they are currently working with its partners and vendors to develop a virtual event and additional continuing education offerings for members and architects in 2020. When it is set, they will share the details soon. 

"We are currently looking at options for holding the AIA Business Meeting in 2020 and will communicate with you as soon as we know," said the AIA.

The institution added that they are focusing on other efforts to assist their members through these economic uncertainties and support their important work in contributing to the COVID-19 response. Recently, the AIA has released Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity, providing an in-depth guidance for architecture firms' resiliency. 

The AIA also launched an "assessment tool" to identify alternative care sites for Covid-19, after initiated a new task force to inform public officials, healthcare facility owners and architects on adapting buildings into temporary healthcare facilities.

Many architecture and design events, fairs have been postponed or cancelled so far due to the Covid-19. See the list of architecture & design events, schools, institutions, conferences affected by Covid-19. 

Top image: AIA Conference on Architecture 2018, courtesy of AIA

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