SUPPORTING ASSOCIATIONS
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), based in Washington, DC, is a US based professional organisation that serves US trained architects and design professionals. Since its establishement in 1857, it has grown to 300 chapters, including 5 international chapters, and a membership in excess of 80,000 members.
AIA Middle East, the fifth international chapter, was formed in the UAE in 2010. It was established to serve the professional interests of the growing number of active AIA member architects practicing in the Middle East and North Africa. Equally as important, AIA Middle East will help foster stronger ties between AIA, regional architects and governments in the MENA region.
The Royal Institue of British Architects (RIBA) was founded in 1837, to advance architecture by demonstrating its benefits to society and promoting excellence in the profession. The RIBA has over 40,500 members worldwide. The Gulf Chapter of the RIBA is led by a diverse group of individuals, all specialists in various architectural sectors from education and conservation to design and construction. The RIBA Gulf Chapter was launched at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2009, to expand the RIBA's influence and its aspirations through the following approaches:
- encouraging and facilitating communication between architects, through lectures, seminars and networking events;
- creating links with architectural education centres in the Region, to enable the RIBA to influence positively the quality of design and professional education, as well as supporting Continuing Professional Development
As part of this iniative, the RIBA Gulf Chapter organised the first event GCC-wide student competition for all major architectural universities in the region. Several events, lectures and collaborations have followed to highlight celebrated architecture, as well as discourse on topics such as sustainable design and environmental issues, education, conservation, and the creation of 'places' in a Middle East context.
www.architects24.com is an internet portal for public and commercial buildings where interesting properties throughout the world can be found together with listings of all relevant planning agencies and industry suppliers. User friendly search functions for project-, planner-, industry suppliers-, manufacture-, news-, products-, services and publication directories are made available as well as internet links to industry organizations, museums and universities etc. The international internet appearance of the ABV Architekten- und Bauherren-Verlag GmbH is topped off by up-to-date architectural coverage with a regular newsletter as well as project illustrations and product descriptions. The German counterpart is www.architekten24.de .