Differences between AIA and CSI

I've had the great of fortune of having the opportunities to get involved in many organizations. I've also had the awkward position of defending my professional groups from each other. For this article I will focus on my perceptions and involvement with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

This post is organized as my history in CSI, history in AIA, then why I am a member of both. Feel free to jump ahead with the shortcuts if you don't want/have time to read the whole thing.

I First Joined CSI
After a little involvement with AIAS and no involvement in CSI in college, I graduated and started my career. After two years of living life after college and enjoying marriage without children, I realized that I hadn’t really gone anywhere professionally. No one in my office appeared to be involved in anything, so I went with advice given to me before I graduated, “join CSI for networking and education.” Feeling a need to meet architects outside my office, I joined and then went to my first CSI Indy meeting. I don't recall the topic, but do remember everyone being friendly and my now friend David Dixon introducing me to everyone as a new member (we met at that meeting).

I was the typical wallflower, but really enjoyed the educational programs and was within a year asked by Andy McIntyre to join the Membership Committee. From here I met many past presidents and found many similarities to my college fraternity committee work.

Within two years I ran for the Board (unsuccessfully) and assisted on several recruitment projects for the chapter. I also passed my registration exams, had our first son, and acquired my architect license.

My AIA Journey Begins
Now that I am an architect, I joined AIA. The CSI Indy chapter meets every month, but in my first year the AIA Indy chapter had three programs (not counting events with additional fees). The final program was the Transitions Round Table organized by the Young Architects Forum. This program absolutely inspired me with Jim Schellinger of CSO striking a chord with my dreams of owning a firm some day, a program unlike anything I had seen through CSI. I decided to give AIA a second year and emailed the incoming president to volunteer for a committee that may be in need and try to get something out of my membership. This was responded with a co-chair appointment to the Young Architects Forum.

In my two years as co-chair of the YAF, we tried to increase the relevancy of the young architects by hosting an event each month, discussing the current industry trends with leading architects of Indy, and telling our story to anyone who would listen. I've now moved to the office of State Delegate for the opportunity to be on both the Indianapolis and Indiana AIA Boards, and step away from planning and pulling off monthly events.

While CSI was great for me starting my career gaining contacts at several A/E firms and covering nearly every MasterFormat division, AIA provided a different group of contacts and different type of learning. Through the AIA, I’ve learned about the business side of the architect profession while CSI continued to enhance my technical proficiency.

Why I'm a Member of Both
I continue to see great value in both CSI and AIA; I also don’t think both organizations are for everyone; and finally, I don’t think the two groups need to compete against one another. The mission of CSI is to “Advance the process of creating and sustaining the built environment.” The mission of AIA is “the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society.”

CSI fulfills its mission by the creation and support of industry standards such as MasterFormat and GreenFormat, through its certification programs, and by educating its members through local chapter meetings, region conferences and the national convention.

The AIA is focused on the architectural profession, not the AEC industry in general. To fulfill its mission the AIA monitors legislation and advocates changes affecting architects, provide learning opportunities covering topics specific to architects such as liability insurance, firm leadership, and advocates good design. Similarly, the AIA has regions state chapters, and local chapters.

As I stated at the beginning, these two organizations aren’t for everyone. If you aren’t an architect, the AIA doesn’t necessarily provide for your needs. If you aren’t involved with organizing the information for the design, construction or continued maintenance of physical structures CSI won’t offer you as much value. At this point in my career, I’m trying to bridge between my day job as Project Architect designing and coordinating the design team through document production and my future hopes to move into Project Management and firm administration / ownership.

I think the problem with these two organizations is a misunderstanding of their missions. I have encountered many CSI members who have negative things to say about the AIA and specifically because of their lack of focus on the things CSI promotes. Similarly, many members of the AIA look down their noses at CSI members as being some type of less prestigious group. If the two groups could understand their respective roles in the industry, perhaps we could all get along. If AIA didn’t exist, who would lookout for the need for professional registration and architect training so the general public knows when they have a qualified professional designing their built environments? If CSI didn’t exist, who would be working collaboratively to bring all of the construction team members (design, construction, owner, and product representatives) together to find the most efficient and consistent process for documenting design intent and an owner’s requirements? We need both groups and others. Once size won't fit all.

If you found this post helpful, or you disagree with my perceptions please post a comment below. Perception is reality and perception can be changed, though it is hard once that first impression has been made. Thanks for taking the time to read!