building materials · Philadelphia
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027Booth costs, dates and deadlines: the Philadelphia exhibitor guide
Architects specify what they can touch: AIA 2027 booths in Philadelphia
- Event dates
- May 19–22, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- May 20–21, 2027 (Thu–Fri 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Halls A–E)
- Venue
- Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
4.9 client rating3,000+ exhibitors10,000+ booths builtSince 2015
Quick answers
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design exhibitors. Sources for each AIA Conference on Architecture & Design figure are further down the page.
- When is AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027?
- May 19–22, 2027, at Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia.
- When is the hall open at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design?
- May 20–21, 2027, Thu–Fri 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Halls A–E.
- How big is AIA Conference on Architecture & Design?
- 12,000+ attendees (2026 edition).
- How much is booth space at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design?
- $48.50 per sq ft standard; 10×20 $9,700, 20×20 $21,600, AIA27 rates, paid to the organizer.
- What does a 10×20 booth cost all-in at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in Philadelphia: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. AIA Conference on Architecture & Design bills space and show services separately.
- For AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
- Move-in begins, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through May 19: May 17, 2027.
Official AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 links: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 floor planAIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 exhibitor listAIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 booth space
Everything about AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 in one place
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 (AIA27), produced by The American Institute of Architects |
|---|---|
| Event dates | May 19–22, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | May 20–21, 2027 (Thu–Fri 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Halls A–E) source |
| Venue | Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Organizer | The American Institute of Architects (AIA) |
| Size (2026) | 12,000+ attendees source |
| Who attends | Mostly architecture firms of every size; more than two-thirds licensed architects, 72 countries (AIA27 prospectus) |
| Booth space | $48.50 per sq ft standard; 10×20 $9,700, 20×20 $21,600, AIA27 rates source |
| Next deadline | Move-in begins, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through May 19: May 17, 2027 source |
| Nearest airport | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) |
| Hotels | AIA27's official hotel block at partner hotels near the venue; housing opens January 2027 |
| Official website | conferenceonarchitecture.com |
Official AIA Conference on Architecture & Design resources
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 calendar
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 dates and deadlines
These are the dates the organizer has published for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, listed in order and linked to the pages that state them. The next date is highlighted.
- Move-in begins, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through May 19Exhibitors source
- AIA27 conference opensAttendees source
- AIA27 Expo opens, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Attendees and exhibitors source
- Last Expo day; move-out starts at 4 p.m.Exhibitors source
- Floor must be clear and outbound forms filed by 10 a.m.Exhibitors source
01 Purple at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
Architects specify what they can touch: AIA 2027 booths in Philadelphia
We build AIA27 booths around one full-scale assembly an architect can open, knock on and photograph for the spec, with the section and samples beside it. Freeman's warehouse delivers your crates when move-in starts May 17, and we file the rendering AIA must approve before production.
- Expo May 20–21 · Halls A–E
- 12,000+ at AIA26
- Space from $48.50/sq ft
What makes AIA Conference on Architecture & Design different, and how we build for it
AIA27 is the American Institute of Architects' own conference, so the expo floor is walked by the people who write specifications, more than two-thirds of them licensed architects according to the AIA27 prospectus.The four days carry 300+ continuing education sessions, including expo-credit sessions held on the floor, plus keynotes, architect-led tours and open studios across Philadelphia. The AIA27 Expo opens only on May 20 and 21, with dedicated Expo-only hours, in Halls A to E of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. AIA reviews any display outside its Booth Design and Approval rules before production, so an architect's attention and AIA's approval both have to be earned early.
A full-scale fragment showing the edge, the fixing and the adjacent material, with the product identifier and a detail drawing within reach for the spec.
A comparison surface with room to lay out finishes under honest light, and a quiet corner to talk through a live project away from the aisle.
Expo-credit sessions and short technical talks that explain performance clearly, so time on the floor also counts toward their learning units.
Your team in Philadelphia
Two shops behind your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design booth
Production happens in our own shop in Fishkill, NY, and at our Las Vegas hub, and we ship to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and install with vetted local labor, led by our own project manager on the floor. Expect a 30–45-day build for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, secure storage and a pre-show QA.
When your team gets to Philadelphia, the booth is lit and stocked. You just show up.
New at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
- Philadelphia hosts AIA27
After San Diego in 2026, AIA27 runs May 19–22, 2027 in Philadelphia, with the expo open May 20 and 21, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. East Coast exhibitors trade a cross-country shipment for a short truck run. source
- About three weeks earlier in the year
AIA26 ran June 10–13, 2026; AIA27 opens May 19, 2027. Graphics, freight and show service orders all fall due about three weeks sooner than they did for San Diego, so booth design sign-off moves into early spring. source
Inside AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design rules that shape your booth
Booths must follow AIA27's Booth Design and Approval document; non-compliant displays need a rendering checked by show management, and AIA advises written approval before production to avoid redesign or teardown. We submit at design sign-off and build only after approval.
Every AIA27 booth must carry a paid digital listing, $500 Basic, $750 SMART or $1,500 Maximum, which architects use to shortlist exhibitors. We match booth graphics and product names to the listing so the shortlist leads straight to your assembly.
Direct-to-show freight must arrive in its assigned time slot, which is not your setup time, while Freeman warehouse freight is delivered as move-in begins May 17. We ship heavy assemblies to the warehouse so setup never waits on a truck.
Move-out runs from 4 p.m. Friday, May 21 through Saturday, outbound forms go to Freeman, and the floor must be clear by 10 a.m. Sunday, May 23; empty-container returns can take up to nine hours. We book outbound freight before the show opens.
Programs worth planning for
Continuing education sessions held as part of the AIA27 Expo, among 300+ CE sessions; at AIA26 sessions carried HSW, GBCI, RIBA and AIA LU credit.
Thought leadership sessions, networking events, Expo networking experiences, signage and booth traffic drivers sold on top of booth space through aiasales.
Exhibitors can send unlimited free Expo Passes to customers and prospects, a direct way to bring specifiers from Philadelphia and nearby firms to the booth.
AIA27 is where U.S. architects specify building products in person; choose it over Greenbuild when your buyer is the licensed architect writing the spec rather than the sustainability consultant or green-building owner. Line up AIA Conference on Architecture & Design against every building materials show we build for →
Who exhibits at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
Companies on the AIA27 exhibitor list. See the full list
- James Hardie Building Products
- Nichiha USA
- Sherwin-Williams
- Tremco Construction Products Group
- Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
- Pacific Woodtech
- Parasoleil
- 3M
- Andersen Windows & Doors
- Armstrong World Industries
- ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions
- Autodesk, Inc.
- Benjamin Moore
- BILCO
- American Institute of Steel Construction
- Architectural Woodwork Institute
- Bobrick Washroom/Koala Kare Products
- Smartglass Inc
building materials at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
The industry behind AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
Popular booth sizes at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
AIA27 sells space from 10×10 inlines with 8-foot back drape up to 30×50 islands, and large building product brands take the island rows. For a single product line we recommend a 10×20 with one full-height assembly; facade, glazing and finish families need a 20×20 or 20×30 to show a walk-through fragment.
One full-height assembly, such as an operable window, a door leaf or a cladding section, beside a sample wall and a drawing shelf.
Pictured: Marling Leek, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
The assembly in the middle bay, a finish comparison table at one end and a counter with detail drawings, BIM links and spec text at the other.
Shown: a Purple inline booth for Meghna Colour Chem
See 10×30 rental booths →
A walk-through corner fragment showing two materials meeting, with lighting tested on your finishes and a small meeting table.
Shown: a Purple island exhibit for Timberline
See 20×20 rental booths →
Several assemblies in sequence, a short-talk area for continuing education content and a closed room for firm-level project conversations.
Pictured: Bonomi, a Purple large-format exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's AIA Conference on Architecture & Design price
- Design and a 3D rendering for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, revised until it is right
- The structure, printed graphics, counters and storage your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design plan specifies
- Lighting plus power distribution within the booth at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
- Setup and teardown, with our project manager on the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design floor
- Every AIA Conference on Architecture & Design show-service order and deadline tracked for you
Billed by AIA Conference on Architecture & Design and its contractor
- Exhibit space (paid to The American Institute of Architects)
- Material handling at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, when the space rate does not include it
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
- Booth cleaning, and union labor where the Pennsylvania Convention Center requires it
Rates to plan with for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design:
- Booth space $48.50 per sq ft standard; 10×20 $9,700, 20×20 $21,600, AIA27 rates source
- Premium or corner booth $550 flat per 10×10 on top of the standard rate, AIA27 source
- Required directory listing $500 Basic, $750 SMART, $1,500 Maximum, AIA27 source
- Exhibitor badges 4 Expo badges per 100 sq ft included, AIA27 source
Before you sign, your proposal already estimates each of these show charges, so the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design total is on paper.
Each price is an all-in 2026 rental range for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle; we quote custom builds project by project. Run your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design numbers in the booth cost calculator and the 2026 booth cost guide.
Send us your booth size for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design and what the space needs to do. You hear back within one business day, and a rendering with a fixed AIA Conference on Architecture & Design proposal usually follows within a week. No charge.
Your team walks into a lit, stocked booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
Booths we designed, built and installed: a few to compare for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
Case study · Fabuwood
Fabuwood at KBIS 2026, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
Thirteen cabinetry rooms, an illuminated brand portal and timber slat walls: an award-winning environment designed, built and installed by Purple, named one of the best booths on the floor.
Different buyer, same proof: at KBIS 2026 we built Fabuwood a walk-in cabinetry environment, and architects at AIA27 also trust a full-scale assembly over a catalog page.
Read the Fabuwood case study All case studies →“If you’re looking for a trade show booth expert who shows up and gets the job done right, Purple Exhibits is the real deal.”
Magdalena Kulisz, Service Manager, Miss Immigrant USA · read more client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for building product, facade, glazing, finish and design-technology brands at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
Four things we get right for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design exhibitors
1Get AIA's approval first
AIA27 asks for a rendering of any display that departs from its Booth Design and Approval document, and wants written approval before production. We draw to that document from day one, send the rendering with dimensions and heights, and only release the shop once AIA has signed off.
2One detail, full scale
Architects at AIA judge a product by how it meets the next material. We pick one detail, a sill, a corner, a joint or a door hinge side, and build it at full scale with the section exposed, so the visitor sees the fixing and the tolerance, not a rendering.
3Two days to be found
The AIA27 Expo is open only May 20 and 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every exhibitor must buy a directory listing. We match the booth graphics to your SMART or Maximum listing so the products architects shortlisted online are the first ones they see in Halls A to E.
4Light finishes from the aisle
A textured panel and a glossy laminate need different fixtures. We test your samples under the proposed lights from the visitor's position, check glare and color with your product team, and keep colored spill off the material so the finish matches what ships.
Concept rendering
Your proposal for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design includes a rendering like this one
You see your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design booth in 3D before we cut a single panel: layout, graphics, lighting and product positions, revised until it is right. Pictured: a Purple concept for Fabuwood.
Start my AIA Conference on Architecture & Design conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
The AIA27 Expo fills Halls A to E of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia, open two days with exhibitor access two hours before each opening.
Halls A–E
The AIA27 Expo floor, open May 20 and 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Expo-only hours when no sessions compete.
Our advice We use the two-hour early access each morning to reset samples and test moving assemblies before architects arrive.
Expo-credit session areas
AIA27 runs some continuing education sessions on the Expo floor, part of its 300+ CE sessions.
Our advice A booth near those sessions sees architects between credits; we keep a clear front so the assembly reads as they pass.
Freeman advance warehouse
Crates sent here are delivered to your booth when move-in opens on May 17; direct shipments get a separate arrival slot.
Our advice Warehouse shipping means your freight is waiting on day one, so we always route heavy assemblies this way.
05 Pennsylvania Convention Center · Philadelphia
Logistics for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027, handled
AIA27 moves in at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Monday, May 17 to Wednesday, May 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and freight sent to the Freeman advance warehouse is delivered to booths as move-in begins; direct shipments must arrive in their assigned slot, which is separate from setup time. The Exhibitor Service Manual, with electrical, furnishing, labor and internet forms, opens in January 2027 along with housing. Move-out starts at 4 p.m. Friday, May 21 and runs through Saturday, with outbound Freeman forms due and the floor clear by 10 a.m. Sunday. Every form goes in under our name, and our own project manager stays on site from move-in Monday to the Sunday clear-out.
What Purple handles
- Rendering filed for AIA's written display approval
- Exhibitor Service Manual orders from January 2027
- Freeman advance-warehouse freight and outbound forms
- Full-scale assemblies built and tested before shipping
- Graphics matched to your required directory listing
- Move-in May 17–19 and move-out run by our own project manager
Your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design timeline, from move-in back
Design sign-off for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design is due by early March 2027.
- January 2027Exhibitor Service Manual and housing open; we place electrical, labor and furnishing orders.
- Early March 2027Design sign-off and rendering filed for AIA's written display approval.
- March to April 2027Production in our Fishkill, NY shop over 30 to 45 days, after approval arrives.
- Late April 2027Crates ship to the Freeman advance warehouse for delivery at the start of move-in.
- May 17–19, 2027Move-in, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; our project manager installs and levels every assembly.
- May 20–23, 2027Expo days May 20–21, move-out from 4 p.m. Friday through Saturday, floor clear by 10 a.m. Sunday.
Planning timeline from Purple. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.
Print the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design budget & deadline sheetTravel to AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027
Getting to AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Stay
AIA27's official hotel block at partner hotels near the venue; housing opens January 2027
Find the venue
Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Travel facts from conferenceonarchitecture.com.
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design by the numbers
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design year by year
How AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 compares with other building materials shows
The building materials shows closest to AIA Conference on Architecture & Design on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Every show name links to our exhibitor guide for it.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| World of ModularModular Building Institute (MBI) | April 5–8, 2027 | Orlando, FL | 1,800+ attendees (2026) |
| CoveringsCoverings | April 6–9, 2027 | Orlando, FL | 750 exhibitors (2026) |
| Atlantic Builders ConventionNew Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) | April 6–8, 2027 | Atlantic City, NJ | – |
| NASCCAmerican Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) | April 14–16, 2027 | Denver, CO | – |
| Ceramics ExpoCeramics Expo | April 19–21, 2027 | Cleveland, OH | 1,500+ attendees · 200+ exhibitors (2025) |
| NWFA ExpoNational Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) | April 27–29, 2027 | Fort Worth, TX | – |
| Techtextil North AmericaMesse Frankfurt | May 11–13, 2027 | Atlanta, GA | nearly 400 with Texprocess Americas, from 28 countries exhibitors (2025) |
| Closets Conference & ExpoWoodworking Network | May 18–20, 2027 | Dallas, TX | 1,100 attendees (2024) |
| AIA Conference on Architecture & DesignThe American Institute of Architects (AIA) | May 19–22, 2027 | Philadelphia, PA | 12,000+ attendees (2026) |
| BOMABOMA International | June 26–29, 2027 | Nashville, TN | 300+ exhibiting companies, BOMA 2027 Expo page |
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before AIA Conference on Architecture & Design
When is AIA27?
The AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2027 runs May 19–22, 2027 in Philadelphia. The AIA27 Expo is open Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Expo-only hours; the hall is closed on Saturday, May 22.
Where is AIA 2027 held?
In Philadelphia, with the Expo in Halls A to E of the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Arch Street. AIA26 was held at the San Diego Convention Center, June 10–13, 2026, and AIA25 in Boston.
How much does a booth at AIA27 cost?
AIA27 space starts at $48.50 per square foot: $9,700 for a 10×20, $21,600 for a 20×20 island, plus $550 per premium 10×10 and a required $500 to $1,500 directory listing. Our 10×20 rental runs $7,500 to $15,000 and a custom 20×20 $50,000 to $120,000.
How many people attend the AIA conference?
AIA reports 12,000+ attendees at AIA26 in San Diego and 350+ continuing education sessions. For AIA27 it expects 13,000+ attendees from all 50 states and 70+ countries, and says 96% of conference attendees visit the Expo floor.
Who attends the AIA Expo?
Mostly people from architecture firms of every size. AIA's AIA27 prospectus says more than two-thirds of attendees were licensed architects, 65% have influencing or buying power, and 72 countries were represented, led by the U.S., Canada, Germany, China and the United Kingdom.
Is the AIA Expo open to the public?
The Expo is part of a professional conference, entered with a conference registration or an Expo pass, not a public show. Exhibitors can invite an unlimited number of customers and prospects with free Expo Passes through AIA's referral campaign, so we put the invite link on your pre-show emails; 2027 pass prices are not confirmed yet.
Who organizes AIA27?
The American Institute of Architects, the professional association for U.S. architects, produces the conference and Expo. Booth sales run through AIA's exhibit team and the Map Your Show booth system, and checks for space are made payable to Architecture Expo.
How do we book a booth at AIA27?
Pick space in AIA's online booth sales system on the AIA27 Book a Booth page; booth sales are open. Every booth includes four Expo badges per 100 square feet, and non-island booths get 8-foot back drape and an ID sign. Send us the booth number and we start the drawings.
Does AIA need to approve our booth design?
Displays must follow AIA27's Booth Design and Approval document, and anything outside it needs a rendering checked by show management. AIA advises getting written approval before production to avoid redesign or teardown, so we submit the rendering at design sign-off and build only after it clears.
When are move-in and move-out at AIA27?
Move-in runs Monday, May 17 to Wednesday, May 19, 2027, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Move-out opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 21, continues Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the floor must be clear by 10 a.m. Sunday, May 23.
Do you handle Freeman freight and the Exhibitor Service Manual?
We ship your crates to the Freeman advance warehouse so they reach the booth when move-in opens, file the outbound forms, and place the electrical, labor, furnishing and internet orders from the Exhibitor Service Manual when it opens in January 2027. You get one calendar of every deadline.
When should we sign off our AIA27 design?
Early March 2027. AIA must approve the rendering before we cut material, production takes 30 to 45 days, and crates leave for the Freeman warehouse in late April. Heavy door, glazing or panel assemblies need their weights and dimensions even earlier.
Can we reuse our AIA booth at other shows?
An assembly-led booth travels well to Greenbuild, New York Build, GlassBuild America and IFMA World Workplace. We build it in modules, store it between shows and rewrite the graphics for each audience, from architects to facility managers.
Before you sign with any builder
Ask any AIA Conference on Architecture & Design exhibit builder these five questions:
- Is every fee on the proposal, including what the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design show contractor bills?
- Who actually builds it for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design: your shop or a subcontractor?
- Who from your team is on the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design floor for install and dismantle?
- For AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, what is in the rental and what is billed by the show?
- Where does the booth go after AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, and what does storage cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? Bring it: we refresh the graphics, repair what is worn, ship it, install it at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design and store it until the next show. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to AIA Conference on Architecture & Design.
Exhibiting from outside the US? We handle the ground work for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager replying to your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? A AIA Conference on Architecture & Design rental carrying your graphics can be ready in two to three weeks. On the first call, we tell you what is realistic for AIA Conference on Architecture & Design.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your AIA Conference on Architecture & Design booth
What happens next
- Within one business day, we reply with questions about your products, goals and footprint.
- Within a week, usually, you have a concept rendering and a fixed proposal. Every AIA Conference on Architecture & Design fee listed upfront, in full, on paper.
- Production runs 30–45 days, then we ship to the advance warehouse and install before the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design hall opens.