AIA Brooklyn

What AIA Brooklyn does

AIA Brooklyn is the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1894 when Brooklyn was an independent city. It serves over 1,000 architects, making it the second largest AIA chapter in New York State, and operates as a local hub connecting licensed architects, allied design professionals, emerging professionals, and architecture students in Brooklyn. The organization is led by a volunteer board of directors and an executive director, with the chapter president also serving on the board of the affiliated Brooklyn Architects Scholarship Foundation (BASF), a separate 501(c)(3) entity established in 1951.

The chapter does not develop proprietary technology. Its operations run on a WordPress website (aiabrooklyn.org), a digital magazine (PYLON / brooklynpylon.org), Eventbrite for event management, Award Force for awards submissions, and social media platforms. Core products and services include membership programs (AIA Membership, Allied Membership at $500/year, Additional Chapter Membership at $124/year), the annual Brooklyn Design Awards (BKDA), continuing education programs and CEU-accredited webinars (On the Menu series), committees (BKEP for emerging professionals, COTE, CRAN, WIA, Housing, Urbanism), the biennial Brooklyn NOW! exhibition, Architecture Week programming, the Find an Architect public directory, and the BASF scholarship program.

AIA Brooklyn's revenue model combines membership dues, multi-tier corporate sponsorship (Gold at $10,000, Silver at $5,000, Bronze at $2,500, On the Menu webinar at $500), and event registration fees (e.g., $15-25 per person for networking events). Sponsors include building product manufacturers and professional services firms (Andersen Windows, CertainTeed, Brooklyn Solar Works, Huber Engineered Woods, Offit Kurman, among others). The organization operates exclusively within Brooklyn, New York, with no disclosed geographic expansion plans beyond its borough-level remit.

Name

AIA Brooklyn

Legal name

AIA Brooklyn (Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects)

Website

https://aiabrooklyn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AIA Brooklyn is a non-profit professional membership organization and Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, founded in 1894. It serves over 1,000 architects and design professionals in Brooklyn through membership programs, continuing education, the annual Brooklyn Design Awards, and community engagement initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AIA Brooklyn generates revenue through membership dues from architects and allied professionals. Allied Membership is priced at $500 annually, providing access to events, newsletters, directory listings, and member discounts. Additional Chapter Membership for members of other AIA chapters is $124 annually.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorship at multiple tiers: Gold Sponsorship ($10,000), Silver Sponsorship ($5,000), Bronze Sponsorship ($2,500), and On the Menu webinar sponsorship ($500). Sponsors receive benefits including webinar opportunities, event tickets, logo placement, and promotional features.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from event registrations including the SEAoNY Small Practice Summer Social ($15-25 per person) and other chapter programs. Events include CEU credits for professional development.
4. Brooklyn Architects Scholarship Foundation (BASF): BASF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds through an annual golf outing to award scholarships to architecture students in New York City. While a charitable function, this activity also supports member engagement and chapter mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIA Brooklyn is a professional membership organization serving architects and allied design professionals in Brooklyn, New York. The chapter offers membership subscriptions, continuing education programs with AIA LU credits, networking events, the annual Brooklyn Design Awards, scholarship programs through BASF, and committee-based professional development including the Emerging Professionals Committee (BKEP). Revenue is generated through membership dues, corporate sponsorships, and event registration fees.

Product overview

AIA Brooklyn is a professional membership organization (chapter of the American Institute of Architects) founded in 1894, representing over 1,000 architects. The organization offers membership programs (AIA Brooklyn Membership, Allied Membership, and Additional Chapter Membership), design awards (Brooklyn Design Awards), educational initiatives (Architecture Week, Emerging Professionals Committee with BKEP programs), the Brooklyn NOW! biennial exhibition, the Brooklyn Architects Scholarship Foundation (BASF) for students, PYLON Magazine publication, and a Find an Architect directory. The organization also facilitates sponsorship opportunities through Gold, Silver, Bronze, and On the Menu tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AIA Brooklyn Membership Professional membership program connecting Brooklyn architects to over 100,000 AIA professionals nationwide. Provides access to events, continuing education with AIA LU credits, networking, directory listings, and chapter communications.
• Allied Membership Annual membership program for affiliated industry professionals including engineers, surveyors, expeditors, landscape architects, insurance agents, lawyers, accountants, and real estate professionals. Priced at $500/year and includes member pricing for events, newsletter access, email blasts, Allied Member Directory listing, and discounted webinar sponsorship at $350.
• Additional Chapter Membership Annual membership add-on at $124/year for AIA members in good standing with other AIA chapters who want to add Brooklyn Chapter membership. Includes member meeting invitations, e-blast newsletter, member pricing on events, and listing in Find an Architect roster.
• Brooklyn Design Awards (BKDA) Annual design awards program encouraging excellence in architectural design through recognition of outstanding projects in Brooklyn and beyond. Projects judged on design excellence, innovation, environmental responsiveness, technical skill, and social impact. 2025 winners included Frame 122 Apartments (Excellence + Best in Competition), L10 Arts & Cultural Center (Excellence), and four Merit Awards.
• Brooklyn Architects Scholarship Foundation (BASF) Non-profit 501(c)(3) scholarship foundation established in 1951 through a joint program between the Brooklyn Society of Architects and Brooklyn AIA. Awards scholarships to architectural students attending accredited programs in New York City through annual golf outings and fundraising events.
• Brooklyn NOW! Exhibition Biennial online exhibition showcasing projects, practices, and public conversations reflecting Brooklyn's built environment, featuring thematic groupings and public programming in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library.
• Architecture Week Annual week-long nationwide celebration of architecture offering programs including proclamation events, NCARB workshops, Design Like A Girl workshops, Reading The Block studios, and virtual read-alouds for K-12 students to promote architecture to the public.
• Emerging Professionals Committee (BKEP) Committee supporting architects in early career stages through quarterly Ask Me Anything forums, ARE study groups, NCARB workshops, portfolio reviews, networking events, and the EP Friendly Firm Awards program.
• EP Friendly Firm Award Annual award recognizing Brooklyn-based architecture firms that actively support Emerging Professionals through mentorship, licensure guidance, leadership opportunities, and workplace culture. Nominations typically open through August 30.
• PYLON Magazine Chapter's web magazine featuring architecture news, member profiles, and design coverage with archives dating back to 2012. Accessible at brooklynpylon.org.
• Find an Architect Directory Public-facing member directory enabling Brooklyn residents and businesses to find AIA-member architects and design firms for project needs. Firms categorized by specialization and project type including residential, commercial, institutional, and cultural.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ members served as second largest chapter in New York State
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEAoNY (Structural Engineers Association of New York)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA Brooklyn co-hosts the SEAoNY Small Practice Summer Social, a networking event for small practice consulting firms in architecture and engineering. The partnership combines AIA Brooklyn's architect network with SEAoNY's structural engineering membership to foster cross-discipline professional connections.
• AIA NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA Brooklyn is the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, connecting local members to over 100,000 AIA professionals nationwide. The chapter participates in AIA National initiatives including Architecture Week, and chapter leadership includes AIA NYS Directors.
• AIA QueensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA Brooklyn co-hosts the annual BQ Golf Tournament + Dinner Scholarship Fundraiser with AIA Queens, combining chapter scholarship fundraising efforts.
• Brooklyn Borough PresidentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Borough President participates in chapter events including Architecture Week proclamation ceremonies and supports the chapter's civic initiatives.
• Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn NOW! 2026 exhibition hosted at BPL Library for Arts & Culture at 10 Lafayette Avenue, featuring public programming events in collaboration with the chapter.
• EventbritecoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party event ticketing and management platform used for chapter event registration, including BKEP events and Architecture Week programs.
• Gold Sponsors (Various)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsors ($10,000) receive highest tier benefits including webinar opportunities, Design Awards tickets, homepage tile on PYLON, and chapter event access. Sponsors include Kamco New York, Andersen Windows, Brooklyn Solar Works, CertainTeed, DayElevator, Sawkill, BBG-BBGM, 475 Supply, Offit Kurman, Huber Engineered Woods, and Ciot NY.
• Brooklyn Architects Scholarship Foundation (BASF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASF is a separate non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by Brooklyn architects to award scholarships to architecture students. While distinct, BASF maintains close ties with AIA Brooklyn with every chapter president serving on the foundation board. Annual golf outing fundraiser supports student scholarships.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): UK-based global professional membership body for architects. International peer operating a comparable membership, education and design awards model at significantly larger scale.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA National): The national parent organization providing the AIA brand, code of ethics, and CEU framework. Operates broadly across all 50 states with a wider portfolio of resources, advocacy and national programming.
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): National organization overseeing architectural licensure, with which AIA Brooklyn partners on ARE exam preparation. Broader regulatory and credentialing role than the local chapter.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI) New York: Membership organization for land use and real estate professionals with overlap in NYC design and development community. Broader industry focus but serves similar member personas.

Direct peers

• AIA Queens: Sibling NYC borough chapter that co-hosts the annual BQ Golf Tournament scholarship fundraiser with AIA Brooklyn. Comparable in scope, governance structure and member base size.
• AIA New York (Manhattan Chapter): The Manhattan-based AIA chapter and the largest in New York State. Operates the same chapter model serving architects in an adjacent NYC borough, with overlapping member pools and parallel programming.
• Boston Society for Architecture (BSA): Independent regional architecture association serving the Boston area, similar chapter-level model offering membership, continuing education, design awards, and public programming for licensed architects.
• Architectural League of New York: NYC-based nonprofit membership organization for architects and design professionals, offering lectures, exhibitions and competitions. Comparable peer operating in the same NYC design community.
• AIA San Francisco: Major AIA chapter serving the Bay Area architecture community with comparable membership programs, design awards, and continuing education offerings.
• Chicago Architecture Center (CAC): Regional architecture organization offering membership, exhibitions, and design programming in Chicago. Comparable operating model with public-facing exhibitions and member services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/aiabkep
• Xx.com/aiabrooklyn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AIA Brooklyn