The American Institute of Architects introduced its 2007 Update to AIA Contract Documents, which have defined the contractual relationships in the design and construction industry for 120 years. The AIA prepared the 2007 Update, which consists primarily of agreements in the popular A201 family of documents, with input from owners, contractors, attorneys, architects and engineers. The 2007 Update includes 40 revised, updated or new documents, including new owner/architect agreements.
The AIA updates the A201 family on a ten-year cycle to reflect changes in industry trends and practices. The revision process began in 2004, when the AIA solicited industry feedback on the 1997 A201 family of documents from more than a dozen industry groups, including the Associated General Contractors, the Associated Specialty Contractors, the American Subcontractors Association, the Associated Builders and Contractors, the Council of American Structural Engineers, the National Association of State Facilities Administrators, the Commercial Owners Association of America, the American Council of Construction Lawyers, and attorneys from Division 2 and 12 of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry.
The AIA Documents Committee and AIA staff attorneys met with most of the industry groups while working to address their concerns, which included dispute resolution, financial matters, the right to obtain payment information, insurance, the architect’s standard of care and sustainable design. The first drafts of the 2007 agreements were completed in 2005. The AIA sent the drafts out to the industry for review, made revisions to respond to the comments received, and sent out additional drafts in 2006 before finalizing the agreements for the November 2007 release.
