The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released its updated construction contract documents for 2019. The goal of these changes is to increase flexibility and efficiency within the industry. In this post, we’ll give you a rundown of what to expect with their latest construction management contacts.

Some of these documents are already available via the AIA while others will be rolled out in early 2020.

What is the AIA Construction Management Agreement?

First things first, it’s worth reviewing exactly what the AIA Construction Management Agreement is. It contains standardized construction contract documents intended to make negotiations within the industry much easier.

Click here to learn more about exactly why that’s such a major help. Suffice to say, using the documents is much easier (and cheaper) than trying to produce your own. The AIA has its own full list of general benefits here but this, along with flexibility and ease of interpretation, is one of the primary examples.

Who Is The AIA Construction Management Agreement Made For?

The AIA has documents pertaining to just about every aspect of the construction industry. To access these documents, you need to become a member or pay for a form individually. Be sure to read on, however, as understanding the updates may help you get a firm grasp on whether or not these documents will be useful to you.

Updates to the AIA Construction Management Agreement in 2019

13 New Documents in the CMc and CMa Series

One crucial AIA update is the addition of 13 new documents in the Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) and Construction Manager as Adviser (CMa) series.

The former was released in November while the latter will be available in February 2020.

Updates to Existing CMc Documents

This AIA update hasn’t left old construction management contract forms behind. They’ve gotten a refresh. In the CMc category, forms pertaining to the preconstruction phase have been updated to offer greater flexibility. They also address work completed before the appointing of a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). Other changes include new exhibits for bonds, insurance, and sustainable projects.

New and Updated Forms in the CMc Series:

  • A133-2019
  • A134-2019
  • B133-2019

Updates to Existing CMa Documents

Updates to this series resemble those of the CMc series, only these AIA construction management contract documents apply to contractors who are not constructors.

One crucial update to note is the inclusion of parameters catering to review and analysis processes.

New and Updated Forms in the CMa Series:

  • A132-2019
  • A232-2019
  • B132-2019

Tips for Adjusting to These Changes

The new AIA management contract documents are fairly easy to adopt. Once you have a membership (or buy a form individually) you’ll be able to access and use these documents.

Still, construction management is about much more than just copy-pasting your own information into pre-built forms. It requires a solid understanding of the forms themselves so you know what applications they’re suited towards.

Luckily, the AIA hosts a variety of webinars (free and paid) to help users understand how its contracts work. Like the documents themselves, you can access the webinars via a membership or buy access to single ones.

Conclusion

This year’s updated suite of construction contract documents from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) includes 13 new or revised forms. These forms exist within the CMc and CMa series. You can learn more about the new documents by signing up for the various webinars that the AIA offers. This will help you prepare for adoption of the new forms should they apply to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AIA construction contract?

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) maintains a suite of documents designed to make it easier for professionals in the construction industry to negotiate and communicate with one another. Using these forms is not mandatory; rather, it often just makes things easier from a legal standpoint.

What does AIA stand for in construction?

AIA stands for the American Institute of Architects, an organization with more than 90,000 members dedicated to advancing knowledge and progress in the architecture industry. They are based in Washington, D.C.

What does CMc mean in construction?

CMc refers to a series of documents that the AIA maintains. These documents are formally called Construction Manager as Constructor. Their counterpart is the CMa series, Construction Manager as Adviser.