What Are AIA Contract Documents?
AIA Contract Documents are standardized agreements used across the construction industry to define roles, responsibilities, risk, and payment terms between project participants.
Developed by the American Institute of Architects and are widely used by owners, architects, contractors, and consultants on projects of all sizes.
Official AIA Contract Documents include the AIA seal, which confirms the document is authentic, up to date, and has not been altered from its standard form. Using certified documents helps reduce risk and ensures all parties are working from the same trusted agreement.
Instead of drafting contracts from scratch, teams use AIA documents to establish clear expectations, reduce legal risk, and align on project structure and delivery method.
What Are Contract Document Families
AIA Contract Documents are organized into families based on the project’s structure.
Each family reflects a specific project delivery method, such as design-bid-build, design-build, or construction manager models (CMa or CMc).
Within each family, the documents are designed to work together. This includes agreements between owners and contractors, owners and architects, and supporting consultant and administrative documents.
Choosing the right family is the first step. Once you select the correct family, you can then choose the specific documents needed for your project.
Choosing the wrong AIA contract can create risk, delays, or costly rework.
Which AIA Contract Should You Use?
Learn how to quickly identify the right document family so you can move from project setup to signed agreement with confidence.
How To Find the Right AIA Contract
Answer these 3 questions:
- Who is responsible for the design?
- Who manages construction?
- How complex is the project structure?
Your answers will point you to the correct AIA contract document family.
Quick Decision Guide
| If your project looks like… | Use this family | Next step |
| Separate architect and contractor | Conventional (A201) | View Conventional documents |
| One entity handles design and construction | Design-Build | Explore Design-Build documents |
| Construction manager advising only | Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa) | See CMa documents |
| Construction manager holds risk and builds | Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) | See CMc documents |
| Smaller or straightforward project | Small Projects | Explore Small Project documents |
| Multiple projects under one program | Program Management | View Program Management documents |
| Single family home or remodel | Single Family Residential | Explore Residential documents |
| Highly collaborative with shared risk | Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) | Explore IPD documents |
| Interior construction or FF&E scope | Interiors | Explore Interiors documents |
| Off-site modular fabrication and assembly | Volumetric Modular Construction | Explore Modular documents |
| CMc with enhanced collaboration | Collaborative Construction Management | Explore Collaborative CM documents |
| Maintenance or facility operations | Facility Management | Explore Facility documents |
Common Mistakes
Do not choose a document based on your familiarity with the agreement. You need to focus on the project structure. The right family depends on roles, risk allocation, and delivery method. Not what you used last time.
The AIA Contract Document Families
AIA contract documents are divided into families based on project type or delivery method.
Conventional (A201)
Conventional (A201)
The industry standard for projects where design and construction are separate contracts.
This Conventional family is designed specifically for traditional design-bid-build projects where the owner hires an architect to design the project and a contractor to build it. Â
This conventional family includes:
- Owner-contractor agreements
- General conditions (A201)
- Architect agreements
- Consultant agreements used in the standard design bid build model
Core design-bid-build documents include A101, A102, A103, A104, A105, A107, A201, B101, B102, B103, B104, B105, C401, C402, and related administrative and exhibit documents. Explore all conventional documents.
Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa)
Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa)
Best for owners who hold multiple contracts while the construction manager (CM) advises.
The CMa family includes agreements where the CM provides preconstruction and advisory services without holding trade contracts.
Core documents include A132, A232, B132, C132, and associated forms for cost estimating, scheduling, and coordination. Explore all CMa documents.
Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc)
Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc)
Best for projects where the CM takes on cost and schedule risk.
The CMc family includes agreements for when the construction manager acts as the constructor and may provide a guaranteed maximum price.
Core documents include A133, A134, A201 as paired general conditions, B133, C133, and supporting exhibits and GMP-related documents. Explore all CMc documents.
Collaborative Construction Management
Collaborative Construction Management
Best for projects that require more collaboration than traditional CMc delivery.
The Collaborative Construction Management family builds on the CMc model but incorporates collaborative principles such as shared input during design, open communication, and team-based decision-making across the owner, architect, and construction manager.
Core documents include A135 and B135. Explore all Collaborative Construction Management documents.
Design-Build
Design-Build
Best for a single entity responsible for both design and construction.
The design-builder may contract with architects and construction contractors, as needed. This approach can streamline communication and accelerate schedules.
The design-build family includes:
- Owner and design builder agreements
- Design builder and architect agreements
- Supporting documents
Core design-build documents include A141, A142, A143, B143, C141, and related scope, insurance, and exhibit documents used for integrated delivery. Explore all design-build documents.
Digital Practice
Digital Practice
Best for any project involving digital data, model sharing, or Building Information Modeling (BIM).
These documents are used across multiple families to define how digital data and BIM models are created, shared, licensed, and relied upon.
Core documents include C106, E201, E202, E401, E402, G203, G204, and G205. Explore all Digital Practice documents.
Facility Management
Facility Management
Best for maintenance, operations, and upkeep of existing buildings.
The Facility Management family is used by owners, facility managers, and property managers to hire contractors and consultants for ongoing maintenance, as-needed repairs, and facility-related services. It is not intended for new construction or major renovations.
Core documents include F101, F102, F103, F104, F201, F202, F301, F311, F701, F702, F703, F704, F705, and F706. Explore all Facility Management documents.
Integrated Project Delivery (IDP)
Integrated Project Delivery (IDP)
Best for highly collaborative, complex projects, often in large or private-sector commercial work.
With IDP, all major parties collaborate under a single agreement to improve outcomes and efficiency. This family includes three levels of integrated delivery:
- Transitional forms provide a first step into IPD using structures similar to construction manager agreements. Core documents include A195, A295, and B195.
- Multi-party agreements use a single contract among key participants. The core document is C191.
- Single Purpose Entity (SPE) agreements create a limited liability company to fully integrate planning, design, and construction. Core documents include C195, C196, C197, C198, and C199.
The key concept is shared risk and reward across participants. Explore all IDP documents.
Interiors Family
Interiors Family
Best for interior construction, tenant improvements, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E).
The Interiors family focuses on interior scope, furnishings, finishes, and modifications. It allows procurement of FF&E under separate contracts, preserving the architect’s independence from product sales.
Core documents include A151, A251, A751, B152, and B153. Explore all Interiors documents.
Program Management and Contract Administration
Program Management and Contract Administration
This is best for multiple related projects under one program.
The Program Management family includes agreements that support program-level oversight and coordination across multiple projects.
Core documents include B171, C171, and related program management structures. View all Program Management documents.
Single Family Residential
Single Family Residential
Best for single-family home design, construction, and remodeling projects.
This Single Family Residential family is tailored for residential work and supports multiple project structures, including construction only, design and construction by a home builder, or separate architect and contractor relationships.
Core documents include A110, A111, A112, A113, and B110. Explore all Residential documents.
Small Projects
Small Projects
Best for simpler, lower-risk projects.
This Small Project family includes streamlined agreements intended for projects with limited scope and administrative complexity.
Core documents include A105, B105, and simplified scope and compensation structures. Explore all Small Project documents.
Volumetric Modular Construction
Volumetric Modular Construction
Best for projects using modular construction, where building components are fabricated off-site and assembled on-site.
The Volumetric Modular Construction family is designed for coordinated delivery between owner, construction manager, architect, and modular subcontractor, often using a guaranteed maximum price structure and overlapping design and construction phases.
Core documents include A181, A281, A481, and B181. Explore all Volumetric Modular Construction documents.
How To Choose the Right AIA Contract Family
Want a faster way to decide? Learn how to go from project scenario to exact document selection in minutes.
Working on More Than One Project
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- Access 300+ AIA Contract Documents anytime.
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