AIA 2024: Through the Eyes of a First-Time Attendee

The significance of trade shows was introduced to me early during my onboarding in 2022. Even as an intern for that summer, I noticed their importance, as I noted their effect on social media engagement. Now, working full-time, I’m fortunate to be able to regularly promote these exciting events. Assuming my place as a copywriter, I was taken aback when my supervisor asked if I’d like to attend a show. There was no hesitation – of course I wanted to experience it for myself!

After weaving our way through the lively city of D.C., my colleague and I approached the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It was hard to miss – a giant “AIA” banner hung against the building, boasting the grand event within.

And there was no mistaking where you were once inside, either. The convention center was decorated with signs, colors, and graphics that branded the show. Hundreds of people were busy conversing, taking pictures, and lining up at the nearby coffee vendor. We all wore tags categorizing us based on our level of participation, and I soon learned that this made connecting very easy.

When the doors to the exhibit hall opened, my colleague and I followed the horde of people inside. I vividly remember walking directly to a balcony, overlooking the exhibit floor. Taking the escalators down felt like a cinematic descent into the wonder below. Over 600 booths lined the floor, occasionally broken up by mini theatres. There were five of these theatres, as well as learning booths sprinkled around the show floor. At times, there were up to 16 educational sessions running at a time, adding to the bustling atmosphere. The show was packed with exhibitors, architects, students, manufacturers, and other participants from diverse backgrounds. Upon connecting with a few, I learned that many of them flew internationally to attend the event. In one instance, I even met a university student who traveled from Iran to study architecture in the States! If the size of the show wasn’t a good enough indicator, these interactions were a sobering realization of the scale of what I was a part of.

I found it impossible to walk further than five booths before being flagged down by various company representatives. It wasn’t hard getting sucked into a lengthy conversation, as these weren’t typical salespeople on a mission to get specified. No, many of them were at the corporate level, in the thick of their expertise. This was truly a remarkable opportunity to learn, and I soaked up as much as I had time for. I learned so much about architectural products and their endless usages in design. For example, did you know that a practical, yet overlooked application of bulletproof glass is in automobile showroom design?

There was a sample of everything at the show; anything you could possibly need for a project, it was there. A few trends I took note of were unique wall texturing, acoustic solutions for walls and doors, and realistic woodgrain textures on a variety of surfaces. The options for building software and continuing education platforms were plentiful. Biophilic design also seemed popular, which livened up both internal and external spaces, and made the project appear one with nature. In all, the creativity was inspiring and opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of architecture and design. 

Two days was not enough time to see everything. There was so much to experience, and unlimited opportunities to learn. My favorite part of the show was meeting professionals from every background and getting to know their niche segments of the industry. Many of them inquired about CS, and I was proud to represent us and share my knowledge. I surprised myself with all that I’ve acquired since my hire date. And it wasn’t until I was asked, “How long have you been working for CS?” That I realized, “I’ve been with CS for one year…today, actually.” I’m amazed at how quickly time flies, and how much I’ve learned along the way.

What a way to spend my one-year work anniversary – at the largest architecture and design show in the nation, in our very own capital. I’m grateful to have had this opportunity and proud to be a part of something bigger than myself; something where professionals come together to conceptualize and create meaningful environments – seemingly from nothing – to make the built environment a better place.