Founded in 2003, the Center educates the public about the role and value of good architecture, urban planning, and design in our everyday lives - through walking tours, exhibitions, talks, workshops, competitions, festivals, and children’s programming.
The Center's signature annual event, DesignPhiladelphia, is the oldest design festival of its kind in the country. DesignPhiladelphia showcases the work of over 400 practicing architects, designers, and creative professionals and demonstrates Philadelphia’s reemergence as a 21st century city shaped by design, technology, and collaborative business practices.
The Center is also home to the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA Bookstore, and theCommunity Design Collaborative.
To learn more about hosting meetings and special events at the Center for Architecture, click here.
The Center for Architecture promotes, supports, and demonstrates the ability that architecture and design have to generate innovation, solve problems, enhance daily life, and influence both the perception and the economics of the greater Philadelphia region. Through public engagement, education, and professional/public/private collaboration, the Center consolidates the city's design culture bringing together architects, educators, established manufacturers, civic leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and retailers to build a 21st century city shaped by design, technology, and business.
