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2026 Tri-State Conference

November 4 @ 8:00 am - November 6 @ 2:00 pm
$450.00

PLAN TO JOIN US THERE

2026 AIA Tri-State Conference | shaping the future now progress rooted in perspective

November 4–6, 2026 | Pre-Conference Intensives: November 3 Hyatt Regency Princeton | Princeton, NJ

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN WITH EARLY BIRD RATES!

The 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—hosted by AIA New Jersey, AIA New York State, and AIA Pennsylvania—is coming to Princeton, New Jersey. Join architects and design professionals from across the region for three energizing days of learning, inspiration, and connection in one of the Northeast’s most historic and vibrant communities.

What to Expect

Stay tuned for updates on an exciting lineup of conference experiences, including: Pre-Conference Program | Inspiring Keynotes | Innovative Sessions | Architectural Tours | Expo Hall | Design Awards | Networking | Sponsor Opportunities

Networking Opportunities 

We are back in-person! Connect with industry leaders and colleagues from across the Tri-State region in Princeton, NJ. Engage in meaningful conversations, share ideas, and build lasting professional relationships. Get ready for three dynamic days of ideas, design, and connection across the region.

Pre-Conference Program

 Bonus Session! Enhance your conference experience with pre-conference programming and training designed to complement the main conference content and provide deeper learning opportunities.

AIA Tri-State Design Awards | Compete Regionally

Celebrate and Elevate Your Work 2026 Tri-State Design Awards Call for Submissions is NOW OPEN

The Tri-State Design Awards is a biennial program that celebrates outstanding architectural design across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Presented in partnership with the biennial Tri-State Conference, the awards recognize projects that demonstrate design excellence and create meaningful social, environmental, and economic impact for clients, communities, and the built environment. The program honors exemplary work by architects throughout the region, showcasing how thoughtful design can improve lives, strengthen communities, and shape a more sustainable future. Projects of all sizes, budgets, styles, and building types are encouraged, reflecting the diverse ways architecture contributes to the public good. The Tri-State Design Awards celebrate innovation, creativity, and the transformative power of architecture while highlighting the exceptional achievements of AIA members across the region.

Learn More & Start your AIA Tri-State Design Award Submission Today

Submissions are open will be accepted until Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm.  | Entry is open to projects submitted to AIA New Jersey, AIA New York State, or AIA Pennsylvania’s Design Awards programs in 2026, 2025, or 2024. See the 2024 Tri-State Design Awards Submission Gallery State Submission Platforms | NJ Awards  | PA Awards | NYS Awards  | Tri-State Awards Review the Call for Submissions and bookmark the submission platform.

Education Highlights

Inspiring Keynotes Hear from visionary leaders shaping the future of architecture and the built environment.Innovative Sessions Earn up to 24 AIA CES Credits over three days while exploring a wide range of timely and relevant topics.

Featured Tours

Immerse yourself in the architectural and cultural richness of Princeton, NJ. Planned tours will highlight unique spaces. All tours will have AIA CE credits. Additionally, there will be self guided tours available with AIA CE credits!

George Nakashima Woodworkers, Farm and House | Legacy, Landscape & Well-Being: Design Lessons from Raymond Farm & Nakashima Woodworkers 4 AIA LU|HSW | Discover how two iconic design campuses seamlessly integrate architecture, landscape, and craftsmanship to create healthy, resilient environments. Tour the Raymond Farm Center for Living Arts and Design and the Nakashima Woodworkers campus while exploring adaptive reuse, passive design, sustainable materials, and preservation strategies that continue to inspire high-performance, human-centered design.

Princeton University TIGER Plant Tour 1.5 AIA LU|HSW | Go behind the scenes of Princeton University’s innovative TIGER district energy system and discover how geoexchange, thermal storage, and low-temperature hot water distribution are reshaping campus infrastructure. Learn how integrated energy strategies improve building performance, occupant comfort, resilience, and carbon reduction while supporting the future of sustainable campus design.

Princeton Art Museum | Art, Access, and Community: Exploring the New Princeton University Art Museum 2.5 AIA LU| HSW | Explore the new Princeton University Art Museum and discover how contemporary museum design enhances accessibility, sustainability, and the visitor experience. This guided tour examines how daylight, materiality, circulation, and context-responsive planning create an inclusive, resilient cultural destination that strengthens connections between campus, community, and the arts.

Cedar Grove Community Center | The Building That Disappears: Worship, WEllness, and Flexibility at Cedar Grove Community Cente 2 AIA LU|HSW | Discover how award-winning architecture can virtually disappear into the landscape while creating flexible, high-performance spaces for worship, recreation, and community. This behind-the-scenes tour explores innovative structural, mechanical, and detailing solutions that seamlessly integrate architecture, nature, occupant wellness, and adaptable design.

From Dillon Gymnasium to Wellness Hub: Reimagining Health, Recreation, and Campus Life at Princeton University

2 AIA LU| HSW | Explore Princeton University’s new Fitness & Wellness Center and discover how adaptive reuse, mass timber, and wellness-focused design transformed a historic campus landmark into a vibrant destination for health and community. This tour highlights innovative strategies for sustainability, occupant well-being, accessibility, and the integration of historic and contemporary architecture.

Sacred Stone & Cultural Splendor: Architectural Tour of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham 2.5 AIA LU| HSW | Experience one of the most remarkable architectural achievements in the United States with an exclusive tour of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. Explore the integration of traditional craftsmanship, monumental stone construction, contemporary engineering, and site planning while gaining insight into how cultural architecture balances timeless design, modern performance, and large-scale public use.

NJ State Capital |Layers of Trenton: Exploring the Architecture of New Jersey’s Capital 1.5 LU HSW | Join architect John Hatch, FAIA, for a walking tour through Trenton’s historic core and explore how architecture, preservation, and urban design have shaped New Jersey’s capital. Discover how historic landmarks and contemporary civic spaces balance heritage, accessibility, resilience, and community needs to create a vibrant public realm. 

Princeton Watershed Institute Tour 2 AIA LU|HSW | Explore the LEED Platinum Environmental Center at the Watershed Institute, where sustainable design is both performance-driven and educational. Discover how adaptive reuse, high-performance building systems, rainwater management, and site-responsive design create a living laboratory that demonstrates the relationship between architecture, water, and the environment while advancing occupant well-being and environmental stewardship. 

The Other Side of Jackson Street: Persistence of a Self-Sufficient Community 2.5 AIA LU | HSW | Explore Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson Historic District and discover how architecture, planning, and preservation tell the story of one of New Jersey’s oldest African American communities. This guided walking tour examines the lasting impact of segregation, redlining, and urban renewal while highlighting the neighborhood’s cultural heritage, resilience, and the role of design in preserving community identity. 

Expo Hall | CONNECT WITH ARCHITECTS

Explore the latest products, technologies, and services shaping architecture and design. Meet industry-leading vendors, discover innovative solutions, and experience hands-on demonstrations. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available—secure your booth or exclusive sponsorship to reach architects and design professionals across the Northeast. Contact Susan Frear at sfrear@aiapa.org for more detailed information.

Find all Exhibitor and Sponsor Information Here

Spec Academies

The Tri-State Conference will feature Spec Academies led by industry experts, offering in-depth education on specialized topics critical to practice.

Registration and Travel

Princeton is located in Central New Jersey, just 65 minutes from Philadelphia, 1.5 hours from Allentown, New York City and 2 hours from Baltimore Plan now to take advantage of all the Princeton has to offer!

Stay where all the action happens! The 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Princeton, a modern 330-room hotel designed for connection, collaboration, and convenience. Located just two miles from downtown Princeton, the hotel features inviting gathering spaces, complimentary shuttle service to the Princeton train station, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and the added convenience of having all conference sessions, events, and networking opportunities under one roof. Conference Room Block | Reserve your room early and take advantage of the special conference rate of just $179 per night. The discounted room block is limited, and complimentary on-site parking is included. Hotel Registration opens Now

Book your Room

LIST OF ALL AREA ATTRACTIONS Getting to Princeton Princeton is centrally located in New Jersey—approximately 65 minutes from Philadelphia, 1.5 hours from New York City and Allentown, and 2 hours from Baltimore.

  • By Train: Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT (Princeton Junction)
  • By Bus: Greyhound, NJ Transit Bus, Coach USA, Megabus
  • By Car: NJ Turnpike, I-95, US Route 1, Route 206
  • Parking: Metered street parking and downtown garages (map and details available)
  • By Air: Newark Liberty International (39 miles), Philadelphia International (52 miles), Trenton-Mercer Regional Airport, Princeton Airport

Plan now and experience all that Princeton has to offer—architecture, history, culture, and connection.  

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