About This Book
AIA Document A201–2017, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, is the standard "keystone" document governing rights and responsibilities on building projects. Published by the American Institute of Architects, it is widely used across the U.S. for traditional design-bid-build projects, where an owner hires an architect and contractor separately.
Key Roles
Although the architect is not a party to the owner-contractor contract, the A201 defines each party's role:
- Owner – The party funding the project and holding title to the land and finished building.
- Contractor – The primary builder responsible for all physical construction.
- Architect – The designer who monitors work, reviews payment applications, and resolves design issues during construction.
Why the A201 Matters
- It serves as a keystone. Related agreements—such as the owner-architect contract and contractor-subcontractor agreements—incorporate its terms by reference, establishing a consistent standard across all parties.
- It allocates risk. It specifies who bears responsibility for unexpected delays, accidents, and errors.
- It defines completion. It establishes what "substantial completion" means—typically the point at which the building is ready for use—which also marks the start of the contractor's warranty period.
Practice Tests Using This Book
This book is required or recommended for 1 licensing exam. We've written 23 practice questions directly from this material, each one citing the chapter and section it comes from.