ACADIA

The Association for Computer Aided Design In Architecture (ACADIA) is a non-profit organization active in the area of computer-aided architectural design (CAAD).

Mission statement

Begun in 1981, the organization's objectives are recorded in its bylaws: [http://www.acadia.org/?g=bylaws]

ACADIA was formed for the purpose of facilitating communication and information exchange regarding the use of computers in architecture, planning and building science. A particular focus is education and the software, hardware and pedagogy involved in education.

The organization is also committed to the research and development of computer aides that enhance design creativity, rather than simply production, and that aim at contributing to the construction of humane physical environments.

Membership

Membership is open to anyone who subscribes to the objectives of the organization, including architects, educators, and software developers, whether resident in North America or not. An online membership registration form and directory is available via the organization [http://www.acadia.org/?g=membership web site] .

Activities

Annual conference

ACADIA sponsors an [http://www.acadia.org/?g=conferences annual conference] , held in the autumn of each year at a different site in North America. Papers for the conferences undergo extensive blind review before being accepted for presentation (and publication). Membership is not a prerequisite for submission of a paper.

Proceedings

Each year the conference papers are gathered into a proceedings publication which is distributed to members, and available to the public via the organization's web site [http://www.acadia.org/?g=proceedings] .

Competitions

ACADIA has been a pioneer in the use of the web for conducting design competitions. It held its first online competition and review in 1998 [http://www.acadia.org/competition-98/index.html] . The second competition, in which entrants also served as jury, was held in 2001 [http://www.acadia.org/competition-2001/home.html] .

Awards

Started in 1998, "ACADIA Awards of Excellence" are "the highest award that can be achieved in the field of architectural computing" [http://www.acadia.org/?g=awards] . The awards are given in areas of practice, teaching, research and service, with at most one award in each category per year. Past awards [http://www.acadia.org/?g=award_recipients] have recognized various significant contributors to the field of architectural computing.

History

External links

* [http://www.acadia.org Association for Computer Aided Design In Architecture]

Sister organizations

There are a now four sister organizations around the world to provide a more accessible regional forum for discussion of computing and design. The major ones are

*eCAADe - The Association for Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe, since 1982.
*CAADRIA - The Association for Computer Aided Architectural Design in Asia, since 1996.
* [http://www.sigradi.org/ SigGraDi] - Sociedade Ibero-Americana de Gráfica Digital, since 1997.
*ASCAAD - The Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design, since 2001.

Other organizations and resources

* [http://www.caadfutures.org/ CAAD Futures] - Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures, since 1985.
* [http://cumincad.scix.net/ CUMINCAD] - The Cumulative Index of Computer Aided Architectural Design.