AIA | Conference on Architecture & Design 2027

The AIA27 conference will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a multi-use public facility in the Market East section of Philadelphia, designed to accommodate conventions, exhibitions, conferences and other events, and the L-shaped complex occupies four city blocks.

The Center consists of more than 2 million square feet of space, including seven exhibit halls totaling 679,000 square feet of exhibit space, of which 528,000 square feet is contiguous exhibit space. The Center also boasts more than 82 meeting rooms that can be set in banquet, classroom, or theater seating and one of the largest ballrooms in the Northeast. A signature space is the historic Grand Hall: built into the historic Victorian building that was once the Reading Railroad Train Shed, it is a dramatic one-of-a-kind space with a majestic arched ceiling. The Pennsylvania Convention Center opened its doors in 1993 and underwent a substantial expansion that was completed in 2011, which earned LEED Gold certification.

The convention center does not operate its own public garage, but numerous options sit within blocks. There are many parking options, including garages and surface lots, which are conveniently located within blocks of the Pennsylvania Convention Center; the rates for parking along the perimeter of the building vary.

• The PCC does not have its own public garage; the nearest pre-bookable option is the Convention Center Parking Facility at 1324 Arch Street (540 spaces, 8-foot clearance).
• The Philadelphia Parking Authority operates several garages within blocks, including the Autopark at Jefferson (10th and Ludlow), Autopark at the Fashion District (10th and Filbert), and Parkade on 8th (801 Filbert St).
• Event and commuter rates near the PCC average $20–$35 per day via SpotHero, and pre-booking at least 48 hours in advance is recommended during major events.

Because events can draw large crowds, on-street parking in the immediate area is limited, metered, and highly competitive, with strict time limits and active enforcement.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is highly accessible by air, rail, and transit. Philadelphia International Airport is located 7 miles from downtown, and taxis charge a flat fare of $28.50 for rides to the Convention Center District. Uber and Lyft offer rides to the PCC area starting at roughly $23 and $21, respectively.

• From the airport by train: Take the SEPTA Airport Line train to Jefferson Station; trains run every 30 minutes between 5 AM and midnight, travel time from PHL is approximately 25 minutes, and the fare is $6.75 with a SEPTA Key card or mobile ticket ($8.00 onboard).
• Location and transit: The center is easily accessible by car, train, regional rail at SEPTA's Jefferson Station, and bus. The Market-Frankford Line (11th St Station) is one block from the main entrance, and the Broad Street Line (City Hall Station) is three blocks south.
• Rideshare: Race Street on the north side of the PCC is less congested than Arch Street during large conventions.

The venue sits in the heart of Center City, with abundant lodging within walking distance. More than 14,000 hotel rooms and hundreds of restaurants, shops, historical attractions, and cultural institutions are within walking distance of the Center. Two hotels connect directly to the convention center:

• Philadelphia Marriott Downtown — the 1,408-room Philadelphia Marriott Downtown occupies the head house of the former train terminal and adjoins the PCC.
• Aloft Philadelphia Downtown — the smaller 179-room Aloft Philadelphia Downtown is adjacent to the center's Broad Street entrance and has a direct interior connection to the venue.

Additional Center City hotels are clustered within a few blocks. Most nearby hotels fall within a 0.0 to 0.3 mile range, with the majority a four-minute walk or less. Official AIA housing typically opens closer to the event; per the organizer, AIA27 housing will open in early 2027.