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the American Institute of Architects submitted proposals to design the organization’s new home in downtown.

AIA Houston is moving to the historic 1906 B.A. Riesner Building at 900 Commerce St., near Allen’s Landing, which is the site of the city’s founding.

The move is scheduled sometime in February, according to an AIA announcement.

The organization is currently located in Architecture Center Houston, or ArCH, at 315 Capitol St., Suite 120, of the Albert Thomas Convention Center.

In addition to housing the office of AIA Houston, ArCH provides space for the Houston Architecture Foundation, meeting rooms, and a gallery for rotating architecturerelated exhibitions.

AIA Houston is purchasing almost 8,000 square feet of space in the B.A. Riesner Building. Through the design competition, the organization hopes to develop space to accommodate the varied activities hosted at ArCH that serve its members, visitors and staff. According to a news release, the competition proposals are to showcase building designs that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.

The competition is being held in two stages. Phase one consisted of the design proposal submissions.

An outside jury of experts will select three to five AIA Houston member architecture firms to move on to stage two.

The project scope includes designing a 5,400-square-foot storefront space, a 2,200-square-foot boiler room, a connection between the two areas and restoration of the historic building’s façade along Commerce and Travis streets.

According to AIA Houston’s website, the organization is a nonprofit membership-based association that “promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of the ways in which architecture and urban design influence and enhance the quality of life in” the Houston area.

To learn more about the organization and the competition, visit www. aiahouston.org.