Book excerpt: No other contracts are more widely used in the construction industry than the American Institute of Architects’ standard forms. The American Institute of Architects Official Guide to the 2007 AIA Contract Documents offers unparalleled insight into the AIA’s extensive portfolio of contract documents, helping the reader understand the forms and how to implement them. This guide is divided into two parts:Part One, The AIA Standard Documents, examines the role of AIA Contract Documents, their history, and how the documents are written and updated. It also reviews the educational and supporting resources that are part of the AIA's contract documents program; Part Two, The AIA Documents Companion, describes agreements in detail, including the purpose and rationale for provisions. Separate chapters cover the owner-contractor, contractor-subcontractor, owner-architect, and architect-consultant agreements. The guide concludes with a chapter describing pivotal legal cases that have helped shape and interpret AIA contracts. Samples of the most commonly used contracts are in print in the appendix, and an accompanying CD-ROM has samples of all AIA Contract Documents (in PDF format for Mac and PC computers) that released in 2007, as well as the Integrated Project Delivery Family of documents that released in 2008. This book is invaluable for construction project owners, attorneys, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, and others involved in the procurement, management, and delivery of building projects. It is also recommended for students and young professionals seeking a degree, certification, or licensure.