AIA Bookstore & Design Center

Philadelphia, United States

4.1

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 215-569-3188
Website:
www.aiabookstore.com
Address:
1218 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Market East
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
640 ft13th St & Market St
660 ft13th Street Station
660 ft13th Street
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No

Today

Today 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Philadelphia) 19:55 Monday, 2 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

The AIA Bookstore & Design Center features classic and modern architecture books; unique, designer gifts; and fun, clever toys for creative children.

History

Established in 1976.

The AIA Bookstore began as a resource and information center for members of the American Institute of Architects attending the 1976 AIA National Convention in Philadelphia. Over the years, the store has evolved from merely a bookstore into THE place in Philadelphia for unique gifts and toys, as well as a resource center for architects and people who value quality design. The store offers a wide selection of books on architecture, interior design, renovation, preservation, and landscaping, as well as technical and theory books for students and design professionals. The store also carries a broad and unique selection of quality-​designed gifts, jewelry, stationery, childrens’ toys, lighting, housewares, and other unusual and interesting objects. The Bookstore’s Holiday Shop at the end of each year features Philadelphia’s best selection of holiday ornaments, calendars, and other holiday items.

Meet the Business Owner

AIA Philadelphia C.

Business Owner

Founded in 1869, the Philadelphia Chapter of The American Institute of Architects is one of the oldest and most distinguished chapters. The association represents nearly 1,400 member architects within four southeastern Pennsylvania counties: Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery.

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20 reviews of AIA Bookstore & Design Center

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Collingswood, NJ
This is a fantastic store for designers and artists alike. Stellar books on the region, great nick-​knacks for kids and adults for a little kitschy on the bookshelf.
Place rating: 5
Greenville, SC
This is a great place to find information through books about Philadelphia architecture, history and tourism. I even bought something about travel in the city from here! You can never learn too much about any city even the ones you grew up in. Art work displays in back.
Place rating: 4
Collingswood, NJ
Little shop with some unusual finds. Nice gifts for architects or those interested in design.
Place rating: 4
Brookline, MA
I needed a puzzle, and Unilocal led me here. This is a beautiful book and gift shop on Arch Street. They carry Pomegranate brand puzzles, which are high quality puzzles! I’ve done a beautiful and fun Frank Lloyd Wright glass window puzzle by Pomegranate, and AIA has this one!
I look forward to going back when I have even more time to browse.
Place rating: 3
Wading River, NY
expansive, found the same «unique» gift I spent $ 28 in a tourist shop for half. Reminds me of a museums gift-​shop.
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
VERY COOL.
This is a store you go to if you can’t figure out a gift for someone or if that someone has everything already. This place is like Open House in the Market East area, except it’s centered more on architectural/​art books and toys rather than home décor.
I got some cool vintage calendars and pens, organizers and stationery. I also saw random helpful kitchen appliances, K’Nex, toys, ornaments, picture frames… you name it. There were also some random Philadelphia souvenirs.
Just go and browse. I’m sure you’ll find something that you didn’t think you needed.
Place rating: 3
West Hartford, CT
I have frequently walked into this store after their alluring window displays draw me in. They have a unique assortment of children’s toys, homewares, stationary, books etc… I love their section of Philadelphia merchandise including tote bags and glassware. Their prices are definitely on the high end and I only ever truly buy something if I am in a crunch because I usually can’t justify the price. Definitely worth stopping by during the Christmas season, they have a nice assortment of ornaments and cards.
Bottom Line: Beautiful merchandising, unique gifts, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny.
Place rating: 5
Conshohocken, PA
Definitely one of, if not the best and most creative bookstore in the city. I could spend hours in the AIA Bookstore. The person who orders the merchandise and organizes the purchasing is doing an excellent job. There are so many unique things in this store that I’m convinced you’d get all your x-​mas shopping done in this one store alone if you had a few hours to spend.
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
Solid quick gifts for delightful people. A favorite for holiday shopping. While some of the gifts seem to have a creative mark up, gifts usually make an appearance here before showing up in other stores around town. Also, festive displays.
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
Where else can you find books about design and architecture, quirky novelty housewares and gifts, just plain funny books, stationery and greeting cards, handmade children’s toys and eco-​friendly gifts (soda tab purses and more!) all in the same place? The AIA Bookstore and Design Center! While I am not an architect or interior designer, I do love to decorate, and I love discovering new hidden treasure shops in the city. This one definitely falls into that category.
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
Unilocal friends, I lead a simple life… a life in which I have been able to find contentment in having little money, no real assets, and in general, am content in my lack of funds. (read: i ain’t got much loot.) That being said, when I walk into the AIA Bookstore, this mecca of all things design related, I immediately spring an artists’ hard-​on, begin elaborate fantasies about doing things to coffee table books that I’ve never done to ANYone, and keep looking around to see if I can cop a cheap feel on things like awesome travel mugs or incredible clocks while the cashier isn’t paying attention.
While most things are beyond that which you would buy on the fly, for a purchase on something you already DO need and would like a unique, much improved version of, this is your place. In the event of a needed gift, whether it is for an infant, toddler, young child, or adult — this is your spot. Educational, aesthetically pleasing, and impressive are the words that come to mind when describing the offerings for kids. You’ll be the «hip» auntie, uncle, brother, or daughter, for sure.
But while in there, sudddenly I NEED things I don’t know I needed. Salt and Pepper shakers, jewelry, a huge mobile, buttons that say awesome things (collect them all!!), a new wallet, chopsticks, puzzles. wait — where was I???
One star withheld for, yes, you’ve guessed it, affordability. They do, however, have insane after holiday sales and usually some pretty hefty regular sales, so they’re always worth popping in for. I am so happy this place exists — I’ve been a huge fan since the store lived on 17th and Sansom, in the building of the Philadelphia Literary Review, where the Hotel Palomar now lives. The employees are a bit surly, as they get browsers in and out all day — no doubt comprised mostly of tourists (ANNOYING!!!) due to its’ proximity to the Convention Center and Reading Terminal. But surly does not a jerk make… talk to the counterperson for a minute and they come around.
So, do not despair, fair gift-​seekers! You too, can pop a proud woody upon visiting AIA Bookstore without someone hounding you or calling you «an artistic pervert». Just don’t molest the merchandise, and you’ll be fine. You’ll WANT to… you’ll salivate at the thought… but just buy a little button or a nifty pen and leave quietly. Or you can blow your load on a $ 100 clock… if you got it. And if you do, then you have earned an erect-​a-​set built in your image.
…Oh — yes, they have that, too.
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
As a lover of all things design, and working as an interior designer and visual merchandiser, this is my go to spot for books on anything related to the field. I find the most unique gifts in here, ranging from architectural items, to illustrated cards around the holidays. Before christmas one year I went into the basement and was blown away by the non tacky and well designed christmas goods.
Overall, this place is a thinking women’s shop for gifts for herself, or others. So please, if you are thinking of buying me a gift this year, AIA is a great place to start.
Also, being a mother, I HATE buying kids things that are just plain ugly. When I see well designed products for the little one, I snap them up. This is a great place to find some of that.
Long live good design!
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
For architecture/​design books I go to Joseph Fox or search online.
For quirky gifts, unique cards, a complete collection of moleskine products (sketch books, planners, storyboard books) & beautiful Christmas ornaments this is the place. The AIA store also stocks a wide range of presents for creative young kids — building block sets, puzzles and plush toys.
I’d say this shop’s selection is similar to the MoMA store just much smaller. My wish list includes the Tord Boontje Midsummer Light, currently on display.
Place rating: 4
Wallingford, PA
So secretly, I love buying earbud headphones with little rubber ducks on them. Except it’s totally not a secret anymore since I just wrote about it on Unilocal.I bought my ducked out earbuds at the AIA bookstore. They have an impressive and vast selection of design and home books (as well as toys, quirky items, and decorations). I’ve been buying some sort of trendy or obscure calander from AIA for a few years now. It’s a great place to go for funky offbeat gifts. They sell stuff geared towards kids and adults. If you want to take a stroll in a place that’s anything but boring, stop in AIA.
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
I love this little place. The layout is more appealing but I think they have less merchandise. I didn’t see the the great selection of calendars they had at the Sansom St. spot. You will still find the great book selection you are hard pressed to find anywhere else, and a cute array of gifts and nicknacks and kid’s items.
The employees are so nice and turned on the neon signs when we asked, let us walk around in the back area where the installations are, and answered every little question we had. So friendly and knowledgeable!
I miss the old location because it was walking distance from my apartment. I was driving by the new location recently and thought I’d stop in, and it took a good 30 minutes to find parking. I refused to give up because I am that stubborn, and it was worth it, but the area is not conducive to parking (bless all that construction going on around the Conv Center).
Place rating: 2
Ardmore, PA
The new store is located in the Chinatown, Arch St. area, and is not an improvement over the old location on 17th and Sansom. Parking is just as difficult as before, and now it is not as convenient to other (better) shopping on the west side of Broad. Once I got rid of the car, I tried to double up my errands. Now, its pretty much a single purpose event.
I have never been fond of their pricing structure, and even with my professional discount of 10%, Amazon has them beat by another 10%, at least. Many of these books qualify for free shipping, too. So never leaving my office seat and getting a package a couple of days later has to be the «greener» solution.
Place rating: 3
Philadelphia, PA
Oh, my dearest AIA.
The AIA bookstore has moved and is under new management. I will say that the new space is very nice. They were able to design it along with the Center for Architecture, and it’s a nice, but small space. A lot of the items are the same from the old store, but there are a lot fewer items, including books. Even thought the old store wasn’t very big, it was filled to the brim with interesting things. The new store is more like a museum shop.
I’m sure it will be a fine store, but I can’t say that I’ll venture over again, especially with it’s new, incredibly inconvenient location.
Christmas shopping will be a challenge for me this year without the old AIA :(
Place rating: 4
Philadelphia, PA
This is one of my favorite shops in the entire city. AIA is the type of store to go to if you need to find a gift for someone and want something a bit more unique and design themed. You can find books on all different topics (product and interior design, architecture, art, culture, etc.) along with some sleek looking gadgets and toys. Most of the toys and gadgets are a bit expensive, but you probably won’t find these things in many other stores around town.
The store also sells stationery, some personal organization goods, and greeting cards. The card selection (birthday, wedding, etc.) is a bit quirky and more original than the usual cheese dished by Hallmark, so be sure to peruse the cards when you are there.
During the Holiday season, the lower level is opened to sell Christmas and other holiday goodies. DEFINITELY check out the lower floor if you happen to visit during the holiday season, as you will see some really great Christmas décor.
Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA
My cousin is an interior design major and we happened to duck in this store for her to find a book for some class.
This store is sooooooooo awesome! I only kept to the back of the 1st floor with TONS of architectural style books. My cousin and I were in there for hours. I find myself drooling over different types of rooms and decors I’d KILL to have.
This store is NOT cheap, but quality surpasses that!
Place rating: 5
PA, PA
The AIA (American Institute of Architects) Bookstore is everyone’s favorites and always win some Best Of award.
This two-​story shop is packed with funky gadgets, cool journals, modern kid toys, design coasters and even some home décor.
If you wander into the book part of the store, you’ll probably pick up something like «50 of the coolest hotels» and stay for hours.
If you need a gift, pop in here and buy ergonomic salt & pepper shakers or one of the various other cool gifts.