# AIA A201 - General Conditions - Owner, Architect & Contractor?

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/aia-a201-general-conditions-owner-architect-contractor/3064>\
**Category:** Practice Management\
**Tags:** contract-documents\
**Created:** [May 18, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/aia-a201-general-conditions-owner-architect-contractor/3064 "2021-05-18T16:39:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mariaemiliaescudero](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/6.png) [@mariaemiliaescudero](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mariaemiliaescudero)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/aia-a201-general-conditions-owner-architect-contractor/3064/1 "2021-05-18T16:39:30Z")

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When is the General Conditions contract signed?

I originally understood this was signed before the commencement of the Work, and meant an agreement between two parties (Owner & Architect).

However, I see that there’s three parties mentioned in this contract: **Owner, Architect and Contractor.** Is the Contractor eventually brought-in to sign this contract, or is this contract only enacted once all parties are awarded?

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**Author:** ![coachdarionziegler](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/coachdarionziegler/32/1272_2.png) [@coachdarionziegler](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/coachdarionziegler)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/aia-a201-general-conditions-owner-architect-contractor/3064/2 "2021-05-24T12:53:27Z")

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Hi @mariaemiliaescudero ,

I’ll see if I can help!

The A201 is not signed. It is adopted by reference by both the B101 (standard agreement between owner & architect) and A101 (standard agreement between owner & contractor). The general conditions are present when the architect/owner sign B101 and when the contractor/owner sign A101.

See the screenshot below about the A201 from [AIAcontracts.org](http://AIAcontracts.org):  
[AIA Contract Documents](https://www.aiacontracts.org/contract-documents/25131-general-conditions-of-the-contract-for-construction)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/blackspectacles/original/2X/c/c46bfe223aa8bd5fe120b72e337a76b17710e93f.png)

If you’re just getting into contracts I would highly recommend checking out the [aiacontracts.org](http://aiacontracts.org) website! They’ve got a ton of helpful information about how to use each contract and they’ve been adding a lot of Youtube video content as well.

In particular, I love this page that shows how the contracts all relate to each other in each of the major project delivery methods.

> **[Contract Relationship Diagrams](https://acdoperations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009275822)**
>
> Contents
> 
> Conventional (A201) Design-Bid-Build
> Small Projects
> Interiors
> Construction Manager as Adviser (CMa)
> Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc)
> Design-Build
> Program Management – Multiple Pr...

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/blackspectacles/original/2X/3/35ff702448e21d57c50e3b6b03e0b1ef0fbc9004.png)

And last but not least - here’s one of their Youtube webinars speaking about the A201 in depth:

[![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/blackspectacles/original/2X/9/96d95847a539c1e60a30fb87cc1cfcdc69e87647.jpeg "Part 2 A201 General Conditions Administering the Contract for Construction") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVNmVErFeTc)

Hope this helps!  
-Darion