To stay current with industry practices, the American Institute of Architects updates its standard contracts every 10 years. In the recent publication round, 40 of more than 100 legal documents have been revised, some of them substantially. Many of the most important changes appear in document “A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction.” The most significant concern arbitration, according to Suzanne Harness, AIA, the AIA’s managing director and counsel for contract documents. Arbitration as a means of settling disputes was mandatory, but in 1997, nonbinding mediation was added as a precedent to arbitration. But in the revised A201, parties can choose between arbitration, litigation, or another method, with litigation as the default. Mediation remains the first step. Another change in A201 is the ability to consolidate arbitrations. In the past, an owner couldn’t combine an arbitration with a contractor with one with the architect. Consolidated arbitrations are less likely to slow down construction, thus saving time and money for all.