The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) located near Washington DC, is a national nonprofit trade association founded in 1953, with a rich history that reaches back to a trade association of custom millwork operators which started in 1914. Its primary purpose is the same today as it was at the beginning; to be an outreach and a resource to all business people that have a passion for the beauty and lasting appeal of Architectural Woodwork. Today, the AWI represents nearly 4000 members primarily from across the US and Canada, consisting of architectural woodworkers, suppliers, design professionals, and students from here and around the world.

The New Jersey Chapter has been serving the needs of its members since the early 1980's, sharing the same values , benefits &ideals embraced by the national office, and bringing them near to our homes and work places, so that its members can come together regularly to share thoughts, ideas, processes, and information that helps us all grow within our organizations and localities, while also being a focal point for our local concerns as feedback that can help shape the national AWI organization.

Since 1961, the Architectural Woodwork Institute has continuously published the globally acclaimed Architectural Woodwork Quality Standards Illustrated book, now in its 8th Edition. This 8th Edition is our industry's premier authority on fine architectural woodwork,through its codification of specifications and quality standards for manufacturing, finishing, installation and testing of its products.

This publication is referenced by design professionals and woodwork manufacturers,nationally and internationally, to define and describe the criteria for fine architectural quality grades and customer expectations. As such, In 2003, the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC) and the AWI jointly adopted the standards published in the Architectural Woodwork Quality Standards Illustrated, 8th Edition as "The North American Unified Standard" for fine architectural woodwork.