9/11/2009 -- What's being billed as the largest gathering of IT and software architects is set to take place next month in New York.

The Industry Association of Software Architects (IASA) plans to launch a professional certification program at the event, where it is bringing together some leading architects for the first time. Among them are noted architects Grady Booch, Len Bass, John Zachman, Eric Evans, Rob High and Angela Yochem.

Zachman, best known for his work creating the "Framework for Enterprise Architecture" following a 26-year career at IBM, is set to deliver the opening keynote.

"To get them all together in one place was actually relatively challenging. Many of these people have never actually met before, which is surprising," said Paul Preiss, IASA's CEO, in a recent interview.

IASA intends to use the three-day conference to launch the new certification program for IT and software architects. IASA had recently launched a "foundation" level of its new Certified IT Architect (CITA) program to give architects more career opportunities and recognition by IT and business executives, Preiss said.

"The foundation program is really meant to bring the aspiring architect up to speed on the concepts and the capabilities of what differentiates architects and give them that entry level of skill," Preiss said.

The new professional CITA program involves more intensive training, according to Preiss. "It is a full board examination by a set of peers that actually tests an architect on their ability to deliver against the IASA skills taxonomy," he said. "So it basically says that IASA claims that this person is not only an architect but a good architect."

The conference will cover five tracks: Enterprise, Infrastructure, Software, Information and Fundamentals (a complete agenda is available here).

While Microsoft had hoped to host the event, renovations in its New York office required IASA to find another location. Microsoft architect evangelist William Zach, who is IASA's New York chapter president, last week announced that a site has been secured: Lighthouse International in midtown Manhattan. Jeffrey Schwartz