Alpha Rho Chi (ΑΡΧ) is an American professional co-educational college fraternity for students studying architecture and related professions.

One of those schools was the University of Michigan, which started the collaboration of the two founding brothers of ΑΡΧ, Leo M. Bauer of the Arcus Society and Chandler C. Cohagen of Sigma Upsilon.

Bauer and Cohagen met on April 11, 1914, at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago, where they selected the name for the combined organization, the new constitution and by-laws, and the coat of arms.

The brothers decided to keep the colors azure and sanguine, from the Arcus Society, and the white rose, a symbol of Sigma Upsilon.

Several existing architecture organizations petitioned to join, but only Tau Epsilon Chi of Ohio State University was accepted, being installed as the Demetrios chapter on February 25, 1916.

[2] Expansion continued at a rapid pace with the addition of members at Kansas State University, which formed the Paeonios chapter on February 10, 1923.

During the early 1970s, fraternity membership, in general, dropped as controversy raged on college campuses over the Vietnam War and any "establishment" organization.

Up to this point, Alpha Rho Chi had limited expansion to accredited schools of architecture; however, after revisiting the fraternity's original objectives and mission, it was determined that there was no reason to exclude the University of Memphis.

Improved communications, including a website and email access, helped interested architecture students discover and contact the national fraternity, accelerating the pace of the expansion of new and reactivated chapters.

A colony at Tulane University was preparing its petition to establish a chapter when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, closing the school for a semester and scattering the students across the country.

Students at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco formed the Cossutius colony, and were installed at the Andronicus chapter house on January 20, 2008.

Keeping up with the progressive era, the Anthemios house changed to coed bathrooms in the late 2000s due to the influx of female brothers.

The Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal is awarded annually at accredited schools of architecture in the United States and Canada to honor graduating seniors who have demonstrated leadership, service, and the promise of professional merit.

Designed by sculptor Robert Merrell Gage, the medal is cast in bronze and features an image of a seated Athena holding a skyscraper.

Master Architect is a special classification of fraternity membership to honor brothers who have gained national prominence in the field of architecture and the allied arts, or who have made significant contributions to the built environment.