American Institute of Architects

As the largest design organization in the world, AIA is working to transform the day-to-day practice of architecture to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, just, equitable built environment, for everyone.

Click to Learn More About the AIA

Visit www.aia.org and Join Now!

Displaying 1 - 25 of 595 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The effects of climate change are causing the threat of extreme wildfires to grow across the US, even in areas not considered to be at risk 20 years ago. Designing fire-resistant properties that are prepared and protected year-round is an essential factor in building wildfire-resilient communities. This course reviews the health and environmental harms of wildfires and their role in the growing insurance crisis and then addresses how an eco-friendly fire inhibitor can be part of a multilayered defense strategy. Also discussed are this nontoxic product’s fire and safety testing and certifications and how it can be deployed in a variety of methods to serve as a proactive defense against embers, the leading cause of structure ignitions in wildfire events.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Health, safety, and welfare: Three simple words, yet three complex concepts. Every healthcare-related facility has a responsibility to provide a sterile, physically safe, and secure, yet nearly always accessible, managed environment just to conduct its daily operations. This course will help you discover effective, scalable access and control strategies specific to the healthcare environment and introduces the latest standards, codes, products, and technologies impacting the design and management of these always complex, life-giving facilities.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Upward-acting commercial sectional door systems can be a major contributor to controlling energy costs in buildings. This course evaluates the materials and construction of various door types and discusses the selection criteria and operation features that are available to enhance door performance for a range of applications.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    There is an extremely wide array of coated or composite fabrics available on the market, each type formulated for specific uses and with different levels of performance and quality. To assist in the decision-making process, standards have been developed to show product performance, facilitate quality control, and assure designers that the product they are specifying is suitable for normal commercial use. This course briefly outlines the history, properties, and uses of coated fabrics, the intent and content of one coated fabric standard, and the testing protocols that support it.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The selection of windows and doors for a particular project must satisfy its aesthetic and functional requirements. However, we also want windows and doors to be safe, durable, leak-free, and energy efficient and meet the needs of those with disabilities. The International Building Code® and related standards ensure that windows and doors support public health, safety, well-being, and energy efficiency. This course provides an overview of the codes and standards for doors and windows, including weather resistance, durability, egress, safety, and accessibility requirements.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Extreme weather events of all sorts are becoming increasingly frequent and ferocious. Wood stick-framed structures struggle to withstand them. As climate behavior shifts and worsens, building damage and destruction increase, building codes evolve, and insurance premiums skyrocket or simply become unavailable for certain building types in some locations. Architects must now utilize stronger, more resilient, noncombustible building approaches to address this situation. In addition, mounting pressures related to labor shortages, rising material costs, stringent building codes, and environmental volatility are pushing architects, developers, and engineers to reimagine their approaches to structural design and material selection. This course explores how an innovative, scalable, and economical cold-formed steel column and composite beam framing system can and does address these issues to create faster and deliver stronger, more cost-effective, and sustainable projects. This well-proven, certified system reduces dependencies on multiple trades and minimizes the number of handoffs, positively impacting schedule compression, which then translates directly into earlier openings, faster revenue generation, and reduced labor costs. The system is applicable to a range of housing, hotel, and commercial midrise projects in all climates. The course begins by exploring the limitations of traditional wood and metal framing systems. It then describes this prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) column and beam framing system and its details, erection methodology, advantages, environmental and sustainability benefits, accreditations, and certifications. It concludes with some representative examples of real-life projects.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Manufacturers, industry groups, architects, designers, and homeowners all share an expectation of safety in the buildings we occupy and use every day. This course discusses the key chapters where important exterior wall fire provisions can be found in the International Building Code® and examines many common features of global fire incidents. The course also describes the NFPA 285 fire test and discusses the new Annex B in the 2023 edition of NFPA 285. Finally, there is a discussion of the code compliance pathways when exterior walls are required by the IBC® to be tested and comply with NFPA 285.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Architects and designers are responsible for planning the provision of drinking water in commercial and residential facilities, yet this essential element is often overlooked in sustainable design. This course covers the main water delivery methods (tap, bottled, and filtration systems) and their impacts on the health of people and the environment. Additionally, the course examines multifunctional taps equipped with three-in-one filtration that promote sustainable water delivery and help meet credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The materials we use have a significant impact on the environment, our communities, and our health. Consequently, material transparency—wherein manufacturers disclose vital sustainability information about their products—is an increasingly necessary element of modern life. This course examines the tools and resources that are available for both manufacturers and the A&D community that effectively communicate transparency information and optimization of building products. Also reviewed are the benefits of the new-generation insulated metal panels (IMPs) designed to achieve a trusted range of health and wellness certifications.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    The building envelope must withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course explores rainscreen wall design and the control of hygrothermal loads. The traditional multicomponent backup wall assembly is compared with the single-component, insulated metal composite backup wall system, outlining key differences in design and construction and their overall effect on installation and performance.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Turnstiles to control employee and visitor access help to enhance safety and security in a wide variety of applications, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities to distribution warehouses. This course presents the benefits and performance features of optical, full-height, and waist-high turnstiles and reviews the many aesthetic and customization options available to install a turnstile system that meets the needs of any facility.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Concrete is an essential part of modern buildings. As net zero energy buildings become more common, it is crucial to find ways to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint without losing the performance characteristics that make it valuable to the building team. This course explains the sources of concrete’s carbon footprint and explores strategies for reducing embodied carbon and operational carbon in precast sandwich wall panels and insulated architectural cladding.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Architectural finishes mimic the aesthetics and textures of natural materials without the cost, labor, weight, and maintenance challenges of finishes such as wood, stone, leather, and metals. This course discusses their performance characteristics, selection considerations, and proper installation techniques for interior and exterior commercial applications, including fire-rated assemblies and LEED®-certified projects.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Electrical systems that deliver access to permanent power and enable device connectivity are critical components of the design and operation of high-performance buildings. Today’s mobile technology means people can connect and move freely between the indoors and outdoors and integrate their social and work lives anytime, anywhere. This course examines permanent outdoor power delivery offerings, including personal and electric vehicle charging stations, in-ground power boxes, and rooftop boxes, that support the growing demand for connectivity and data and audiovisual communications in outdoor spaces and help to create an outdoor environment that promotes longer stays, stimulates creativity, and increases productivity.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or renovated state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Many projects must also follow the provisions of the 2017 version of ICC A117.1,  Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities . This course identifies the benefits of accessibility standards and the prescriptive requirements for accessible restrooms set by the ADA and ICC A117.1.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Daylighting has traditionally been considered a functional way to bring natural light into building design. This course explores innovative applications of daylighting using various methods to deliver natural light into spaces and create visually appealing natural lighting as part of an overall design. It also examines daylighting strategies, considerations, and material options for successful project planning. By incorporating daylighting into projects, architects can create innovative environments that meet the sustainability goals of the building and the health, safety, and welfare needs of its occupants. Applicable credits and features in the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction rating system and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2 are noted.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course examines the design and benefits of pre-engineered trench drains in a sustainable wastewater management system. Discover how they effectively manage water runoff, prevent ponding, and enhance safety in transportation, industrial facilities, and public spaces while supporting sustainable practices. Explore system types, maintenance strategies, and performance optimization, along with guidance on funding and compliance. Gain the knowledge to implement smarter, safer, and more efficient water management solutions in your next project.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The use of sustainable materials and products during building design will become the standard within the construction industry, and environmental product declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) help architects and owners make informed decisions for their projects. Insulated metal panels— a prime example of a sustainable product—are one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce energy and greenhouse gases.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Some building parts may see minimal human contact or weathering. Doors and entryways, however, need to be able to stand up to heavy use, frequent direct contact from building occupants, and environmental impacts. In this regard, FRP doors and frames offer robust strength, reliability, and durability. They provide project versatility and customization in colors and textures, are excellent thermal insulators, and allow for easier installation and lower costs in construction projects. This course outlines the FRP door and frame components, manufacturing methods, and types and discusses the benefits of FRP products.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    One of the more complicated issues today in building science is addressing moisture movement, since moisture can penetrate a building in several different ways and result in material degradation, air quality issues, and failure of the building enclosure. This course examines the ways moisture can enter a structure and discusses the role of different moisture control layers that, when correctly placed and installed, can prevent unwanted moisture infiltration.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Fenestration openings are a critical component of a building envelope, especially in present-day sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. Building envelopes play an important role in controlling the movement of heat, bulk water, and water vapor. Designing fenestration openings for buildings that use continuous exterior insulation has a significant role in reducing thermal bridging and thus conserving energy. This course reviews the impact of exterior insulation on fenestration installation design. The course also explores solutions for a wide variety of wall system variations.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    The role of a fire-rated door is to maintain the integrity of a fire-rated enclosure in the event of a fire, giving building occupants enough time to exit the burning building. This course is an introduction to fire-rated doors and a general review of the fire codes that relate to fire doors and hardware, referencing 2012, 2015, and 2018 IBC; NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) regulations; and the ADAAG (Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines).

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    This course explores a 5,000-square-foot office expansion recently completed by Excel Dryer. The building owner was committed to reducing their environmental impact and building a beautiful, healthy, sustainable, and functional space. This course discusses the relevant tools for sustainable, healthy buildings, including the WELL Building Standard™ version 2 and the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction rating system. The methods for achieving these goals are examined through various building products and systems: walls, furniture, HVAC, sound masking and acoustic systems, flooring, daylighting and solar shading, and plumbing.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Undesirable acoustics in educational spaces have long been considered averse to our goals to effectively teach, create, collaborate, listen, and learn. Now, in the wake of implementing pandemic protocols, our acoustic comfort in these spaces is greatly challenged. This course examines the impacts of poor soundscapes in educational facilities and introduces innovative solutions for improving acoustics in these areas while keeping us comfortable and safe from exposure to emerging viruses.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Learners will receive information about cast stone and how it is made, testing requirements, applications, design recommendations, and how it differs from related materials. Learners will describe appropriate specification, design details of cast stone for architectural applications, and how to determine quality cast stone production.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER

Displaying 1 - 25 of 595 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST