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.

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 604 results.

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

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Rooftop deck systems offer the design flexibility to create adaptable, sustainable outdoor spaces that provide myriad environmental, social, economic, and aesthetic benefits. This course presents the three pillars of sustainability and how building products, materials, and systems can contribute to sustainable design. It outlines forest management objectives and practices and the responsible sourcing of wood for rooftop deck tiles. Case studies exemplify how rooftop deck systems can contribute to sustainable design objectives.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Modern landscape lighting systems featuring integrated automation and intuitive smartphone controls have revolutionized the industry. Designers can easily transform front lawns from eerie Halloween displays to soft, romantic ambiances with just the touch of a button. These new technologies provide seamless control and user-friendly interfaces while enhancing home occupants’ safety and security. Additionally, the widespread adoption of LED lights within those systems has improved energy efficiency and expanded the range of available options. This course explores some of the key principles of landscape lighting design and the various related fixture types and highlights some of the latest advancements in smart landscape lighting technology.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA®) is the only organization accredited by the American National ‎Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain builders hardware ‎standards with cycling, operational, strength, security, and finish test requirements. This course explores the performance standards and the certification program related to commercial architectural hardware.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    An ideal railing system enhances the appeal and value of a property and contributes to design as well as safety, while not requiring large amounts of time or money to maintain. This course presents an overview of railing system material options with a focus on aluminum and thermoplastic. The performance, design, and sustainability benefits of each material are discussed, along with mounting and aesthetic options. The course concludes with tips on selecting the right railing system for the project and case studies showcasing aluminum and thermoplastic railing system installations.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Commercial door operator systems provide safe and efficient access solutions for all facility types. This course explores overhead door types, overhead door operators, and their appropriate applications and outlines the specification criteria for these complex systems. Also addressed are NEMA enclosure ratings, the ANSI/CAN/UL 325 safety standard, and critical challenges related to operator performance, including life safety, security, access control, and system monitoring. The course prepares architects to specify compliant, safe, secure, and efficient overhead door operator systems in their projects.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Le besoin d’évaluer les ponts thermiques dans la conception et le rendement d’un bâtiment a gagné en importance en raison des exigences grandissantes en matière d’efficience énergétique des bâtiments. Ce cours sert d’introduction aux ponts thermiques, aux exigences du code de l’énergie et à l’usage de barrières thermiques conçues pour améliorer l’efficience énergétique de l’enveloppe du bâtiment.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Commercial restrooms are used in various settings, from office buildings to hospitals. This course discusses how commercial restroom design can meet the needs of all users through accessibility, universal design, and inclusive design. The public nature of restrooms requires excellent air quality, a trusted level of cleanliness, durability, and water conservation. The importance of fixtures with features including touchless technology, vandalism resistance, and water efficiency is also discussed.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Ensuring a building’s roof is waterproof, on top of being structurally sound, is critical to the success of any building project. This course examines rapid curing, polymeric liquid-applied waterproofing membranes for roofing and other demanding applications. Discussions include the history of PMMA, PMMA system components and characteristics, the installation process, and the versatility of PMMA products.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The beautiful gray patina of zinc architectural metal has graced the rooftops of buildings in Europe for hundreds of years. This course examines the sustainable characteristics of zinc as a roofing material, including its 100% recyclability, zero VOC requirement, and low embodied energy production process. The life cycle analysis of zinc is examined, as is zinc’s long-term service life. Various types of roof and wall applications are also discussed.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores design strategies for tailoring elevator interiors to project-specific needs, compares original equipment manufacturer (OEM) elevator interiors, bespoke elevator interiors, and configurable elevator interior systems (CEISs), and examines best practices for specifying CEISs to enhance safety, performance, and visual continuity.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Various control strategies are used to prevent rain from penetrating a building envelope and entering a building assembly. This course compares exterior wall metal cladding systems and takes an in-depth look at the design options, testing, specifications, environmental implications, and the detailing of single-skin metal panel systems as used in a pressure-equalized rainscreen (PER) application.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Roofing is one of the most common renovation projects on commercial buildings. Upgrading a roof assembly to meet current building standards provides an opportunity to save energy and maintain the necessary fire and structural performance. This course reviews the code requirements for commercial reroofing and discusses how reroofing can improve a building’s energy efficiency.

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  • ( ~ 30 minutes ) 

    Prequalification of contractors is a method used to manage the risks of an open tender process. It ensures the contractors invited to bid on the project have demonstrated applicable experience and are capable of delivering the necessary quality and value. This course is a primer on contractor prequalification and describes who benefits from the process, the applicable project delivery methods, the role of the architect, the typical information requested of the contractor, and when to use prequalification and when not to.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Originally developed to reduce solar heat gain from entering through a pane of glass, window films in today’s market provide UV protection, reduce glare, reduce fading, increase occupant comfort, offer safety and security, and yield energy savings. This course evaluates the performance of different types of solar control window films and offers daylighting strategies for commercial, retail, and residential building and architectural applications.

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  • ( ~ 15 minutes ) 

    Policies targeting the reduction of carbon emissions associated with building products require the disclosure of embodied carbon data to inform those policies and verify whether reduction targets or incentive requirements have been met. This course aims to provide a guide to collecting high-quality embodied carbon data.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Operable wall systems integrate the indoors and outdoors and define interior spaces, providing flexibility and additional usable area without increasing a building’s footprint. Occupants benefit from expansive daylighting and views as well as quick access to fresh air. This course describes the types of operable wall systems, how they contribute to sustainable design, and the various options and considerations for selecting the correct system.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores how understanding disability can guide the creation of accessible and inclusive spaces. It examines access opportunities in educational and public environments, with an emphasis on strategies that go beyond code compliance. These approaches can 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 by improving usability, promoting occupant well-being, and reducing long-term barriers through design solutions.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    In the last couple of decades, houses have become progressively more airtight due to energy efficiency and cost concerns. While air infiltration and exfiltration rates have been significantly reduced, the need for an efficient ventilation system has become extremely important. This course evaluates different types of mechanical ventilation systems and discusses why heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems are characterized by a high level of energy efficiency and as an effective means for improving indoor air quality.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Since its introduction in the early 20th century, high-strength fiber cement has proven to be an affordable, sturdy construction material. Technological advances in recent years have increased its versatility in terms of color range and usage for ventilated rainscreen facades. This course examines what high-strength fiber cement is and how it can improve the structural sustainability of buildings and enhance creative freedom in design.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    While frequently chosen for aesthetics and durability, clay brick is not often considered when energy efficiency is a primary concern, even though it historically played a significant role in occupant comfort before the widespread use of HVAC systems. This course discusses the basics of heat transfer, relevant energy code provisions for walls, and how current research by the National Brick Research Center demonstrates the role that brick veneer can play in meeting or exceeding energy requirements in modern wall assemblies.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Identify key fenestration design criteria that will fortify buildings against ballistic, blast, forced entry, and environmental threats.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Exterior shading devices offer a number of advantages that contribute to a more sustainable building, including minimizing cooling costs, reducing peak electricity demand, and controlling glare. These benefits result in greater occupant comfort and improved productivity. This course provides a review of exterior aluminum shading device systems, including the components, finishes, and design and engineering considerations, as well as a discussion of how shading strategies contribute to LEED® certification.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Drying hands thoroughly is crucial for maintaining hygiene levels, and when a hand dryer is too slow, the result is many people give up trying to dry their hands and leave the bathroom with wet or damp hands. Research has shown that damp hands can transmit up to 1,000x more bacteria than dry hands. This course discusses hand-drying concepts and the advantages of hand dryers with air knife technology. It also reviews the impact the choice of hand-drying equipment has on public health, occupant comfort, facility operations, and our environment.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    From fashion to function, the shower space of the bathroom is a focal point, offering a place of quiet respite for rejuvenation. Shower spaces should be built to last, using durable materials combined with sound installation practices in order to reduce life cycle and replacement costs. This course outlines the criteria used in designing water management systems for shower pans and walls and includes discussions on traditional and modern methods of waterproofing shower floors and walls, new methods of construction, and the innovative design options that are available for curbless shower pans.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Architectural metal panels (AMPs) provide exceptional design versatility, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of a building. This course explores different types of panels, their applications, finishes, key design and specification considerations, and best practices to ensure the durability and performance of the panel system. Additionally, several project examples are presented to showcase the creative applications of AMP systems.

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 604 results.

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