Tuesday, December 9, 2025  |  3-4pm ET

As remote work transforms the commercial real estate landscape, architects face unprecedented opportunities to address the affordable housing crisis through innovative adaptive reuse strategies. This course explores how underutilized office buildings in suburban markets can be transformed into vibrant residential communities. Our expert panel will examine current office vacancy trends and their implications for conversion opportunities, while diving deep into practical design strategies that navigate stringent zoning challenges and building code adaptations essential for structural health and safety. Participants will discover the complexities of adapting essential infrastructure, particularly the requirements for updating mechanical, electric, and plumbing systems to ensure adequate sanitation. These design challenges also include addressing issues such as the potential need for seismic retrofits in certain areas and determining the usability of existing structures, such as existing circulation and floor slabs. Beyond addressing housing shortages, these conversions offer substantial environmental benefits by extending building lifecycles and reducing construction waste. Join us to explore cutting-edge approaches that transform vacant commercial spaces into thriving residential neighborhoods while supporting sustainable development goals.

December 10-11, 2025  | 12 - 4pm ET  / 9am-1pm PT

Intended for licensed architects, engineers, or certified building inspectors, this training certifies attendees as Building Evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP).

• To register | Click Add to cart and complete the checkout process.
• Evaluator Field Manuals |  ATC 45 | ATC 20 | Participants are responsible for purchasing these texts from ATC. They are not included in the course cost.

The program is managed by Cal OES with cooperation from professional organizations, including AIA. It utilizes volunteers and mutual aid resources to provide professional engineers, architects and certified building inspectors to assist local governments in safety evaluation of their built environment in an aftermath of a disaster. SAP is the training standard of the AIA Disaster Assistance Program, which provides leadership, advocacy, and training to architects who are interested in volunteering their professional skills in times of crisis. This workshop will teach participants to conduct rapid damage assessments of structures affected by earthquakes, wind, and water. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to consistently and safely assess structures for habitability and will receive a nationally recognized Cal OES registration ID card from the state of California.

AIA SAP Training Program

How can architects and designers take action in selecting holistically responsible materials? With competing priorities from clients and project teams to a whole world of product and project-level certifications, responsible material selection is hard to navigate – and one that has to be done on a daily basis. The AIA Materials Pledge provides a framework for architects and designers to begin to chart progress in data transparency and optimization across the five impact categories: Human health, Social health and equity, Ecosystem health, Climate health, and Circular economy.  

Join AIA Materials Pledge leadership for this webinar where speakers will focus on beginner steps for designers to take in thinking about holistic material health. They will then speak about how the AIA Materials Pledge reporting framework can support firms at any stage of their materials journey. Finally, they will provide an overview of this year’s second annual Materials Pledge By the Numbers (RY24) report, looking at reported materials data from over 100 signatory firms.

This session was recorded live on November 12, 2025.

Climate change is no longer an abstract threat. Day after day, an already disrupted climate is impacting the lives of millions, and the time available to curtail climate change is alarmingly limited. Decarbonizing how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated is a sea change that is already altering professional principles and practices. 

In Going for Zero: Decarbonizing the Built Environment on the Path to Our Urban Future, seasoned architect and former AIA president Carl Elefante addresses how buildings and cities can and must help resolve the looming climate emergency. Elefante offers a decidedly alternative viewpoint, one informed by his architecture career rescuing buildings from senseless demolition and learning from the practices and wisdom embedded in built heritage.  

Going for Zero is an urgent call to action and path forward. Elefante’s message is ultimately one of hope—but we must act now. 

This session was recorded live on October 23, 2025.

Now five years away from the year 2030, leaders from AIA 2030 Commitment and Architecture2030 come together on this panel to discuss where progress is being made in the buildings sector and where needs improvement. Speakers will chart the history of Architecture 2030, the AIA 2030 Commitment and then outline what specific actions are needed from the industry to mitigate the worst emissions pathways. In doing this, they will deep dive into two new reports, the AIA 2030 By the Numbers (RY24) and Architecture2030’s 2030 Beyond the Numbers (RY24), that analyze the reported predicted energy data from over 450 AIA 2030 Commitment signatory firms that culminate to >40k projects and 4 billion gross square feet (GSF).  

This session was recorded live on October 22, 2025.

Hygrothermal modeling, the analysis of heat and moisture transport through building enclosure assemblies, reveals many of the climate-specific building science secrets that are key to durable design of walls and roofs and other assemblies. Debunking rules of thumb and avoiding answers of “it depends” – data and analysis can reveal exactly how many inches of a certain insulation are required, exactly what perm-rating will optimize an assembly, and what kind of havoc a reservoir cladding system can create. Case studies will be shown that demonstrate when perm rating matters and when it does not, the impact of roof membrane color and the risks of “cool roofing,” and when HT (high-temp) rated membranes are actually required. This presentation’s ulterior motive is to convince the audience that every architecture firm should be doing in-house hygrothermal modeling as an integral component of climate-specific, durable, and resilient design.

This session was recorded live on August 19, 2025.

Propel your practice’s success with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence—the defining 10 principles of design excellence in the 21st century. In this introductory course, you will learn the origin, evolution, and significance of each of the framework’s principles and examine how they advance progress toward a zero-carbon, healthy, just, resilient, and equitable built environment. Learn from real-world case studies showcasing successful implementations across diverse firms and project types. Plus, you’ll learn how to navigate the valuable online resources for each of the 10 principles to use in your design process for future projects. Course expires on 2/04/2027

Changing access and supervision requirements are beginning to challenge the traditional norm of designing segregated, gender-specific restrooms and locker rooms for K–12 schools. Inclusive facilities offer a more humane and dignified approach to the traditional toileting and locker room experience. Learn the benefits and practicalities of designing inclusive restrooms and locker rooms—highlighting their role in promoting equity, accessibility, efficiency, and student health.  Understand how inclusive facilities can reduce bullying, enhance privacy, and improve overall student safety and well-being. Gain practical tools to navigate conversations with community stakeholders, code officials, administrators, staff, families, and students—ensuring a smooth transition to more inclusive environments in K–12 schools. AIA Best Practices Guide To learn more about inclusive and universal restroom and locker room design in K-12 schools, read the AIA Guide on Inclusive restrooms & locker rooms in K-12 schools by Cheryl Jacobs, AIA, Greg Louviere, AIA, & Benjamin Fields, AIA, published June 2024. This session was recorded live on August 29, 2024.  Course expires 6/14/2027

Join us to hear from the AIA national advocacy team as they explain the structure and timeline of the federal budget process, including how appropriations affect architecture and vertical infrastructure programs. This course will highlight why the federal budget matters to architects and designers, and discuss how architects can engage in the budget cycle and support advocacy efforts. Discover how to connect federal spending priorities to opportunities and challenges facing the built environment and the profession. By translating complex fiscal policy into clear, actionable insights, this course aims to empower practitioners to anticipate funding trends, align services with public investment priorities, and engage in effective advocacy. 

Take your architecture career to the next level with our 3-course package designed for architects aspiring to step into leadership roles or elevate their impact within their firms. This specially curated bundle provides the tools, strategies, and insights to shape you into a leader who can inspire, motivate, and drive team success. 

Improve your understanding of the fundamental business concepts in architecture and design. Learn the significance of business acumen in your professional journey and gain insights into how you can use it to have the greatest impact on your career. Dive into the current and historic internal and external business dynamics—from organizational culture to economic conditions—shaping architecture and design firms to establish a crucial foundation for making informed and strategic decisions.

Learn the essential skills and insights needed to develop effective team leadership and cultivate positive team dynamics. Understand the six essential characteristics of team excellence that distinguish high-performing teams from average ones so you can analyze individual roles and nurture the key traits that drive successful teamwork. Plus, dive into the major impact employee engagement can have on team performance—learning actionable strategies to boost engagement and motivation among your team. Assess the influence of team dynamics on productivity and performance and acquire practical techniques to optimize these dynamics, ensuring that your team works cohesively towards shared goals. Course expires 04/06/2027

Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? In this interactive course, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the core leadership principles needed to become an effective leader in any organization. Explore various leadership styles, including autocratic, democratic, transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire, and discover the situations when each style is most suitable. You'll also learn the key elements for creating a leadership vision statement that motivates and drives your team and/or organization. Get actionable insights to enhance your leadership skills with six proven practices to propel you toward becoming a more effective leader. Whether you're a seasoned leader seeking to refine your abilities or an aspiring leader ready to take your first step, this course will empower you to become a more confident leader capable of inspiring, motivating, and driving positive change. Unlock your potential on your path to leadership excellence.

In today’s competitive and turbulent marketplace, it can be a challenge for design firms to reach and maintain sustained growth. That’s why developing your firm’s strategic planning and learning new growth strategies is vital to your firm’s success. In this course, you will learn about the strategic planning process and explore growth strategies such as market development, diversification, and strategic alliances. You’ll also understand how to incorporate the components of the business model canvas into your decision-making to develop and implement effective strategic plans that drive firm growth.  

Get an in-depth overview of the accessibility requirements for new and existing buildings and learn how to avoid common compliance issues.  

Take your design practice to the next level and make a measurable impact on the planet. Designing for Decarbonization is a five-part learning series that equips architects and design professionals with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to take meaningful action on climate change—turning sustainable vision into practical, measurable results.  From understanding the built environment’s role in global emissions to applying cutting-edge, data-driven tools to enhance energy performance, this series delivers practical guidance you can apply immediately. Explore real-world examples, technical insights, and actionable design approaches to reduce both embodied and operational carbon, integrate passive and high-performance strategies, and make informed design decisions with energy modeling.  Whether you’re advancing firm-wide sustainability goals or sharpening your personal expertise, this series provides the skills, insight, and leadership strategies to design buildings that perform better, last longer, and contribute positively to the planet. 

Architects have a critical role to play in preparing communities for disasters. In this 3-course series, learn how you can use your skills to support communities before and after a disaster. Discover innovative approaches and best practices to safeguard structures and minimize the devastating effects of floods. Explore the trends and projections that highlight the growing frequency and complexity of cascading and compounding disasters, and gain insights into the implications for disaster preparedness and response efforts. Learn how you can contribute to enhancing equitable outcomes by actively involving community members, considering their unique perspectives and needs, and designing resilient and inclusive spaces. Presented in partnership with the AIA National Disaster Assistance Program (DAC).

Upholding ethical obligations to clients and fellow professionals is the cornerstone of a successful architecture practice. These essential courses will reinforce your ethics knowledge and skills, helping you effectively navigate ethical dilemmas. Explore the foundations of client-professional relationships with a focus on the importance of ethical standards and legal requirements and steering clear of conflicts of personal gain.  Learn how the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct can assist in attaining individual and organizational objectives while safeguarding the public's health, safety, and welfare. Review anti-discrimination laws and specific sections within the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct that underscore the critical need to prevent harassment and discrimination, especially concerning protected characteristics Learn strategies for preventing and addressing harassment and discrimination, such as cultivating a respectful workplace culture, establishing clear policies, and providing education on diversity and inclusion Save up to 15% when you purchase the bundle.