Learn actionable strategies to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change through sustainable design and construction practices in the AEC industry. Gain a comprehensive understanding of carbon’s impact on the environment, explore the critical role of the built environment in global emissions, and learn practical methods to reduce both operational and embodied carbon in design and construction. Key topics include the principles of embodied, operational and avoided carbon, energy-efficient and passive design strategies, and sustainable material selection. The course also covers critical U.S. policies and frameworks such as LEED certifications, federal and local regulations, and AIA 2030 Commitment—equipping professionals with the knowledge to navigate evolving sustainability standards while leading decarbonization efforts.

Equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and tools to meet the goals of the AIA 2030 Commitment—AIA’s actionable climate strategy for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment by 2030. Achieving these goals requires understanding sustainable design principles and mastering the practical skills to implement them effectively. Explore key concepts and strategies for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in building design and construction. Topics include the integrated design process, passive design strategies, energy modeling, high-performance building systems, post-occupancy evaluations, and renewable energy integration.

Delve into the principles, challenges, and successes of designing net-zero energy educational buildings by exploring two award-winning case studies: the Frank and Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center in Cape Cod and Bard High School Early College. Gain insights into the strategies and innovations that allowed these projects to achieve net-zero energy goals while fulfilling educational needs. This course is ideal for architects, designers, and professionals interested in sustainable design and energy-efficient building practices. This course was recorded live on January 28, 2025.

In recent years, the climate crisis has placed decarbonization at the top of the urban agenda. While cities across the world have created climate action plans and pledged ambitious emission reductions, recent research has revealed that many jurisdictions are struggling to develop implementation strategies to meet those targets. This session will identify some of the common gaps in current city approaches and highlight innovative work happening at the local level that may provide broader guidance to community decarbonization strategies across the country. Participants will gain an understanding of the current context for this work and promising practices that may inform they own work.  This session was recorded live on February 22, 2023. 

Professional dialogues about urbanism are often held back by their own toxic jargon, but Carlos Moreno’s framing of the “15-Minute City” has delivered a publicly accessible concept that has gained global traction in recent years. Cities all over the world have begun devising strategies with the framework in mind. Urban design plays a key role in moving this idea from concept to reality, with significant implications for climate action and equitable development. Designing more compact cities can cut our carbon emissions by an estimated 25 percent. This session will feature real-world applied settings for the 15-Minute City with lessons learned for other jurisdictions seeking to mobilize action for more sustainable urbanism.    This session was recorded live on April 5, 2023.

This course takes a behind-the-scenes look at two groundbreaking projects—City Walk BHAM in Birmingham, AL, and The Underline in Miami-Dade County. Both projects were designed to reimagine the vacant land under transportation corridors, considered a physical barrier between communities, into dynamic public spaces.  Through these two case studies, you’ll gain insights into public-private partnership models, funding strategies, and community-driven and design approaches that make these projects possible. Examine how creative design solutions have transformed challenging spaces into multi-modal transportation corridors, resilient linear parks, and vibrant community destinations—improving neighborhood connections, safety, mobility, public health, sustainability, and innovation. Learn more about how the focus on health, safety, and welfare of the end users informed the design process: from the experience of the urban pedestrian to the cyclist commuter. In addition, you’ll learn about post-occupancy activation, including public programming, art initiatives, and revenue generating opportunities that ensure long-term success.  This session was recorded live on April 16, 2025.

This intermediate to advanced-level course delves into the technical design implications of recent energy efficiency codes—focusing on the building envelope’s critical role in enhancing thermal performance and occupant health, safety, and welfare. Explore strategies to meet increasingly stringent energy codes, including how to quantify and mitigate heat loss through thermal bridges using the Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide. Special emphasis will be placed on addressing the unique challenges of high-rise buildings with traditional unitized glazing systems, where the vertical enclosure area greatly exceeds the horizontal area. Gain the tools and insights needed to improve your material choices, design strategies, and construction practices to achieve optimal thermal performance.  This course was recorded live on February 4, 2025.

Women are the future of architecture, and the future of architectural practice is working with existing buildings.  In 2022, existing buildings accounted for 53% of architectural billings, and the proportion is rising.  Building reuse is an essential component of achieving a more sustainable future.  Strategies for sustainable retrofitting can reduce a building’s energy use by half.  New tools for measuring embodied carbon reveal the true cost of demolition and reconstruction.    Renovation and adaptive reuse projects are often considered to be more complicated than new construction, and for good reasons.  The issues that are commonly encountered can be challenging, but by anticipating and planning for these conditions, projects can be completed more successfully and at a lower cost.  This session will address methods of analysis and documentation for existing buildings and will present strategies for improving energy performance, accessibility, and inclusion.  By developing expertise in existing buildings, architects can create a more sustainable practice that is better positioned to ride out economic downturns.  Women are well positioned to lead these trends.  The majority of professionals with degrees in both architecture and historic preservation are female.  We lead the field in both technical preservation and cultural preservation.  We are natural collaborators who understand how to engage stakeholders and set aside ego to achieve mutual interests.  These skill sets give us the power to affect both the environmental impact and the social impact of our built places.  We have the power--and a mandate--to transform the existing the built environment to become more sustainable, resilient, and relevant. Course expires 10/22/2026