Hear about K-25, the "Queen Marys", and other scientific and military buildings of the Manhattan Project. G. Martin Moeller, Jr., curator of the exhibition Secret Cities, discusses how extraordinary achievements in architecture and engineering yielded the world's largest building (K-25) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when it was completed in 1944 and the 800-foot-long chemical separation plants (Queen Marys) of Hanford, Washington. Provided by The National Building Museum Course expires on 09/13/2026.  

The store is a 3D manifestation of what the customer has been promised through marketing, while providing an engaging, pleasant, and successful shopping experience for the customer, and delivering sales and margins that provide a profit. Post pandemic, research shows that while customers value the in-store experience and want to return to brick and mortar shopping, they want stores to do better on innovative use of the space for shopping and fulfillment. Retail stores are not solely destinations, but rather a physical space that provides the why, how, and where people shop. The store must fulfill a series of functions that reduce the physical space allocated to the presentation of merchandise. This course examines creating blended, flexible spaces that accommodate autonomy, convenience, education & engagement. This is hosted by the Retail and Entertainment Knowledge Community (REKC). Course expires 03/25/2026

This program examines the design and performance characteristics of metal backing systems that mechanically support thin masonry veneers. Comparisons between various systems and traditionally laid face brick masonry are made and critical design and installation factors are reviewed. Performance tests that establish code compliance of proprietary thin veneer support systems are identified. Strategies for water penetration, structural performance, thermal efficiency and NFPA 285 approval are presented.  This session was recorded live on April 27, 2023.

What values manifest in the built environment and what design principles can we apply to our projects to assure that our physical environments embody the diverse cultures of their inhabitants? Today, the architecture profession recognizes that diverse teams are more successful, particularly when it comes to analysis, creativity, and innovation, all of which are the cornerstones of architecture firms. Intersectionality in architecture is not just about the politics of recognizing individuals and their multiple and intersecting identities but extends to a framework of collective responsibility and action toward practices that are inclusive, diverse, and socially just. In this session, attendees will hear from a diverse group of architects, designers, and artists who will share their cultures, visions, project samples, and insights in why the intersection of architecture and culture is imperative for the built environment and their communities they serve. The panelists will expand on how thoughtful planning and design can contribute to a more welcoming, and diverse place for occupants to live and thrive, and why architects should incorporate different communities' experiences with culture, policies and design, to create both beautiful and more diverse environments. This session will have ample Q&A time, allowing for attendees to engage with the panelists. This session was recorded live on May 23, 2023.

Many retailers are building and remodeling stores to personalize experiences and engage shoppers. Learn about the top trends and innovations impacting retailers reimagining their store experiences. This is hosted by the Retail and Entertainment Knowledge Community (REKC). Course expires 6/18/2026 This session was recorded live on July 27, 2023.

Emergency Departments (ED) can be instantaneously overwhelmed, requiring resilient, adaptable, and flexible solutions of the built environment. Like many healthcare organizations, UC Health, an academic medical organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio, experienced major space challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic on-set and peak. This scenario, and others that ED’s are faced with, can be better supported by innovative uses of non-clinical environments on campus. In this presentation, we will demonstrate solutions applied to an adjacent space to the renovated ED at University of Cincinnati Medical Center that provides added social distanced seating for the entire campus, accommodates separate entries to avoid cross-contaminating infectious and non-infectious presenters, activates additional patient care environments supporting the ED proper, and integrates security and safety measures for all in high-stress, potentially dangerous situations. UC Health has received congressional funding for this project through the CARES (Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act as it will benefit the readiness of the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Cincinnati to better serve the community with a future-proof, resilient facility. Upon completion, the space activation methodologies will be folded into regional readiness training for emergency scenarios and serve as an example of the future of Level 1 Trauma Centers.  Hosted by the Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH). Course expires 5/29/2026

Join the AIA Interfaith Design Knowledge Community’s Knowledge and Resource Committee for a presentation by John White, AIA, emeritus professor Texas Tech University, concerning his documentation and preservation work on the San Antonio Missions in San Antonio, Texas. As the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas, this lecture will discuss the important history and significance of five mission locations: Mission Nuestra Señora de Acuña, Mission San Francisco de la Espada, Mission San Antonio de Valero, Mission San Francisco Xavier de Najera Centennial Marker, and Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo. White will also present his process of documentation of the sites through the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and how this has informed ongoing preservation efforts. Course expires 07/29/2026 This session was recorded live on August 9, 2023.

Our society is undergoing a profound transformation. By mid-century, an estimated two-thirds of our global population – 6 billion people - will live in cities. Global population growth and urbanization are putting enormous stress on our civilization, fueling a host of cascading crises from climate change to housing, health to inequality. Despite the unprecedented challenges facing us, cities are uniquely positioned to serve as the hub of a global strategy to address our current crises. This series will focus on a number of key themes facing the future of our cities, offering provocative ideas about how we conceptualize our collective future and the role of design leadership in achieving global goals.  This series is intended for civic leaders, architects, and other design professionals looking to make a difference in their community. These sessions were recorded between February and May 2023. Save up to 15% when you purchase the series.