Procurement Strategies for Responsible Material Selection
AIAU26-MAT03
Included in subscription
2
LU|HSW
Course expires on: 04/01/2029
Description
Material impact goals established during design can shift during procurement without consistent documentation and follow-through. Substitutions, incomplete disclosure, or unclear evaluation criteria may result in installed materials that differ from those originally specified.
This course prepares architects to work effectively with manufacturers, contractors, and project teams to maintain alignment between design intent and installed materials. You will learn how to request ingredient transparency and disclosure material contents, evaluate supplier documentation, and review submittals for consistency with project criteria.
After completing this course, you will be able to manage substitutions and apply procurement practices that support project goals related to human and environmental impacts throughout the construction process.
Learning Objectives
Describe the structure of the building material supply chain and identify leverage points for architects.
Build working relationships with suppliers and contractors to support ingredient transparency and disclosure.
Review submittals for consistency with project criteria related to material impacts.
Manage substitutions that may affect human or environmental outcomes.
Apply procurement practices that influence installed material selections across projects.
Acknowledgements
- Yan Chen, AIA | Architect & Researcher (UPC BarcelonaTech)
- Simona Fischer, AIA, CPHC | MSR Design
- Rodolfo Perez, Ph.D | International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
- Lona Rerick, AIA, LEED Fellow | Perkins & Will
- Adriana Rodriguez Pliego, AIA | COOKFOX
- Arti Verma, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, ALA | Dynamik Design