3D printing has evolved into an innovative tool for increasing construction efficiency and quality. For an industry like construction, one that's notably hesitant to adopt new technology, its widespread use and success are all the more remarkable. In this course, you’ll discover real-world applications of 3D printing, such as the high-profile Domino Sugar renovation in Brooklyn, and learn how its versatile, durable solutions provide a greater ROI while maximizing the quality of your projects.

Course expires on 6/1/2026.

Throughout his career, Edward Mazria, FAIA, has designed with a central idea in mind: beautiful, functional architecture can be a positive influence on the environment. From his seminal work on passive solar energy to his groundbreaking story “Architects Pollute,” Mazria has had a profound effect on the architecture industry’s response to climate change.

In this session, Mazria shares his personal influences, the numerous design solutions he’s developed to fight climate change, and how his work with Architecture 2030 helped him earn the Gold Award: AIA’s highest annual honor.

Course expires 12/1/2024

Would you like to develop a more effective business development strategy? One that leads to more rewarding and enduring client relationships—and better projects?

Hear from three panelists who will share their perspective and advice on topics such as:

• Connecting with current contacts to create new opportunities and relationships
• Creating accountability for client relationships and effective channels for communication, feedback, and collaboration
• Overcoming a lack of natural inclination toward relationship-building
• Being disciplined about staying on track with strategic target clients

You’ll leave with information and templates for developing a more productive and fun business development plan. After this course, you'll have everything you need to become a business development pro!

Course expires 5/22/2025

A consummate innovator in areas of equity and inclusion, Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, has forged a new path for the future of the profession. Her voice as a leader has reverberated throughout her firm and the design community, leading to palpable changes and the realization that a more just and equitable profession is within reach.

In this exclusive interview, Gabrielle shares what it means to be the 2020 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award recipient, and her professional dedication to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion fostering change to transform the practice of architecture and our relationship with the built environment at large.

Course expires 9/5/2024

What would a movement towards greater gender equity that's unified across the building industry look like? Join us for a first of its kind, powerful panel discussion with female leaders from various building industry professional associations. Panelists include Angela Brooks, FAICP, president of American Planning Association; Angie Lee, AIA, FIIDA president of International Interior Design Association; Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, 2023 president of The American Institute of Architects; Robin Greenleaf, FACEC, chair emeritus of American Council of Engineering Companies; and Christine Oates, CCM, DBIA, chair of the Construction Management Association of America.

Course expires 11/02/2026

Energy efficient design embraces the climate when beneficial, and minimizes unwanted environmental conditions. In this session, we’ll explore using climate data and site characteristics to conduct climate analyses, which we can use to inform building design and lower energy loads. This will set the stage for future courses that will address specific design strategies in more detail.

In this course we cover the key elements of climate analysis. We discuss climatic factors that affect both a building’s performance and occupant comfort. We also decipher the “mysterious” psychrometric chart, which allows us to consider both climate and comfort together. Finally, we explore ways in which climate affects design decisions about site and program, as well as where to look for hidden opportunities during this phase to increase efficiency.

The AIA+2030 Online Series is an AIA and Architecture 2030 co-production, sponsored by Autodesk and delivered through AIAU.

It's based on the highly successful AIA+2030 Professional Series, which was created by AIA Seattle and Architecture 2030, with support from the City of Seattle and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

Course expires: 11/02/2024

As they finalize accessibility standards for public rights of way, the U.S. Department of Transportation has already asked that projects follow new recommendations. Applying these standards promises to be complicated. The changes will take real expertise—and hold much opportunity for practitioners with the right skills.

In this session, we'll cover everything you need to know through a comprehensive case study of the Denver 16th Street Mall and learn real-world solutions to a range of accessibility challenges. It's a must for urban planners and designers as well as anyone else concerned with community accessibility.

Course expires 02/27/2024

Do these oversights result from a lack of awareness, incomplete drawings and specifications, or sloppy construction? Or has the topic become so complex planners can't synthesize relevant information? 
This presentation will look at items of non-compliance most frequently found in construction. You'll review photos of existing installations; join a discussion of what went wrong, was missing, or was misunderstood; and gain essential insights into the access issues to watch for and preemptively address in future projects.

Course expires 6/11/2025

To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law.

In Part 1, review the history, mandates, and legal obligations of the ADA. The definitions and complications of implementation in various types of buildings are highlighted through case study examples and discussion. The course illustrates a comparison of standards and codes and the architect’s responsibility through contracts and documents, drawings and details, existing and new construction.

Course expires 4/20/2025

To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law.

In Part 2, go in depth on compliance issues regarding accessible routes, ramps, parking spaces, protruding objects, doors and clear floor space, controls, and counters. Typical design issues will be highlighted regarding convenience stores, gas stations, and other retail outlets as well as specific cases involving owner decisions which negate ADA compliance.

Course expires 5/22/2025

To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law.

In Part 3, review the details and best practices regarding ADA compliance concerning singage, counters, dining and work surfaces, guest rooms, pools and (everyone’s favorite) bathrooms. Examples and discussion on water closets, toilets, knee and toe space, and bathroom accessories will highlight the latest updates in the standards as well as the most overlooked items. In addition, the speaker highlights how to best comply with these topics when designing for banks, convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels.

This course expires on 2/9/2024.

To get your projects right the first time, design and accessibility should go hand-in-hand. In this 3 part course, you'll learn the best practices for accessibility covering emerging trends, everyday mistakes made by contractors and architects and the best way to prepare drawings to get it right the first time. Don't let ADA compliance issues set you back and cost you money! Find out what it takes to avoid common mistakes and design for ADA compliance to the letter of the law.

Homes are living laboratories for unfettered design innovation on behalf of greater accessibility. When people with disabilities partner with curious and clever architects, the results can be striking. This course will explore the new frontiers in design—accessible, universal, inclusive, and optimum—using the residential environment as a starting point.

A leading expert whose practice is dedicated solely to accessible design will share:

• New independent research and insights from architects, builders, and homeowners creating accessible homes.
• Images, drawings, and photos of 25 such homes in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
• Lessons learned from architects, builders, occupational therapists, disability advocates, and people living with disabilities of all types.

Course expires 02/08/2024

See how COLLABORATION and REENVISIONING across practice, academia, community, and government can be part of the answer to climate change. Ashlie Latiolais, AIA, shares her work in New Iberia, LA. She suggests new modes and methods of architectural practice and education to inspire a new generation of architects to re-imagine conventional deliverables in architectural community work. Richard Mohler, AIA, describes the climate and social equity challenges created by single-family zoning. He shares the results from a collaboration of his University of Washington design studio, AIA Seattle, and city government to revise public policy to be more aligned with the city’s climate and social equity goals. Designer Sasha Plotnikova illustrates how designing for de-growth presents an alternative model to conventional US urban development practices. She gives architects a way to help foster and realize community-based visions of equitable development that is also climate-responsive design. Ann Yoachim shares the work of Tulane’s community design center as a case study. Increased intensity of weather events and failing infrastructure have resulted in regular flooding of streets, homes, and businesses (including the center itself). Responding to immediate needs and planning for potential climate futures are often in conflict, so an engaged design process, related and unique projects, and research offer architecture practice and education an opportunity to respond.

Course expires on 12/14/2023.

With the trend toward decarbonization increasing interest in net zero carbon buildings and on-site renewable energy, it is essential architects and design professionals understand the process and factors to consider, the best practices and procedures, and where to find the resources to complete a zero energy building design.

The Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) Series has been supporting this effort for over a decade. The guides provide definitions and processes; solution sets by climate zone with a mix of prescriptive and performance-based approaches; guidance on strategies, including whole-building integration approaches; recommended energy targets; and examples of buildings with performance data showing proven techniques and achievable targets.  

Adapted from the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings and featuring case studies of zero energy K-12 schools, this highly interactive, self-paced learning program offers recommendations, strategies, and resources for achieving zero-energy commercial buildings to help design practitioners improve their skills in high-efficiency building design. 

The course was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Course expires on 8/9/2026.

What happens in planning and design impacts what happens in the facility life cycle and vice versa. Unfortunately, project life cycle factors are overlooked when the project team has a myopic attitude to capital planning only putting first cost front and center.  Brushing TCO aside during planning and design leads to costly waste and unintended consequences.  Responsible Owners envisage the long-term impact of ROI on their bottom line and strive to minimize TCO within their business model. Accountable Architects strive to meet the Owner’s project requirements by providing solutions with considerations to "cradle to grave” and TCO assessments. The TCO is a crucial factor in calculating the ROI, for efficiency and for value creation.  A TCO strategy is an approach to delivering a sustainable project.

Course expires 01/17/2026

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

This course will cover the specific wording of ADA Standards Section 104.1.1 on tolerances and similar language in selected other accessibility standards and explain how they should be interpreted. It will cover what types of conditions are subject to the tolerances language and which ones are not. The panelists will discuss how they measure field conditions affecting accessibility and ADA compliance, how those measurements are critical in understanding and applying the tolerances language, and what types of field conditions affect the determination of whether a measurement is within the tolerances. This session provides architects with peer feedback on a critical but highly esoteric topic.

Course expires 1/6/2025

In the past few years, the twin challenges of climate adaptation and mitigation and equitable communities have risen to the top of the public agenda. Cities are facing incredible challenges to plan effectively to reduce carbon emissions, adapt to climate vulnerabilities and achieve more equitable communities for all their residents. Many smaller communities are struggling to develop effective strategies that marshal resources and build momentum towards addressing these complex challenges. Northampton, Massachusetts and Dubuque, Iowa have frequently outperformed larger jurisdictions on these issues and have emerged as leading municipalities. Northampton was the first jurisdiction in the nation to achieve the coveted 5-STAR sustainability rating and has been the recipient of numerous related awards. Dubuque has similarly been recognized for its achievements with dozens of awards, including 5 All-America City Awards in just a dozen years for imaginative collaborations to address their key challenges. Their experiences provide insights to frame a future direction for other communities seeking to build the civic infrastructure and strategies that will lead to success. This session presents perspectives from city officials in each of these leading municipalities about the mechanics of planning for sustainable futures.  Hosted by the AIA Communities by Design (CxD) program.

Course expires 05/17/2024

In the past decade, retail health has emerged as a popular model for bringing quality healthcare into American communities. As retailers go online, their former storefronts present opportunities for repurposing into outpatient health centers that are mutually beneficial to patients and healthcare institutions. Patient consumers can enjoy the convenience and customer experience of a retail facility located in their neighborhood while medical facilities can fulfill expansion plans with financially and environmentally efficient solutions. The adaptive reuse of big-box groceries, with their ample parking and strategic locations, has become a competitive iteration of retail health in an increasingly consumer-driven market.

During this session, attendees will follow the development of Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade in Nashville, TN and the BJC Outpatient Center in Edwardsville, IL from former grocery stores to new health centers. Though Vanderbilt Health Belle Meade is an ambulatory surgical center and the BJC Outpatient Center is a multi-specialty healthcare center, these two case studies will explore their opportunities, challenges, and outcomes in transforming former supermarkets into community based, outpatient health centers. Hosted by the Academy of Architecture for Health an AIA Knowledge Community.

Course expires 06/27/2025