This focused nano-session of the The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® Building Science Education series discusses plug, process, and other miscellaneous loads in a building to demonstrate why they are an important part of the design problem. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® Building Science Education series is designed to educate students and working professionals on building science principles that are paramount to the successful design of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. AIAU offers architects and design professionals courses that aim to educate on: Brought to you in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

This course is designed to help architects and design professionals review and apply the core ideas presented in the Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy. Through a structured series of activities, learners will explore key concepts such as energy efficiency, renewable technology options, solar-ready design, and on-site vs. off-site energy strategies. Participants will work through realistic scenarios, check their understanding with interactive assessments, and reflect on how to integrate renewable energy strategies into their own projects. Successful completion earns 1.0 LU HSW. To maximize learning in this course, participants are required to read Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy (AIA, 2021) before starting. The article serves as the foundation for all course activities.  

Women’s Leadership Summit, founded by AIA, is a premier event that brings together the industry’s largest network of diverse women in architecture, design, and the allied building industries. It exists to support and empower women on their leadership journeys and break down the barriers that get in their way.  Focused on networking, leadership training, business development, gender equity, and personal empowerment, WLS helps women manifest the careers they want while making a difference in the world.  This bundle focuses on networking, mental health and professional growth. Expires 4/27/2027

Gender. Race. Identity. We all wear multiple hats and represent a mixed bag of roles: architect, mom, friend, sister, daughter. Stories give voice to the rich diversity of our world and honor our shared humanity. We invite you to hear powerful stories from women who have built design practices and nonprofits around the unique identity of their respective communities. Alicia Ponce, AIA, is the founder of her firm APMonarch and the nonprofit Arquitina, and she is the author of Latinas in Architecture. April De Simone is a principal at Trahan Architects and founder of designing the WE, a for-benefit social design studio. Tamarah Begay, AIA, is the founder of Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, a Navajo woman-owned architectural firm. And our moderator, Tiara Hughes, is the founder of The First 500, a community of Black women architects. Let us honor the women who are bravely breaking stereotypes and glass ceilings. 

Join us for a captivating session to better understand and prepare for cascading disasters—which refers to the sequential occurrence of multiple disasters that intensify the overall impact and complicate response and recovery efforts—and compounding disasters—which involve the simultaneous convergence of multiple hazards or crises.  Drawing on data and research, we will examine the increased likelihood of cascading and compounding disasters in the future, explore the trends and projections that highlight the growing frequency and complexity of these events, and gain insights into the implications for disaster preparedness and response efforts. To illustrate the real-world impact of cascading disasters, we will share compelling case studies that will provide valuable insights into the complexities and unique considerations involved in managing cascading and compounding disasters. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a better understanding of cascading disasters and equip yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to prepare for and respond to these interconnected challenges.   To explore more resources on how to helping communities before and after disasters, visit aia.org/disaster. This session was recorded live on September 14, 2023.

As an AIA leader, your words shape how the profession and the organization are perceived. This self-paced course equips you with the skills to communicate with clarity, confidence, and consistency—whether engaging the public, responding to media inquiries, or navigating challenging situations. You’ll learn how to craft mission-aligned messages, represent AIA effectively in public forums, manage social media interactions, and respond strategically during crises. Through practical scenarios, checklists, and interactive exercises, you’ll gain the tools to protect and strengthen AIA’s reputation while advancing the organization’s mission, values, and impact on society.

With substantial research demonstrating the connection between the environment and public health outcomes, it is imperative that we identify and pursue opportunities within our communities that promote health, address disparities, and improve well-being. While many of these factors—transportation, land use planning, housing, parks, and economic development—are outside the public health field’s direct control, the Tennessee Department of Health has still established itself as a national leader in improving public health, safety, and welfare through investments in its built environment. In this presentation, you’ll gain an overview of the Tennessee Department of Health’s successes—led by the Office of Primary Prevention— including the significance of regional healthy development coordinators, the Healthy Built Environments Grant program, and cross-agency, multi-disciplinary partnerships.  This session was recorded live on May 14, 2024. Course expires 4/1/2027

The community contexts in which we work today are defined overwhelmingly by pervading public mistrust, conflict and controversy, and community opposition. Our urban crises – climate, housing, equitable development - are forcing quick action to avoid catastrophe. Controversy, community opposition and legal challenges pose significant and costly burdens to achieving our collective goals. This session will provide an overview of the key challenges in the field of public participation today. It will identify core components of healthy processes that can lead to more successful community outcomes with broad community support. The session will address technique selection, as well as tools, resources and networks where participants can develop skills in public participation.  This session was recorded live on March 15, 2023.

This course reviews the necessary design components for successful perimeter fire containment. It outlines the perimeter fire containment (PFC) test methodology in accordance with ASTM E2307, defines engineering judgments (EJs), and explains why they are needed and who is qualified to write them. Participants will learn how to identify the differences between a generic EJ and a more comprehensive EJ, focusing on elements required in a thorough engineering judgment. The instructor will utilize real project conditions and walk through the EJ development process.

The Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) Translational Research Building at the University of Utah marks a significant step in addressing the post-pandemic behavioral health crisis. HMHI will be an international hub of collaboration for testing and refining mental health design as well as research, clinical, and policy ideas. The facility will create a new model of translational research that unites experimental, computational, and clinical research under one roof to address national stigma, policy, and scientific challenges.  In this session, we will explore how behavioral health trends and emerging models of care impact the design of multidisciplinary clinical and research facilities, showing how HMHI’s neuroarchitecture-inspired design promotes interconnectedness and collaboration. We will discuss how the facility helps to rethink the American mental health care system by de-stigmatizing mental health, increasing awareness, and expanding mental health research and clinical services.  This course was recorded live on November 12, 2024.

High rise fires are not new to us. In fact, we have seen an increase in fire incidents in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in the last 5-10 years that have amplified awareness on fire safety performance of taller structures. High rise buildings present a greater risk with an increased number of occupants that have a limited means of escape in the event of a fire. That is why the time element for containing a fire is so critical. Also, as we have seen in actual fires, vertical fire spread at the exterior façade can rapidly overwhelm fire fighters means of interceding the fire from ground level. As the fire accelerates and upward spread progresses, it often reaches a height beyond the reach of fire services water streams. That is why containing a fire and preventing it from spreading vertically is so critical for both occupant and first responder safety. 

Join the AIA Regional & Urban Design Committee for a series exploring sustainability practices at the intersections of natural and man-made systems.  In a time with increasing global challenges perpetuated by environmental and socioeconomic inequities, cities are looking to implement more regenerative urban strategies that replenish resources faster than we are consuming them through circular economies. This panel seeks to discuss adaptable tools and strategies used across the globe that aim to strengthen our cities and restore communities long separated by harmful infrastructure.  Course expires 03/27/2026  

Cities across the U.S. face critical challenges in behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness. San Francisco is leading the way with over 20 groundbreaking projects – either in design, under construction, or recently completed – that provide new solutions, including crisis stabilization units, child and family therapy facilities, and modular buildings.  This course features experts from the San Francisco Department of Public Works, highlighting innovative new solutions for supporting the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants and the broader community. By shining a spotlight on behavioral health projects, this course will demonstrate how designers can improve service navigation, enhance connectivity, and create more effective support networks to address urgent health and housing needs. This course was recorded live on May 13, 2025.

With an increasing demand for medical design expertise throughout the world, this course provides AEC professionals with the crucial tools needed to adapt to local contexts, reimagine healthcare delivery models, ensure successful design outcomes, and have a positive impact on community health globally and locally. Hear from expert speakers, with experience spearheading large-scale hospital and master planning projects around the globe, on the complexities, nuances, variations, and influences impacting healthcare planning and design. Learn the many factors affecting healthcare delivery, including local public health systems, socio-economic conditions, demographics, an aging population, payer and business models, pandemic preparedness, climate, regional culture, codes and regulations, project delivery methods, and project teams operating across time zones. Explore compelling case studies from resource-limited settings to advanced urban centers, demonstrating how contemporary architectural models, sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and technological advancements are revolutionizing healthcare facilities worldwide.  This course was recorded live on September 10, 2024.

When you have numerous deficiencies in an existing building, where do you begin? Removing barriers for renovation and alteration projects is easier when you have excellent options and strategies for doing so. This course provides the guidance you need to understand the complexity around barrier removal and provide solutions for removal, and answers to common questions, such as "Is there such a thing as being grandfathered?" and "Why is the plan's examiner asking us to confirm that 20% of the construction cost is for resolving barrier-removal matters?" Applying accessibility regulations to existing buildings is complex. It's critical you understand these regulations and how they may apply to your current and future projects. Examples covered include parking, exterior accessible routes, interior accessible routes, common restrooms, amenity and common spaces, and employee common areas. By equipping yourself with a plan for tackling barriers to renovation, you'll help ensure your firm avoids costly redesigns—and headaches.

This panel convenes leading experts to explore innovative adaptive reuse strategies for underutilized faith-based buildings across the United States. Hear from several different perspectives on the critical challenges faced by institutions that are closing or falling into disrepair, in both rural and urban contexts. Discussions will range from the complexities of leveraging historic tax credits to offset developer costs, to how to navigate SEC approval and conversion processes. This session is designed for architects seeking practical, innovative strategies to transform faith structures into vibrant new community assets. This session was recorded live on October 16, 2025.

How are building materials affected by increasing temperatures, extreme water events, increasing humidity levels, and wildland-urban interface fires? Scientists from the Chemical Insights Research Institute will discuss the effects of changing environmental conditions on the release of chemicals, unexpected chemical transformations, microbiological growth, and fire emissions and residues. Presenters will discuss how this research may translate into tools for the building community, offering a glimpse into future design of healthy and durable materials and buildings. Course expires 06/05/2026

In the ever-evolving landscape of architectural practice, understanding and incorporating resilience design principles have become imperative. This course delves into the fundamental aspects of resilience design, equipping architects and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to create projects that are adaptable, sustainable, and capable of withstanding a range of challenges. Through a structured approach and practical exercises, participants will learn how to identify hazards, develop resilience strategies, and integrate them seamlessly into their architectural projects, fostering a holistic approach to design. Note: The course content is based on the AIA Resilience Design Toolkit. This comprehensive resource offers an objective analysis process which incorporates financial evaluation of resilience design strategies. Hosted by the Resilience and Adaptation Advisory Group (RAD AG). Course expires 08/30/2026

The acceleration of climate change and climate migration has created an unprecedented diversity of challenges that our built environment and communities must face in the coming decades. This acceleration is matched by a growing diversity of research and design efforts to counteract these challenges—both in academia and practice—centered around concepts of resiliency. This conference invites practitioners, scholars, and policy leaders engaged in shaping the future of resilience to identify challenges shaping the built environment, as well as the emerging tools, methods, practices designed to address the challenges ahead. AIA/ACSA Intersections Research Conference: RESILIENT FUTURES 2022 Fall Conference Proceedings The focus of the INTERSECTIONS programs is intended to strengthen the INTERSECTION between academia and design practice, especially when it comes to research and innovation, focused on resilience strategies.

Resource planning is the foundation of successful project management. This course walks you through identifying, quantifying, and scheduling the people, materials, and tools needed to deliver projects efficiently. You’ll explore methods for assessing resource availability, forecasting needs, and creating realistic schedules that align with project goals. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll develop a resource plan that supports productivity, reduces bottlenecks, and keeps projects on time and within budget.