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.

In major cities, existing buildings contribute significantly to overall energy demand and CO2 emissions.  As a result, these cities implement polices and laws aimed at drastically reducing the carbon footprint of their building stock.  Deep energy retrofits are a key strategy for meeting these goals, and we are seeing an increase of such projects in these cities and beyond. However, fire safety cannot be overlooked in these retrofits, especially in older buildings lacking sprinklers. Additionally, modifying the hygrothermal properties of older buildings presents risks that must be carefully managed in both the design and execution of retrofits of any scale. Buildings that have historically been energy-inefficient require special attention and considerations when retrofitting to ensure durability and resilience for the long term.  The last thing we want is to have our newly retrofitted buildings fail or pose safety or health risks to their occupants. This program will explore several case studies of large building retrofits - both interior and exterior approaches - where fire safety and building science were critical factors in the solutions implemented.     This session was recorded live on September 11, 2025.

Hygrothermal modeling, the analysis of heat and moisture transport through building enclosure assemblies, reveals many of the climate-specific building science secrets that are key to durable design of walls and roofs and other assemblies. Debunking rules of thumb and avoiding answers of “it depends” – data and analysis can reveal exactly how many inches of a certain insulation are required, exactly what perm-rating will optimize an assembly, and what kind of havoc a reservoir cladding system can create. Case studies will be shown that demonstrate when perm rating matters and when it does not, the impact of roof membrane color and the risks of “cool roofing,” and when HT (high-temp) rated membranes are actually required. This presentation’s ulterior motive is to convince the audience that every architecture firm should be doing in-house hygrothermal modeling as an integral component of climate-specific, durable, and resilient design. This session was recorded live on August 19, 2025.

What progress has more than 23,000 projects totaling 3.8 billion GSF designed last year made towards net-zero carbon? The AIA 2030 Commitment, a key climate action program, brings together a network of over 1,250 signatory architecture and design firms dedicated to tracking their projects’ energy data to reach carbon neutrality in the built environment. Upon this year’s release of the 2030 By the Numbers (RY22), join us for a conversation on the high-level findings from the report, including where we are succeeding as an industry and where we can still improve based on the reported data. We will discuss data trends on overall energy performance, the incorporation of energy modeling in projects, the inclusion of renewable energy sources as well as embodied carbon data. Course expires 12/12/2026 This session was recorded live on October 31, 2023.

What progress has more than 24,000 projects totaling 3.9 billion GSF designed last year made towards net-zero carbon? The AIA 2030 Commitment, a key climate action program, brings together a network of over 1,350 signatory architecture and design firms dedicated to tracking their projects’ energy data to reach carbon neutrality in the built environment. Upon this year’s release of the 2030 By the Numbers (RY23), join us for a conversation on the high-level findings from the report, including where we are succeeding as an industry and where we can still improve based on the reported data. We will discuss data trends on overall energy performance, the incorporation of energy modeling in projects, and the inclusion of renewable energy sources and embodied carbon data. 

The AIA /AAH Case Study Library, led by the Research Initiatives Committee, transforms award-winning healthcare projects into a shared, practical resource - enabling design decisions that improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, and user well-being.  By standardizing and centralizing peer-reviewed case studies, it helps teams quickly identify strategies, benchmark performance, and make more confident decisions to drive smarter design and stronger outcomes across the industry. Examples will focus on how documented design strategies relate to patient safety, staff workflows, and overall user experience in healthcare settings.

This course prepares instructors and course authors to design and deliver product-specific learning programs (PSLPs) in full compliance with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Through real-world examples, scenarios, and interactive knowledge checks, you’ll learn to distinguish education from promotion and apply requirements that safeguard neutrality, credibility, and educational value. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to develop and deliver learning programs that support informed decision-making and uphold AIA’s commitment to educational integrity. This course is required for AIA CE Providers, course authors, and instructors. It is not eligible for AIA Learning Units. Upon successful completion, participants are eligible to design and deliver AIA Product-Specific Learning Programs (PSLPs) for a period of three years.

Architects collaborate with colleagues, consultants, clients, and community stakeholders whose perspectives shape project decisions and outcomes. Yet not all voices are equally heard—professionals from marginalized identity groups, including women, BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities, often face barriers to recognition, advancement, or meaningful engagement. This course introduces allyship in architectural practice, showing how architects can use their influence to foster equitable participation in project teams and stakeholder engagement processes. You’ll explore actionable strategies such as expanding opportunities for underrepresented colleagues, addressing biased or dismissive behavior, and amplifying diverse perspectives during project discussions. Inclusive collaboration brings broader ideas, lived experiences, and innovative approaches, strengthening design outcomes and better aligning projects with client and community goals. You’ll reflect on current practices and leave with strategies to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in architectural workflows.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering architectural practice, but many architects and design professionals are still determining what it means for their work, firms, and professional responsibilities. Designed for small to mid-size firms but useful to anyone curious about AI, this series of courses will introduce architects to the early stages of AI adoption and how they can use these tools to improve workflows.  Through four short, self-paced courses, you’ll build baseline AI literacy, examine responsible practices, identify low-risk starting points for adoption, and understand how data quality affects AI performance. The series emphasizes practical decision making, risk awareness, and responsible experimentation rather than technical expertise. By the end, you’ll be better prepared to evaluate AI tools and determine how to begin using them. 

As AIA leaders, your conversations and decisions shape both the association’s credibility and the profession’s reputation. This short, self-paced course will help you recognize what’s appropriate—and what’s not—when it comes to discussions among competitors. You’ll learn how antitrust laws apply to association activities, explore real-world scenarios, and leave with simple tools to keep your meetings compliant and professional.

National Preparedness Month is a reminder that effective disaster response begins long before the storm. This webinar explores the proactive role architects can play in developing temporary housing solutions that are ready to deploy when communities need them most.  Rather than waiting for catastrophe to drive action, this session explores how AIA chapters and their members can prepare before disasters and support communities through recovery afterward. Attendees will examine the frameworks, partnerships, and pre-approved design strategies that can help communities deploy housing and other solutions quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. From modular construction approaches that can scale rapidly in the wake of a disaster, to planning efforts that bring together universities and local emergency management agencies, the session will highlight what effective preparation looks like—and why it matters. Attendees will also gain insight into how design professionals can help communities navigate deployment, response, and recovery in the aftermath. The conversation also broadens beyond the post-disaster context to examine the intersection of emergency housing and the ongoing housing crisis — including how temporary solutions can sometimes become permanent ones, and how architects can advocate for and support their communities year-round. This session was recorded live on September 24, 2026. Part 2 of the Architect's Role in Disaster Risk Reduction Series.

Explore the critical role of architects in building community resilience to disasters, gaining an in-depth understanding of their contributions before and after disasters. This course is specifically designed for architects aspiring to become leaders in disaster resilience and community assistance. We’ll examine the Disaster Assistance Program and the significant contributions architects make in disaster scenarios. The course emphasizes proactive engagement, covering disaster preparedness and response at various levels while highlighting their importance for community safety and resilience. Explore the four phases of the emergency management cycle—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—while discovering architects’ roles in each and learning to integrate resilience thinking strategically through lectures, case studies, and interactive workshops. Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to contribute to disaster preparedness, mitigate risks, respond effectively to emergencies, and support recovery efforts—enhancing your community’s safety and resilience.

Join Emily Mottram, known for her work on the "Pretty Good House" concept, for a session exploring the proper detailing and installation for air, water, and insulation layers within a building. Emily will demonstrate how to begin the design process with the specific climate zone, and then reverse engineer decisions from there. Participants will learn to identify risks associated with poorly executed detailing and explore strategies to enhance air quality and building durability through careful material selection and detailing control layers. By viewing the structure as a whole-building integrated system, this approach highlights a practical framework for designing custom residential homes that prioritizes occupant health, safety, and welfare. This session was recorded live on July 17, 2025.

In this joint partnership between the Building Performance Knowledge Community (BPKC) and the Resilience and Disaster Response Community (RADR), panelists will review historic cooling, heating, and resilience strategies and discuss how they can be used to amplify and expand the effectiveness of emerging technology for passive survivability and energy efficiency. By designing for aesthetics first, and then using modern HVAC and other solutions to overcome any inefficiencies second, we are doing ourselves, our clients, and our communities a grave disservice.  In the 1999 essay by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien called ‘On Slowness,’ there is a quote from Milan Kundara: “There is a secret bond between slowness and memory, between speed and forgetting.”  The speed with which we develop new technologies to enhance our building performance increases our forgetting of the basic principles that helped people survive for hundreds of years without air conditioning and ducted heat. Building science and technology continue to evolve and advance in both possibilities for improved outcomes and complexity. The more we learn about vented rainscreens, smart vapor barriers, all in one water resistive barriers and insulation products, the more intricate our detailing becomes. High performance envelopes are exciting and full of promise even with the challenges of coordination and installation execution. Join us for a 60 minute discussion of getting back to basics as a way to further progress in building resilience and passive survivability.  This session was recorded live on July 14, 2026.

Becoming a mentee is one of the most powerful ways to shape your professional growth in architecture. This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to engage effectively and confidently in mentorship programs. Drawing on the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, proven research, and national models, you’ll explore the purpose and benefits of mentorship, distinguish mentoring from coaching and sponsorship, and learn how to set clear goals, communicate effectively, and build a professional network. Emphasizing inclusive practices, this course helps mentees recognize bias, build trust across differences, and take ownership of their professional development. Through real-world scenarios and guided reflection, you’ll develop strategies for active engagement, self-assessment, and problem-solving strategies—ensuring your readiness to maximize the value of mentorship relationships.

Becoming an architecture mentor is one of the most meaningful ways to support the next generation of design professionals. This interactive course prepares you to become the best mentor possible by building the skills needed for effective, inclusive, and sustainable mentoring relationships.  Drawing on the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, proven research, and national models, you’ll explore the purpose and impact of mentorship, distinguish between mentoring, coaching, and sponsoring, and learn how to set clear goals and boundaries. Emphasizing inclusive practices, this course helps mentors recognize bias, build trust across differences, and foster equitable growth for mentees.  Through real-world scenarios and guided reflection, you’ll develop strategies for navigating common mentoring challenges and assess your readiness to mentor with confidence, empathy, and intentionality. 

Mental and behavioral health is an often stigmatized and misunderstood area of healthcare design. Too often, safety comes at the expense of serenity, risk reduction is prioritized over recovery, and spaces described as deinstitutionalized still miss opportunities to advance dignity through design.  This course introduces better practices for inpatient mental health planning and design for professionals ranging from emerging practitioners to senior medical planners. Participants will explore the VA Inpatient Mental Health Design Guide, a resource of more than 500 pages containing over 30 room templates, planning diagrams, and detailed discussion of the clinical models that influence behavioral health environments. The program will demonstrate how thoughtful planning and design decisions can balance safety, dignity, recovery, and caregiver needs. 

Artificial intelligence is transforming the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, yet many professionals remain uncertain about its practical applications. This panel discussion brings together healthcare owners and project delivery professionals to separate the hype from reality. The session will begin by clarifying what AI means for AEC beyond generative chat tools, followed by a data-driven snapshot of current adoption based on a pre-webinar survey of Academy members. Panelists will demonstrate the potential for AI applications in healthcare design and planning, and in particular, discuss how proper AI-assisted code compliance validation and space programming can ensure facilities meet regulatory requirements and support optimal clinical workflows. As AI tools can help identify design deficiencies earlier in the project lifecycle, firms may see a reduction in the number of costly changes thereby improving the overall quality of healthcare environments. The discussion will conclude with practical guidance on how owners and design teams can organize their historical project data today to unlock AI capabilities tomorrow while avoiding siloed point solutions. A live Q&A will ground the discussion in real project experience.  This session was recorded live on March 17, 2026.

You cannot control what curve-balls are thrown your way (yes, including a global pandemic), but you can control how you respond. When faced with adversity, feeling lost or even paralyzed, is completely normal, but within life's setback lies a silver lining: an opportunity to lean into the most incredible comeback - and growth - you could have ever imagined. Learn how to work through the five stages of a setback, increase your productivity levels, nurture meaningful business relationships in a virtual world, and build a powerful professional brand based on a strong foundation, mission, and creative, empathetic leadership. Course expires 10/31/2026.

This program will feature a panel discussion with authors of Prospering in the US - A Handbook for Immigrant Architects, a comprehensive guide published by the Immigrant Architect Coalition in 2024. This session will offer invaluable insights into navigating the architectural profession in the United States for immigrant architects. Panelists, who are themselves successful immigrant architects and designers, will share their experiences and practical advice on topics ranging from cultural acclimation to career development. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn directly from the contributors of this essential resource, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities unique to immigrant architects seeking to build thriving and inclusive careers in the US. This program builds upon the mission of the Immigrant Architects Coalition to support their fellow immigrant architects through shared knowledge and mentorship. This session was recorded live on July 10, 2025.