As healthcare systems are looking for innovative ways to bring hospital services to rural communities and neighborhoods, healthcare architecture is challenged to include all the requirements of a licensed 24/7 hospital within a footprint that is a fraction of a traditional hospital while simultaneously designing a community-friendly building that still reflects the healthcare system’s branding.   This course will present case studies of four micro-hospitals – each having its own unique solution while staying true to the micro-hospital model. Hosted by the Academy of Architecture for Health AIA Knowledge Community.  Course expires 06/12/2025

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.

Winner of the 2023 AIA Architecture Firm Award, Mithun is an interdisciplinary collaborative of designers, constantly evolving to address the critical challenges of our future. The practice is driven by a shared mission, Design for Positive Change, that is reflected in the firm’s structure, culture, and award-winning body of work. Learn about the evolution of the practice, now in its fourth and fifth generation of leadership, and significant work, both built and on-the-boards, nationwide. Presented in partnership with AIA Colorado.  

Both COTE® award and the Architecture Awards programs celebrate exemplary models of contemporary architecture which highlight parameters of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. From the extensive list of projects, one can discern those that define the intersection between sustainable principles and design achievement, including within them a unique sense of place, use of materials, and other more formal qualities that exist within a well-defined environmental approach. Through exploring three projects, learn innovations of sustainable design integration and come away with a greater understanding of the built environment’s role in communities. Hosted by Committee on Design (COD). Course expires 03/27/2026

From Roger Ulrich's research and the numerous evidence-based studies that followed, we know that connecting patients to views to nature can have a direct impact on health outcomes. This session will walk through the Rainier Beach Clinic case study, where the project team utilized an evidence-based process to build on this research and put nature at the center of a dialysis center, seeking to improve patient health outcomes and staff satisfaction.   As a recipient of a 2021 COTE Top Ten Award, 2021 Healthcare Design Award, and 2021 Healthcare Environment Award for ambulatory care settings, the Rainier Beach Clinic has been recognized for its innovation in blending innovative design concepts, sustainability performance, and an evidence-based process to reimagine a more patient-centric dialysis care environment. The presenter will also share how biophilic design strategies can be implemented in a variety of settings and projects, linking research to the built environment, and allowing for Architecture to take a more active role in the health and well-being of occupants. This session was recorded live on February 14, 2023.

SF Public Works plays a pivotal role in supporting San Francisco’s homeless population. This session will explore the city’s homelessness challenges and how the department’s architects are designing innovative shelters to meet them. In addition, the speakers will discuss how SF Public Works collaborates with other city agencies to serve people experiencing homelessness by overcoming the challenges posed by limited funding, regulatory requirements, bureaucracy, and NIMBY opposition. This will include a discussion of shelter typologies including Navigation Centers (rapidly-deployed tensile structures and modular units), Vehicular Triage Centers (individually occupied vehicles), Tiny Cabins, Safe Sleeping Sites, Transient Hotels, and newly constructed or renovated permanent buildings serving as Family Homeless Shelters or Congregate Dormitories. Hosted by the Public Architects Knowledge Community (PAKC). Course expires 05/14/2026  

The Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California Hastings College of the Law partnered with the AIA to conduct An Investigation into Bias in the Architecture Profession, a survey examining the workplace experiences of members in the profession of architecture. WorkLife Law will present survey data showing how the most common patterns of gender and racial bias impact architects and designers, and how individuals can act to reduce bias in their workplaces. This program is designed to provide architects, design professionals, and firms with Bias Interrupters: basic tweaks to interrupt bias as it is playing out in the workplace.

Does that little voice inside you say - Be happy with what you have - don't get pushy! - Times are tough right now - I can't ask now... But why not? The fact is that WOMEN DON'T ASK and most bosses are not mind-readers. But they also don't want to lose you - particularly in these tought times. However, if you are not happy, you won't produce your best, so let's come clean and learn how to negotiate for everyone's benefit. Did you know 20% of adult women admit having never negotiated? Of course, that means that 80% have, but maybe you didn't get what you wanted. Women are known as strong collaborators, multi-taskers and relationship builders, which happen to be three essential skills needed to negotiate successfully. Multiple studies attribute this lack of negotiating to a lack of confidence and some would add risk-taking. Don't let fear of negotiating get you stuck! Join Elizabeth Suárez as she leads participants through her exclusive and effective Negotiation Unleashed System. This process will have you feeling prepared, confident, and excited to negotiate for everything you want - in business and in life. By the end of the session, you will feel more confident and embraced three essential tips that you can immediately implement to accomplish your goals! Course expires: 10/09/2026

As billion-dollar natural disasters happen with increasing frequency and intensity, clients need buildings that help them protect their assets now—and into the future. This intermediate-level course teaches you best practices in hazard mitigation strategies that go beyond the existing code to protect your client’s investment and reduce their risk in new building projects. Using case studies of successful mitigation strategies and best practices from leading experts like FEMA Building Science, this course dives deep into design principles and key concepts to help you make strategic design decisions for hazards including water inundation, wind and storms, geologic/seismic hazards and other climate-related hazards. Every property will be exposed to a unique set of hazards. This course can help you design to reduce the risk associated with primary and secondary hazards, and their cascading effects. This course is part of the AIA Resilience and Adaptation Series, a multi-course series that provides you with the tools and knowledge you need to design for resilience. Take all of the courses in this series to earn a certificate of completion. This course is sponsored by Owens Corning

Amale Andraos, FRAIC, presents recent projects demonstrating principles of resilience and high performance design strategies. She speaks to the methods available to architects even when confronted with small budgets and tight timelines. Amale also appears in conversation with conference co-chair and research assistant professor Stephen Mueller to discuss the challenges of designing in areas of social and environmental instability and highlights the strength of connecting academia with practice in an intentional way. Course expires 01/25/2026

As health systems increasingly focus on leveraging the facility design process to improve patient outcomes and improve staff workflow, multidisciplinary design teams comprising architects, constructors, researchers, and operators are relying on current research to inform facility design decisions.  Clemson University has engaged with health systems and architecture firms as part of a multi-year federally funded patient safety learning lab to design a safer and more ergonomic operating room. This work represents the most comprehensive evidence based on OR design and has resulted in an OR prototype that has been implemented in multiple health systems. This webinar shares how Clemson University has collaborated with health systems and design professionals to develop concepts for flexible and safe operating room layouts.  This course will present an overview of the research process and how findings were implemented in real-world settings at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute.  This program was recorded live on March 12, 2024. Course expires 02/03/2027

Research shows the design of pediatric inpatient rooms significantly impacts the emotional and physiological well-being of young patients and their families. Hear findings from studies using virtual reality (VR), eye-tracking, and facial electromyography (EMG) to evaluate various design elements, including artwork, privacy features, and social support areas. These studies provide evidence-based insights into creating therapeutic environments that enhance comfort, reduce stress, and improve patient experience and satisfaction. Learn how to apply these innovative methodologies in practical settings to improve health care outcomes. Explore the implications of these findings for architects and designers, emphasizing the role of neuroarchitecture and biofeedback in developing effective and supportive health care environments. This course is aimed at professionals who are seeking to incorporate research and technology into pediatric health care design to foster health and well-being. Presented in partnership with the Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH). This course was recorded live on August 13, 2024.

This 120-minute on-demand course explores the design strategies and outcomes of the 10 COTE Top Ten Award winners and the 10 COTE Top Ten for Students Competition winners. It includes videos from each professional project team and commentary from 2020 jury member and COTE founder Bob Berkebile, FAIA, as well as COTE 2020 Chair Julie Hiromoto, AIA; 2019 Chair Marsha Maytum, FAIA; and 2021 Chair Betsy del Monte, FAIA. The AIA COTE Top Ten Awards have become the profession’s preeminent awards for projects that holistically integrate and exemplify design excellence and building performance, defining a new standard for “great design” that addresses the urgent needs of our time. Winning projects demonstrate excellence across the COTE Top Ten measures through multiple project types, sizes, and locations. This presentation highlights the value of architectural design through high performance, community building, and innovation. Attendees will gain valuable insight, learn about new techniques, systems, and tools, and leave feeling inspired by the broad range of design solutions presented. With the 2019 adoption of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, formerly known as the COTE Top Ten Measures, this celebration of award-winning projects is even more poignant. Course expires 10/8/2026

The AIA COTE® Top Ten Awards have become the profession’s preeminent awards for projects that holistically integrate and exemplify design excellence and building performance, defining a new standard for “good design” that addresses the urgent needs of our time. This year’s winning projects demonstrate that beautiful, high-performance design is possible for every project. This years winners include, sustainable housing for veterans, repurposed spaces that focus on community engagement and learning spacings that promote equity and inclusion.   This presentation examines those projects through the lens of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to highlight innovative, replicable models for more sustainable development regardless of project type, size, or location. Attendees will gain valuable insight, learn about new techniques, systems, and tools, and leave feeling inspired by the broad range of design solutions presented.

Building on production, post-production is where your story comes to life. Asia Taylor, AIA Film Challenge 2020 Third Place winner, shares editing tips, how to transcribe your interviews, and selecting the right music. Additionally, you will learn about what you can do with extra footage. Course expires 05/24/2025

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. 

Featuring John Gordon and Emily Teng Yan, AIA Film Challenge 2020 Grand Prize Winners, pre-production focuses on the planning that takes place before picking up a camera. Topics include developing a complete story, using a film matrix, creating a timeline, and more. Course expires 05/24/2025

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.

You’ve done your planning, and now you’re ready to film! In this third installment of Video Storytelling for Architects, Brodie Kerst, AIA Film Challenge 2021 Grand Prize Winner, explains equipment, how to frame camera shots, interview tips, and the importance of lighting and audio. Course expires 05/24/2025