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.

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.

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.

How do architects develop a compelling business case for resilient design and construction? This course teaches you best practices for guiding developers and building owners on how to best address their level of risk through resilient design, including other risk management strategies such as insurance, grants, and incentive programs. You’ll learn how to raise key questions with the client and design team, use data to understand project risk, showcase how resilient design can mitigate that risk, and demonstrate the costs and benefits. You’ll also learn about the evolving professional responsibilities associated with resilient design in this emerging area of practice. 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

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.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024  |  2:00-3:00pm EST 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. 

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.

How do you support a population of 4.5 million with limited staff and no reliable sources of electricity and water? This session will present a case study of the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital’s Neonatal Unit. This project was designed to address the challenges of a low resource setting while pursuing the goal of reducing the neonatal mortality rate in that region of Uganda. In this session, attendees will learn how to apply the principles of restorative design, contextual design, and resilient design to promote community well-being within a low resource setting, with special attention given to the specific needs of neonates. Course expires 08/25/2025

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  

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.

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

This detailed and interactive course introduces resilience and adaptation foundations, including history and evolution, and offers key data points that will help you develop as a knowledgeable resource on the topic, support your efforts to integrate resilient design services into your firm, and be equipped to participate in local and national resilience conversations and efforts. 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. Course expires on 9/1/2025 This course is sponsored by Owens Corning