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. Course expires 10/31/2024

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 1/31/2025 This course is sponsored by Owens Corning

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.

Designing and building climate adaptive buildings is not a choice—it’s an imperative. This course explores the major obstacles—and opportunities—that climate change poses for architects. On the one hand, short and long-term risks to the built environment are evolving with climate change. On the other, buildings are major carbon producers. Thus, architects must be part of the solution; designing buildings that both adapt to climate impacts and mitigate global warming. This course shows you how with an interactive approach to exploring data, innovative design strategies, and case studies that highlight how building design can adapt to—and even slow—climate change. This course is part of the AIA Resilience and Adaptation Online 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

Join us for a lively discussion on how urban food systems can change for the better, and how architecture and urban design respond to the challenge. Our food systems are facing challenges from post-pandemic supply chain issues, a changing climate and rising conflicts. This panel explores how architecture and urban design can redesign our foodscapes to prioritize nutritious food. Hosted by Regional and Urban Design Committee (RUDC). Course expires 7/25/2025

With all the talk about the importance of cities in the global climate fight, suburban jurisdictions have received relatively less attention. However, in the US suburban residents are responsible for half of our household carbon footprint due to inefficient land use and the resulting transportation and resource use patterns they produce. This session will explore strategies for shifting drivable suburbs to more walkable urban communities and explain how this change supports goals and policies related to resilience, active transportation, and community building. In addition, the speakers will discuss gentrification pressures and the implications strategies have on communities, with the goal of breaking cycles of disinvestment and preventing displacement.  Join this important conversation with thought leaders who are driving the movement and working on the front lines of suburban change today.  Hosted by AIA Center for Communities by Design. Course expires 09/18/2025

Local, state, and federal government projects, especially those located in low income areas, often try to include features targeted to improve the local community. The area immediately surrounding a new government building or campus is taken into account during the design process. This webinar will focus on three urban projects: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Ariel Rios Federal Building in Washington, DC; the Department of Homeland Security Campus in Washington, DC; and the City of Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Center in Chicago, IL. The speakers will discuss how each project met health, safety, welfare, sustainability, and energy requirements while also contributing positively to their local communities.  Hosted by the Public Architects Knowledge Community (PAKC). Course expires 9/6/2026 This session was recorded live on October 11, 2023.

Blockchain is an information technology that inherently adapts to these structural problems. This technology is capable of bridging the lack of trust between the stakeholders, automating a lot of currently manual processes, providing a secure and reliable infrastructure for collaboration and information exchange while increasing transparency and providing reliable chronological record keeping. Implementation of blockchain technology in the construction industry can lead to smart contracts with fewer administrative struggles; improve project flow, material, and service delivery; and keep BIM and project documents current and secure.  Hosted by the Project Delivery AIA Knowledge Community Course expires 3/13/2025

Hear about K-25, the "Queen Marys", and other scientific and military buildings of the Manhattan Project. G. Martin Moeller, Jr., curator of the exhibition Secret Cities, discusses how extraordinary achievements in architecture and engineering yielded the world's largest building (K-25) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when it was completed in 1944 and the 800-foot-long chemical separation plants (Queen Marys) of Hanford, Washington. Provided by The National Building Museum Course expires on 09/13/2026.  

This course takes a detailed look at setting fees, providing you with in-depth understanding of the impact of risk and the value of the services architects provide.  You will learn "top-down", "bottom-up" and 'staff level" methods for building fees, with additional discussion of creating and managing contingencies properly.   Course expires on 5/21/2026.

Get an overview of the major changes to Facility Guidelines Institute’s (FGI) 2026 Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Hosipitals, Outpatient Facilities, and Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities in this engaging and informative session, including the new chapter on short-term outpatient care facilities, the new chapter on residential behavioral and mental health treatment facilities, revised design considerations for rural emergency hospitals, updated room size and clearances for rehab hospitals, revised planning requirements for procedure and operating rooms, the new minimum percentage for single-occupancy rooms in most residential facility types, and improved flexibility to support the design of small-scale residential facilities.   FGI’s senior leadership and an expert facility architect will outline and discuss the guidelines’ many revisions in addition to reviewing efforts to improve the documents’ usability and enforceability.   This session was recorded live on June 11, 2024. Course expires 5/15/2027

Health care buildings are often defined by popular, income-generating spaces—patient rooms, operating rooms, imaging rooms, and grand public spaces. These rooms create an image that is presented to patients and the public and thus define the character of the building. But what about the other required spaces that are essential to the building’s functions? Without attention to detail, the failure to design these spaces properly will result in a building that is inefficient for users and costly for operators. Join presenters to look at the successes and failures of back-of-house rooms in health care buildings and learn how their design can impact your next project.  This course was recorded live on December 12, 2024.

The built environment is witnessing the cascading impacts of climate change, from every person, project, and client. The architecture industry must look within, with immense opportunities to transform firm culture in response to present and future changing conditions. Our new resource, the AIA Climate Action Business Playbook, is for building an architectural practice that embraces climate change mitigation and adaptation. Individuals and firms can immediately apply the included recommendations and best practices to enhance their current policies and efforts around climate action within their practice. This session will inspire attendees to focus on behavior change, giving architects the tools to adopt more sustainable practice models.    Course expires 2/5/2026

How can the architecture profession go beyond the minimum requirements of code minimums and the Americans with Disabilities Act to create more equitable and inclusive spaces for all? Today, designers are looking at how the built environment can affect a person physically, mentally, and socially. Young architects will learn how to be advocates for incorporating principles of universal design in their projects not only to achieve more successful designs, but to achieve more equitable communities where all may thrive. Attendees will hear from a diverse group of architects, designers, and strategists who are committed to designing for all and advocating for universal design standards. The panelists will share their background, vision, project samples, and insights in why inclusive, universal design is imperative for architects and their communities. Attendees will learn various methods of incorporating universal design practices in their work and daily lives. The panelists will expand on how and why architects should take on a leadership role in designing the built environment to be both beautiful and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, gender identity, ethnicity, sexuality, or status in life. Hosted by the Young Architects Forum (YAF). Course expires 6/21/2025

The past 2+ years of a global pandemic and increased calls for racial justice, coupled with the threats of climate change have only amplified the impacts and disparities of mental health and highlighted the intersection of identity and economic inequality with mental health.  This webinar will provide a platform for an open dialogue with the goal of de-stigmatizing discussions of mental health and advancing the conversation. The panelists and moderator will present their past personal experiences and perspectives, along with their design work to discuss how architects can better address mental health in workplace culture, our communities, and our practice.  Attendees will hear from a diverse group of architects and designers who are committed to design that addresses mental health challenges and barriers and works towards a healthier, more equitable future for all. The panelists will share their background, vision, project samples, and insights in why consideration for mental health and the varied perspectives and needs of individuals is imperative for architects and their communities. Attendees will learn various methods of incorporating considerations of mental health in their practice and daily lives and encourage the audience to continue the conversation outside of the webinar with actionable suggestions.  The panelists will expand on how and why architects should take on a leadership role in this area and advocate for spaces where all may thrive. This session will have ample Q&A time, allowing for attendees to engage with the panelists. Hosted by YAF. This session was recorded live on December 6, 2022. Course expires 10/23/2025

This course showcases the WLS 2023 kicked off with a keynote event that explores the theme of Equity x Society—the intersection of advocacy, women's social issues, and the role of the building industry. Part keynote address, part panel discussion, this experience looks at the universal challenges women face and some of the bold, brave, creative solutions our keynoter, panelists, and AIA leaders have been able to achieve through fearless leadership. Opening remarks by 2023 AIA President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA and AIA EVP/Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE.  Panelists include Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Boston, Tiffany Chu, Co-Chair for the Boston Women’s Workforce Council, Evelyn Murphy, 2023 Boston Society for Architecture President, Andrea Love, FAIA, and 2024 AIA National 2024 President-Elect, Kimberly Dowdell, AIA. Course expires 11/02/2026  

As disasters increase in frequency and intensity across the country, communities now more than ever need the help of architects to address unprecedented challenges. Enter AIA's Disaster Assistance Program, which equips architects and chapters with the knowledge and skills to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This course teaches you how to properly lead an AIA Disaster Assistance Program in your state and provides you with the tools needed to become a state disaster coordinator. In this comprehensive course, you’ll examine the four phases of the emergency management cycle—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—highlighting the roles and contributions of architects in each phase. You’ll learn how to engage proactively in disaster preparedness and response at various levels, emphasizing the importance of these actions for your community’s safety and resilience. You’ll also explore the evolution of the program and recognize the significant contributions architects can make in different disaster scenarios.

Actual building performance is the ultimate measure of high-performance design. This course will cover the tools available to architects for best achieving predicted performance, including building commissioning, maintenance staff and occupant training, and building performance monitoring. This course will also explore the use of building performance data and smart building systems to validate and improve performance, and as a tool for iterative learning and innovation. The AIA+2030 Online Series is an AIA and Architecture 2030 co-production. 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. Learning objectives Explain the benefits of monitoring, evaluation, and education to design firms, clients, and building occupants Understand the role of the commissioning agent in all phases of the design process and into operations. Explain and advocate for commissioning on projects Instruct building operations and maintenance staff in optimizing building performance