This course is a free resource that does not offer credit for completion. Equip yourself with the necessary skills and strategies to create and deliver engaging presentations that effectively convey your message and inspire your audience. Whether you are looking to enhance your professional communication skills, captivate stakeholders with your ideas, or become a more confident speaker, this two-part course will provide you the comprehensive insights and practical skills to achieve your goal. Feel free to engage with the lessons that align with your needs and in the order that best suits your requirements. Each lesson is packed with engaging video lectures, enlightening readings, interactive quizzes, and hands-on assignments designed to facilitate the practical application of the concepts covered.

Learn how to effectively define your presentation objectives, organize your content, enhance accessibility, and use visual aids. Each step is carefully structured to ensure a seamless and thorough understanding of the art and science behind impactful presentations. This course is a free resource that does not offer credit for completion. Feel free to engage with the lessons that align with your needs and in the order that best suits your requirements. Each lesson is packed with engaging video lectures, enlightening readings, interactive quizzes, and hands-on assignments designed to facilitate the practical application of the concepts covered.

Learn how to refine your delivery, manage presentation anxiety, and effectively engage with your audience. From mastering rehearsal techniques to confidently addressing audience questions, you’ll build the tools and confidence to deliver presentations that leave a lasting impression. This course is a free resource that does not offer credit for completion. Feel free to engage with the lessons that align with your needs and in the order that best suits your requirements. Each lesson is packed with engaging video lectures, enlightening readings, interactive quizzes, and hands-on assignments designed to facilitate the practical application of the concepts covered.

Healthcare institutions are rethinking capital planning strategies and the future of care, as a reaction from the COVID pandemic and continued financial strain.  These changes are expected to be permanent.  In a study of over 100 healthcare engineering professionals, the importance of community trends and agility/flexibility of spaces are priorities.   The future of project delivery for healthcare spaces requires strategic alignment of health systems, real estate developers, design professionals, and builders.   Chantily Malibago, Director of Healthcare Development with Mortenson, presents healthcare research and market trends on the impact of the built environment and project delivery. Course expires 01/25/2026

Tri-Faith Commons serves as an international model for interfaith learning, collaboration, and community-building. This unique project brings together a synagogue, church, mosque, and interfaith center on a 38-acre campus in Omaha, Nebraska. Using Countryside Community Church—the most-recent architectural addition to Tri-Faith Commons—as a case study, discover how these diverse communities worked with the design team to find common ground to create a built space that unites populations that have been traditionally perceived to be in conflict in an ongoing conversation.  Through a conversation with Executive Director Wendy Goldberg, explore how the project evolved to create four distinct spaces that coexist within an intentionally planned landscape.  This session was recorded live on February 15, 2024.

This session delves into the unique challenges faced by Black women and women of color (WOC) in the AEC industry. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into their experiences, exploring topics such as work-life balance, power dynamics, and pay scales. The session critically examines the path to leadership for WOC, highlighting systemic obstacles and bias. It emphasizes the importance of removing subjectivity from processes, supporting mentorship, and fostering leadership roles for Black women and WOC. Executives' role in supporting diversity is discussed, with actionable steps provided to drive positive change and promote inclusion. The session highlights the detrimental impact of excluding these voices and inspires attendees to create a more inclusive environment. Course expires 10/22/2026

In the first of the five-part Video Storytelling for Architects Series, hear from firm owner Joe Valerio and Marketing & Communications Director Francisco Lopez de Arenosa, AIA Film Challenge 2021 Runner Up, on why video is utilized in practice, including examples of how a film can bring an architecture project to life. Course expires 05/24/2025

Climate change considerations impact all planning and design decisions. Every building type, building structure, system, and product in all locations across the U.S. are affected. To build resilient and sustainable buildings under changing climate conditions, we need to think creatively with the future and possible risks in mind. In this course, we will cover facts, scientific predictions, research, and the evolving strategic plans.  This free live course is brought to you through a partnership with MADCAD. By registering for this course, you grant AIA permission to share your name and email address with MADCAD. 

As architects, we should be familiar with the milestone ADA standards that govern accessibility in public and federally funded facilities; we should also be familiar with how the IBC & ICC A117.1 are used and applied to multi-family residential buildings. How can we use these and other resources to help inform the best way for us to design homes where we can age in place gracefully, without needing to spend an exorbitant amount of money to recreate an environment to suit our future needs? The presentation will focus on the inclusion of universal design within residential architecture. The course will begin with a touch on the civil rights legislation that helped spur the accessibility codes and standards that we use today, along with the development of those standards and how they come into being, including important distinctions between ADA, IBC, and ICC A117.1. The 7 Principles of Universal Design and their applicability in the built environment will be discussed. Helpful resources for inclusive design will be shared, like the Housing Design Standards for Accessibility and Inclusion, created by the Kelsey (a non-profit centered around disability-forward housing solutions). Finally, we will discuss many simple, low-cost universal design considerations for residential builds. We will focus on holistic design aspects of the residential environment, rather than simply a checklist of accessible elements to be incorporated. Hosted by CRAN®. This session was recorded live on April 13, 2023. Course expires 3/5/2026

In 2023, why is sharing a BIM still such a debated issue in project delivery? Certainly, the contractual silos of Design-Bid-Build play a role as compared to Design-Build, but if the efficiencies provide by BIM and VDC are so well documented, why are project teams so reluctant to share models without lengthy disclaimers that amount to nothing more than statements of “you can use it for reference, but you can’t rely any on it?” This session will provide insight from industry professionals about how construction technologies can be merged with project delivery to bridge the gap of the risk management (or avoidance) issues the industry faces, as well as share past challenges and successes of engaging VDC into early project conversations. Course expires 1/17/2026

Upholding ethical obligations to clients is the cornerstone of a successful architecture practice. This essential course will reinforce your ethics knowledge and skills, helping you effectively navigate ethical dilemmas and prioritize client interests.  Dive into the foundations of client-professional relationships with a focus on the importance of ethical standards and legal requirements and steering clear of conflicts of personal gain. Gain valuable insights into identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest, ensuring decisions are made professionally and without bias. Build strategies to apply with confidence in your daily practice, including communicating effectively, building trust, ensuring project success, and maintaining the integrity of the architect-client relationship. With a focus on the AIA Code of Ethics, you’ll learn how to align your communication strategies with ethical guidelines—from project initiation to completion—while maintaining transparency and confidentiality. Through analysis of a real-life scenario, you’ll develop the tools to uphold your ethical obligations—making decisions that protect client interests and reinforce the trust and integrity of the profession. This course was developed in close collaboration with members of the National Ethics Council. Course expires 06/30/2027

Balancing work and personal life often seems unattainable. However, new forms of practicing architecture—or starting a firm—are delivering the flexibility employees want and the cost savings that firms need. Join us for a close look at the virtual architectural practice model. From soup to nuts, you'll acquire a deeper understanding of legal and insurance requirements, licensing differences, and how to implement cloud server technology and the like. Course expires on 11/24/2026.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted migration patterns in fundamental ways, as remote work has altered how and where people conduct business.  Virtual Migrations, the third in the three-part series, underscores the dynamics at work as technological advances and pervasive high-speed internet are enabling greater efficiencies.  Course expires 12/26/2024  

The store is a 3D manifestation of what the customer has been promised through marketing, while providing an engaging, pleasant, and successful shopping experience for the customer, and delivering sales and margins that provide a profit. Post pandemic, research shows that while customers value the in-store experience and want to return to brick and mortar shopping, they want stores to do better on innovative use of the space for shopping and fulfillment. Retail stores are not solely destinations, but rather a physical space that provides the why, how, and where people shop. The store must fulfill a series of functions that reduce the physical space allocated to the presentation of merchandise. This course examines creating blended, flexible spaces that accommodate autonomy, convenience, education & engagement. This is hosted by the Retail and Entertainment Knowledge Community (REKC). Course expires 03/25/2026

With a wide variety of roof systems used on commercial buildings, selecting low-slope roofing assemblies can be complicated. Starting with four unique roofing case studies to review design considerations, we will ask the infamous question “What if?” Attendees will leave this interactive session with a better understanding of best practices in low-slope roof system design, including ways to establish air tightness, reduce moisture intrusion, and lower the overall risk of failure on your next project. This free course is brought to you through a partnership with GAF. By registering for this course, you grant AIA permission to share your name and email address with GAF.  This session was recorded live on August 22, 2024. Course expires 8/27/2025

Designed for architects, design professionals, and learners who aspire to champion respect and inclusivity in their firms and practices, this course defines what makes a respectful firm—highlighting key characteristics, benefits, and the necessary steps for its creation and growth. Central to the discussion are anti-discrimination laws and specific sections within the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct that underscore the critical need to prevent harassment and discrimination, especially concerning protected characteristics.  Through case study analysis, you’ll understand how to effectively apply the principles of national anti-discrimination laws and the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct—enhancing your readiness to address these issues in your own firm. You’ll also learn strategies for preventing and addressing harassment and discrimination, such as cultivating a respectful workplace culture, establishing clear policies, and providing education on diversity and inclusion. Course expires 07/29/2027

Join us for an insightful webinar session as we delve into the most common and expensive disaster in the US: flooding. Architects have a critical role to play in preparing communities for the increasing occurrence of floods. During this session, participants will discover innovative approaches and best practices that architects can employ to safeguard structures and minimize the devastating effects of floods. This session will examine the different kinds of flooding that occur, comparing the challenges faced by coastal regions to those experienced in the middle of the country. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique factors that contribute to each type of flooding and the implications they have on structures and communities. Additionally, we will explore the crucial topic of insurance in flood-prone areas. Gain insights into the insurance options available and how they can provide financial protection and aid in the recovery process. To bring these concepts to life, we will showcase compelling case studies that highlight successful initiatives in flood resilience and preparedness. Gain inspiration from real-world examples and learn from the experiences of communities that have effectively tackled the challenges posed by floods. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your knowledge and contribute to the creation of more resilient communities in the face of flooding.  To explore more resources on how to helping communities before and after disasters, visit aia.org/disaster. This session was recorded live on September 7, 2023.

Architects are challenged to create inclusive teams, but often, client requirements for schedule and a team’s history together, portfolio, and longevity cause architects to select teams based on the “safe bet.” And both architects and clients look to educators to generate a pipeline of diverse young designers. What are the responsibilities of each party (client, architect, and educator) to create high-performing and representative teams? Join this panel for an insightful discussion on addressing the challenge of meaningful inclusion in the design/construction industry. Course expires 6/4/2026

Restrooms, bathing rooms, dressing and locker rooms are found in civic, commercial, educational, institutional, and recreational buildings. Quality design of these spaces takes experience and awareness of common pitfalls. Learn best practices to common issues that occur throughout various project types. Course expires 1/6/2025

Accessible design is inherently challenging because it’s not a "settled science." Standards are constantly evolving—sometimes even in conflict with one another. This course will cut through the confusion. Our discussion/exploration will: Review compliance missteps and achievements in real-world scenarios Identify phases of the design process where various concerns are best addressed Help you create a clear plan for accessibility success Address questions, comments, and concerns from members like you Hear from accessibility experts and learn from the experiences of your peers in this clarifying course. Course expires on 4/19/2026.