Historically, people experiencing disability have been segregated and excluded from mainstream spaces. With a majority presence of non-disabled participants in design teams, there’s often a lack of inclusive practices that address the perspectives of those with varied sensory abilities. Through a case study presentation of the Life Skills Training Center at the Washington State School for the Blind, participants will gain practical insights and actionable strategies to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of the design process and the resulting decisions forming the built environment.   This session was recorded live on June 10, 2025.

Strengthen your ability to integrate resilience into practice by strategically applying codes, regulations, and rating systems. As climate-related hazards increase, minimum code compliance is no longer sufficient. This course explores the current regulatory landscape, identifies gaps in conventional approaches, and empowers licensed architects and design professionals to make informed, proactive decisions across all project phases—from pre-design to construction administration. Through practical examples, case studies, and analysis of existing and emerging standards, you’ll gain the tools to advocate for smarter land use, apply hazard mitigation codes, and leverage building rating systems to enhance both resilience and sustainability outcomes.

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  

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

Selecting a Perimeter Fire Containment (PFC) design listing that most closely represents project conditions is the first line of defense for minimizing risk of vertical fire spread.  Navigating through hundreds of design listings and choosing the correct system can seem overwhelming. However, understanding how various building materials respond to fire and identifying the design elements needed for successful PFC, designers will be able to confidently select PFC systems that will perform in the event of a fire. This session was recorded live on September 16, 2025.

As remote work transforms the commercial real estate landscape, architects face unprecedented opportunities to address the affordable housing crisis through innovative adaptive reuse strategies. This course explores how underutilized office buildings in suburban markets can be transformed into vibrant residential communities. Our expert panel will examine current office vacancy trends and their implications for conversion opportunities, while diving deep into practical design strategies that navigate stringent zoning challenges and building code adaptations essential for structural health and safety. Participants will discover the complexities of adapting essential infrastructure, particularly the requirements for updating mechanical, electric, and plumbing systems to ensure adequate sanitation. These design challenges also include addressing issues such as the potential need for seismic retrofits in certain areas and determining the usability of existing structures, such as existing circulation and floor slabs. Beyond addressing housing shortages, these conversions offer substantial environmental benefits by extending building lifecycles and reducing construction waste. Join us to explore cutting-edge approaches that transform vacant commercial spaces into thriving residential neighborhoods while supporting sustainable development goals. This session was recorded live on December 9, 2025.

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

Tuesday, February 10, 2026  |  2-3pm ET As healthcare systems face increasing demands for high-quality, efficient care, facility design is crucial in meeting operational and patient-centered goals. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) is a cutting-edge tool that enables architects, planners, and healthcare professionals to visualize and optimize complex patient flows and resource utilization. This session showcases how DES was applied in two emergency departments and two multi-clinic buildings, addressing critical operational challenges and offering long-term design solutions. The speakers will discuss how across all four projects, DES provided a data-driven framework to test scenarios, evaluate performance metrics, and implement evidence-based design improvements. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for incorporating DES into future healthcare facility design projects, ensuring operational efficiency and patient-centered care.  Emergency Department Projects: Importance: DES was instrumental in modeling patient triage, treatment times, and discharge processes to accommodate current and future patient volumes. Challenges: Handling unpredictable patient influx, managing resource allocation, and reducing care delays in high-stakes environments. Lessons Learned: Simulation uncovered inefficiencies, prompting design adjustments that reduced congestion and improved patient flow.  Multi-Clinic Building Projects: Importance: In multi-specialty clinics, DES helped optimize spatial layouts and resource sharing (e.g., imaging, labs) to streamline patient flows. Challenges: Predicting and coordinating department interactions and managing complex, overlapping patient journeys. Lessons Learned: Early DES integration allowed for flexible space planning and workflow improvements, enhancing staff efficiency and patient throughput.   

Clear, effective communication is the foundation of successful projects, strong client relationships, and cohesive teams. This course explores the five most common barriers that hinder understanding and collaboration in architectural and design settings: Informational, language, emotional, physical, and perceptual. Through real-world scenarios and interactive exercises, you’ll learn to recognize these barriers in everyday interactions and understand their impact on outcomes. You’ll practice strategies to clarify messages, provide timely feedback, and improve empathy and awareness. By applying these tools, you’ll enhance collaboration, strengthen professional relationships, and foster a culture of open, respectful, and constructive communication.

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.

Women have historically been at the forefront of healthcare innovation, driving advancements in patient health, safety, and welfare. From Clara Barton improving healthcare processes to Marie Curie pioneering healthcare technology, Florence Nightingale championing infection control, and countless women advancing evidence-based design, women’s leadership has been transformative.   Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring influential women in healthcare design and construction. These trailblazing professionals will share their career journeys, leadership insights, and strategies for overcoming challenges. They will reveal their leadership philosophies, the key lessons they've learned throughout their careers, and their empowering approaches to uplifting others. Whether you’re an established professional or just starting out, this event offers inspiration and practical advice to help you navigate your path to leadership in healthcare design and construction.  This session was recorded live on May 13, 2025.

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.

This course is designed to help architects and design professionals review and apply the core ideas presented in the Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy. Through a structured series of activities, learners will explore key concepts such as energy efficiency, renewable technology options, solar-ready design, and on-site vs. off-site energy strategies. Participants will work through realistic scenarios, check their understanding with interactive assessments, and reflect on how to integrate renewable energy strategies into their own projects. Successful completion earns 1.0 LU HSW. To maximize learning in this course, participants are required to read Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy (AIA, 2021) before starting. The article serves as the foundation for all course activities.  

Renewable energy is transforming how architects design for performance, policy compliance, and building resilience. This practical learning guide builds on AIA’s Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy and is designed for learners who’ve already engaged with its key concepts. The course connects foundational knowledge with real-world applications. You’ll revisit core cost, policy, and climate factors driving renewable energy integration, define key terms such as solar-ready design and power-purchase agreements, and analyze realistic scenarios to select renewable strategies aligned with project goals and environmental performance. A reflective activity concludes the course, prompting you to identify two actionable steps for implementing renewable energy strategies in current or upcoming projects. By the end, you’ll be prepared to confidently integrate renewable energy thinking into your design process.

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.

As an AIA leader, your words shape how the profession and the organization are perceived. This self-paced course equips you with the skills to communicate with clarity, confidence, and consistency—whether engaging the public, responding to media inquiries, or navigating challenging situations. You’ll learn how to craft mission-aligned messages, represent AIA effectively in public forums, manage social media interactions, and respond strategically during crises. Through practical scenarios, checklists, and interactive exercises, you’ll gain the tools to protect and strengthen AIA’s reputation while advancing the organization’s mission, values, and impact on society.