The Post Occupancy Evaluation is a tool gaining momentum in the design and construction industry. As architects, we’re responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the general public through our interventions in the built environment. We spend so much time planning, detailing, and monitoring the execution of our projects, because we want to deliver the best possible product to our clients and the public. However, there is a lot we can learn about the life cycle of our projects through assessing how they perform once constructed, how they are used by the public, and how they impact the communities in which they were built. In this course, you will learn from experts in the field discussing the value of conducting Post Occupancy Evaluations and how the process has informed their practice.

Complete activities along the way and take a short quiz to receive credit for this course. 

Course expires: 11/01/2024

Guided by the expertise and insight of industry professionals Brad Gaskins, Tom Hirsch, and Karen Braitmayer, this course highlights the history of accessibility by focusing on the work of civil rights organizations and the role played by members of the American Institute of Architects; discusses how universal design reinforces the principle of access for all; reviews the key requirements of complying with the ADA for new construction; and explains the best approach to updating existing buildings to comply with the ADA. This course offers entry into a conversation that is essential for emerging and seasoned professionals alike.

Course expires: 11/01/2024

When defining the basic services of an architect, we often look at the phases of a project. Our industry generally accepts that there are 5 phases to an architectural project: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bid or Negotiation, Construction Phase. The two longest phases in the process of moving through an architectural project tend to be the Construction Documents phase and the Construction Phase. A lot of attention is given to the first three phases of the project: schematic design, design development, & construction documents. The role of the architect is most clearly defined in these three phases. However, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Course expires: 11/01/2024

Building codes can appear complex, opaque, and overwhelming, changing often over time and differing across the country. But what if we could adjust our perspective in a way that would allow us to view building codes through a different lens?

Emerge by AIAU has brought together several thought leaders on building codes in architectural practice to provide that lens.

Building codes are essential to the architect's commitment to the public’s health, safety, and welfare. In this course you will learn how building codes have evolved over time and how they impact the profession today. As emerging professionals, you should understand the power of building codes as problem-solving tools, and how your career can benefit from greater understanding and appreciation for the influence of codes on design leading to alternative practice models and career paths you might not have considered.

The course consists of four segments covering:

1. The history of building codes
2. The impact of codes on modern architectural practice
3. Design and building
4. Career paths for licensed professionals​​

With support from:

This course expires 2/9/2024.

The Ethics in Architecture series presents key concepts in ethics philosophy and outlines the importance of ethical decision making in architectural practice. In the series, experts detail the differences between laws and ethical codes and discuss how personal and professional ethical codes are developed. The course covers ethical best practices for completing architectural projects and managing a firm.

Course expires: 11/01/2024

The Economics in Architecture series introduces real-world economics that pertain to the architecture and construction industries. The videos explore business cycles and trends, the Architecture Billings Index, and the architectural workforce. Follow along as the American Institute of Architects’ chief economist, Kermit Baker, illustrates how economic concepts relate to firm practice in the architecture industry.

Course expires: 11/01/2024 

The US building stock is increasing every year. As new buildings are constructed, the portfolio of existing structures is becoming larger and larger, and how we treat these existing structures is critical to the longevity of our society. In this course you will learn about the basics of building code related to existing structures, a few sustainable methods and measures you can take when performing building retrofits, and how innovative design affects what’s already there. Join 2018 AIA President Carl Elefante, FAIA, and other experts as we explore what it means to work with existing building stock and how you can build on what’s already there.

Course expires: 11/01/2024

Amidst this time of unprecedented change, a research culture in the architecture profession has never been more important. A commitment to rigorous research is essential for the professional of the future—enabling design to evolve in order to provide a built environment that can help transform communities and people’s lives. Research is also needed to help firms thrive as they look for ways to innovate and combat the disruptions that will transform our world. In this course, you will learn from experts in practice who have incorporated research into their professional journeys—and yielding new discoveries in their work.

Course expires: 11/01/2024