Redefining Rooftops: Understanding Rooftop Deck Systems

Credits: 1 AIA LU HSW

Rooftop decks create valuable living and recreational space for building owners, residents, and clients. Accommodating restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, and everything from residential to government buildings, rooftop deck systems offer the design flexibility to create versatile, unique outdoor spaces over any structural surface. This course explores the features, surface materials, and design options for rooftop deck systems and provides an overview of recommended planning and installation guidelines.

Vitruvian Principles Applied to Firm Management

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Commodity, Firmness and Delight of Project Accounting

Simply uttering the word “accounting” can make the eyes of an architect glaze over in boredom. However, for a profession that should appreciate the benefits of data, the beauty of organization, the importance of analysis and the value of truth, accounting is the gateway to every firm’s success.

This session will expose you to the remarkable benefits your firm will experience by implementing a system that enables project accounting. These tools begin by helping you identify project profitability, but the benefits ripple outwards. Not only will you be able to identify where your firm makes or loses money, but you will learn which employees, partners, project managers, project types and even which activities bring you the most profit.

Having access to this information will inform your business strategy, enable you to predict short and long-term growth, and it has the potential to inform every decision you make, at every level of the firm.

CAS 284 – Building the Perfect Envelope with Insulated Metal Panels

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Understanding building physics is critical to proper building envelope design. Examined here are practical concepts for the building designer, including how cladding systems perform across different climate zones and applications. Environmental control layers and hygrothermal loads are reviewed, as is the concept of perfect/universal wall design. The course focuses on how single-component insulated metal panels (IMPs) function as a perfect/universal wall, simplifying wall system design and installation.

Designing with GFRC in the Modern Space

Credits: 1 AIA LU

The purpose of this presentation is to give an introduction to GFRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete), including the virtues and benefits seen when choosing to work with this material for the fabrication of residential or commercial furnishings. The course does this by exploring a common GFRC application – countertops – while discussing the pros and cons of utilizing GFRC while comparing and contrasting it to a variety of other stone products.

5 Common Design Questions for Balancing Sustainability and Cost

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Architects of today face a common task that defies intuition – how to balance building performance and strict carbon targets against cost. Sustainability in design is certainly a worthy and necessary goal, but the amount of options can be overwhelming and the costs prohibitive, especially in the eyes of owners. How can designers best convince their clients to integrate sustainability into a project? Keeping costs low and backing up decisions with fact-based analysis are solid first steps. Join this 60 minute session for a dive into workflows and case studies with implementable takeaways for your projects.

Holistic Firm Management: Operational Insights in Service Towards a Work-Life Balance

Credits: 1 AIA LU

What if you had the tools to understand where you are with regard to all aspects of your firm? Key Performance Indicators can be defined and implemented to guide you towards both professional and personal success. If you can’t measure it, you can’t track it, and you won’t know how to improve it. This session will share with you the KPIs that reflect your progress and guide your future

Daylighting and Sustainable Design

Credits: 1 AIA LU|HSW

Topics discussed include the origins of translucent daylighting with the structural sandwich panel, considerations in design, enhancement of daylighting techniques, real energy conservation, the eight systems, and opportunities offered in contrast, design, form, and aesthetics. The benefits of diffused natural daylighting on performance, health, productivity, safety, and sustainable design are emphasized. Specialty performance systems including explosion venting, blast resistant, hurricane impact, and OSHA fall through protection is included

IMP 011 – Designing with Architectural Insulated Metal Wall Panels

Credits: 1 AIA LU

We review the characteristics that best describe architectural IMPs including the myriad design options available. Topics such as finishes and coatings, trimless ends, folded corners, variable reveals, segmented curves, running bond patterns, sunscreens and integrated windows are reviewed. Structural support considerations including stud walls and tube steel are studied, as well as the importance of maintaining proper wall alignment. The installation process is also reviewed using an animated video to provide step-by-step guidance. Air, water, vapor and thermal control layers are studied along with code compliance. Product and installation warranties are highlighted before wrapping up with a look at IMP sustainability and transparency.

Advanced Glazing Solutions for Optimum Daylighting, Energy Performance and User Safety + Wellness

Credits: 1 AIA LU | HSW

Topics discussed include developments in high-performance glazing to address key glazing design objectives – such as solar heat control, daylighting, views, and energy savings – and how honeycomb glazing uses angular selective technology to optimally balance these objectives. The benefits of ample diffuse daylighting on occupant well-being and productivity are addressed as are cost savings through reduced lighting and HVAC energy loads, and independent daylighting and energy studies are included. Honeycomb insert and glazing lite options will be overviewed, emphasizing the broad potential for meeting specific design, performance, sustainability, and wellness objectives. Resources and tools for building-specific daylighting and energy-analysis will be covered, including methods for accessing honeycomb insert data, and conducting comparative analyses of glazing options is commonly used building analysis software platforms.

Aluminum Extrusions & High Performance Building Envelopes: Still the Answer

Credits: 1 AIA LU

This program will explore the challenges in designing contemporary building envelopes.  Potential conflicts in simultaneous objectives of achieving aesthetics, energy efficiency, sustainability, longevity, and occupant health and safety will be discussed.  In addition, how best to assess the energy efficiency of alternative window/window wall configurations will be reviewed.   Advances in thermal barrier materials and extrusion profile design – in conjunction with energy efficient glazing – will be shown, illustrating how these systems can provide window and curtain wall designs that meet or exceed more demanding energy codes while providing the daylighting and minimal sight lines that users and designers desire.

Intelligent Enclosure Solutions, an Introduction to Ventilated Façade Assemblies

Credits: 1 AIA LU

This webinar will describe the components and terminology associated with ventilated facades. Learn about the major types of façade claddings and assemblies; benefits, challenges & opportunities. Explain the benefits of a ventilated façade and understand the positive contributions to our environment and architecture.

ALT CES 120 – Reduce Energy Costs, Simplify Construction, and Improve Life-Safety using Precast Exteriors with Composite Design and Carbon Fiber Technology

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Learn how high-performance, fully composite insulated sandwich wall panels can be designed to reduce energy costs, enhance life-safety and streamline the job site, especially amid COVID-19 restrictions. We will explore the various attributes of wythe connectors including carbon fiber grid trusses for precast sandwich wall enclosures as well as panel insulation options, manufacturing, testing and installation methods. We will review projects that illustrate the broad range of building types and appearances that can be created and delivered.

ALT CES 130 – Specifying High-Performance Precast: Creative Aesthetic Possibilities

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Learn to unleash the full creative, aesthetic possibilities of architectural precast concrete exteriors and how new technologies are giving you more options than ever. The webinar will showcase the vast finish options of precast concrete including surface treatments, pigments, color/aggregate selection, formliners and other articulations, embedded elements such as thin brick, terra cotta, and graphic imaging technology that imparts any image or pattern onto the face. The program will also educate about PCI’s newly improved architectural precast concrete certification program and how to specify products with the help of the new guidelines.

The Why and How of BIM Implementation

Credits: 1 AIA CEU

Building Information Modeling continues to become the industry standard, with many projects now requiring the delivery of BIM files. However, considering the implications of a BIM workflow only after starting said projects can lead to serious issues, which is why this presentation will expand upon the planning processes needed to adopt BIM in your firm. Attendees will also examine what a successful BIM transition looks like in practice through example case studies, exploring both why and how firms are already growing their businesses with BIM.

Radon Gas Barriers – The SPF Advantage

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Radon gas is the number 2 cause of lung cancer in North America behind smoking and is prevalent in the vast majority of homes at some level.

Local codes are now demanding radon gas testing and mandating the inclusion of some form of radon mitigation strategy in all residential new construction. Home sellers are now having to provide a radon evaluation to the home buyer. But what do we do if our home has high levels of Radon or the plot of land we intend to build on contains high levels of Radon gas?

Everything you need to know about Testing Rainscreens to AAMA 508 & AAMA 509

Credits: 1 AIA LU

The purpose of this webinar is to educate manufacturers, architects/ specifiers, as well as authorities having jurisdiction and the building inspection community, about the differences between rainscreen systems, and how they are tested within a laboratory environment. This webinar is designed to provide participants an overview of the AAMA 508 and AAMA 509 standards, with specific details addressing the testing requirements found within these standards.

THE PHOENIX IS ON FIRE: How Your Firm Can Rise From the Ashes

Credits: 1 AIA LU

Navigating yourself and your firm through the COVID-19 conundrum.

What the heck happened? There you were, thriving in a growing economy with unprecedented unemployment and enough work to keep your firm busy for months if not years. In a flash, it all evaporated.

Using BIM Software to Work While Social Distancing

Credits: 1 AIA CEU

This course will introduce tools available in building information modeling (BIM) software that enable architects to collaborate virtually with the other members of their design team and their clients. Best practices will be explored and interviews with Alex Hughes from KURV Architecture and Joe Vance from Joe Vance Architects will share their first-hand experiences working in and managing a virtual office.

Functional Creativity with Ornamental Metals in Public Buildings

Credits: 1 LU

Ornamental metals have purposes that enhance both visual aesthetics and building functions. In high-profile urban projects, from retrofits of landmarked buildings to new components of transportation infrastructure, steel and aluminum components allow dramatic gestures, novel geometries, optimization of the materials’ properties, and purposeful contrasts in texture and form. The practical complications of combining customized metal pieces with other materials, particularly on retrofit projects, call for an understanding of those properties and hands-on experience with the details of construction.

Understanding the impact of transitions on facade performance

Credits: 1 LU

As the title would suggest, what owners want (need) out of their BIM is worlds away from what the architects, engineers and contractors need to build the owner’s building.

Understanding the impact of transitions on facade performance

Credits: 1 AIA Learning Unit (LU)/HSW

This course will explore the challenges on air and water tightness, thermal continuity, constructability and accountability caused by changes in geometry, materials, systems and gaps in scope allocation using completed interface examples. Using at-grade, in-plane, overhead and parapet transition details from one project as a baseline, the importance of careful interface detailing for high-performance envelopes and the responsibility of the architect in this process will be discussed.

The Truth Behind Utilization, Realization and Profitability:

Credits: 1 LU

Many firms focus on their staff’s utilization rate and concentrate every working moment toward a client’s project. While this seems to make sense, the actual path towards greater profitability has very little to do with this simple metric.

FEVE Architectural Coatings: High Performance Coatings for Expansive, Sustainable Design

Credits: 1 LU

In this one-hour course, we will discover the strengths and advantages of FEVE fluoropolymer topcoats. We will evaluate coating performance tests including accelerated weathering and real-time weathering and what the implications are for the life of different coatings.

Is Your Architecture Firm Prepared for the AI Revolution?

Credits: 1 LU

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing industries across the board. By utilizing tons of data, the computer system can perform behaviors associated with human intelligence, such as speech recognition, decision-making, and learning.

Your Employees: The Most Important Asset You’re Neglecting

Credits: 1 LU

Business leaders often declare that employees are their most important assets. But few employers truly define what that means in their workplace.

Understanding Applications of Storefronts, Window Wall and Curtain Wall

Credits: 1 LU

Storefronts, window walls and curtain walls are all have distinctive differences that dictate where they should be installed on a building. This course looks at performance attributes of each system and shares the basic assembly and installation procedures. This course also explores the latest design concepts to meet more stringent energy codes and reviews which system to specify on your next project.

Understanding powder and liquid FEVE coatings for curtainwall and architectural applications

Credits: 1 AIA Learning Unit (LU)/HSW

This course will review the features and benefits of FEVE fluoropolymer topcoats for bridge and curtainwall applications. The course will examine the various uses on new and existing structures and will detail a number of performance tests both real and accelerated to determine the life of the coatings. Lastly this course will assess the life-cycle costs and sustainability benefits of using FEVE topcoats despite their initial higher cost.

The Principles of Glass Selection for Facades

Credits: 1 LU/HSW

This course will introduce the various glass options for commercial building facades while explaining the different types of glass options. The course will explore the aesthetic and performance differences in low emissivity coatings and explain how to customize glass through color, textures and patterns.

High-Performance Glazing and Impact-Resistant Frameless Windows

Credits: 1 LU/HSW

“High-Performance Glazing and Impact-Resistant Frameless Windows “ will review high-performance architectural glass and glazing systems for commercial and residential applications including impact-resistant frameless systems.  The course will review safety standards, building codes, applications, specifications and design trends for architectural glazing.

Frameless Glass Railings: Designing Stunning, Code-Compliant Systems

Credits: 1 AIA Learning Unit (LU)/HSW

Glass railings can be a beautiful addition to your residential and commercial projects, adding value to your portfolio and raising your profits; however, specification questions, code changes and misinterpretations can stand in the way of a successful glass railing project. In this session, attendees will learn about design considerations, code requirements, installation methods, testing standards, cap rail requirements, and laminated glass guardrail requirements. They will also walk away with a sound understanding of 2015 IBC updates—along with their impact— and the important role of the International Code Council (ICC).