Sustainable Design Courses

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Displaying 51 - 75 of 462 results.

FIRST PREV [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Material transparency is a growing initiative in the green and healthy building arena. This course reviews legislation that provides the baseline for healthy and sustainable materials and discusses the limitations of those regulations. It also explores the predominant green building programs and how material transparency can help achieve certification. Learners will leave this course with an understanding of how to access, analyze, and apply material transparency to their projects and leverage initiatives to support a healthier, more sustainable building industry.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Architects and designers have many options for specifying site furniture products for their projects. Selecting materials and finishes is an integral part of this process, yet making material selections has become more and more complex. The course examines conditions and constraints of outdoor environments; evaluates materials commonly used in outdoor applications; discusses using green building standards and rating systems, and the role of suppliers as resources for material selection; and provides examples of products that adhere to a higher environmental standard.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Explore how environmental noise impacts public health and community well-being, and review effective noise-mitigation strategies using recycled-material barrier systems. This course discusses how sound behaves in the built environment and how recycled-plastic noise walls reduce carbon emissions, divert waste from landfills, and contribute to sustainability outcomes recognized by LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction (BD+C), SITES® v2, and broader infrastructure sustainability frameworks such as Envision®.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The AIA Materials Pledge identifies five impact areas that building products and materials can and should address: ecosystem health, social health and equity, circular economy, climate health, and human health. This course reviews the concepts, certifications, and tools designers can apply to choose materials that support these five impact areas, including the mindful MATERIALS Common Materials Framework (CMF), the industry’s first common language for sustainable building materials. Finally, the course presents practical examples of exemplary products and materials and assesses them using this framework.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Manufactured stone veneer (MSV) offers design flexibility, durability, simple installation, and aesthetic variety, making it a compelling alternative to natural stone cladding. This course provides a comprehensive overview of how to specify and detail MSV, including relevant technical standards, building code requirements, and recommended installation methods for interior and exterior applications.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the use of entrance floor systems in commercial buildings in order to promote a safe and clean environment. The course explains the codes, regulations, and guidelines specifically related to entrance flooring systems for high-traffic entrances in healthcare, education, transportation, corporate, and other commercial settings.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Rapidly changing trends in our society, such as urbanization and a modern lifestyle, have resulted in the isolation of humans from experiences within nature. Research has shown that the psychological effects of biophilic design on noise perception have a significant influence on the well-being and health of humans. In this course, we review the science of sound, identify the potential problems associated with noise, and introduce the range of acoustic solutions formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) felt designed to provide sound-dampening benefits for busy commercial, educational, and healthcare facilities.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    People spend more than 90% of their time indoors; incorporating sunrooms, conservatories, greenhouses, and/or other glass structures into homes or workplaces can be an effective way to reap the benefits of daylight. The positive impacts of incorporating more natural light into your lifestyle can be seen through energy savings, increase of productivity, and improvement of overall well-being. This presentation reviews strategies and design options to create unique overhead structures, standing structures, and vertical glazing systems that are energy efficient, comfortable, and functional.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The construction of residential and commercial buildings that use less energy to operate and are long lived is a key part of sustainable design. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide the necessary U-factor, airtightness, resiliency, and durability for all building types. Insulated concrete forms in residential and commercial construction projects offer excellent thermal performance and reduced energy consumption and operating costs, while maintaining a very comfortable and healthy interior environment. This course examines the ICF wall, including materials and components, and discusses design considerations and construction.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores design strategies for tailoring elevator interiors to project-specific needs, compares original equipment manufacturer (OEM) elevator interiors, bespoke elevator interiors, and configurable elevator interior systems (CEISs), and examines best practices for specifying CEISs to enhance safety, performance, and visual continuity.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Buildings need protection from cyber as well as physical threats. Building shielding offers several architectural solutions that contribute to the security of both building occupants and wireless systems. These solutions also help reduce unwanted solar heat and glare while providing protection from the elements and people seeking to cause harm. This course presents the security and performance benefits of shielding technology that can improve wireless performance, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort, satisfaction, and safety

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    L’éclairage est l’un des éléments les plus importants de l’environnement intérieur, dont les effets sur le corps, l’esprit et le bien-être de l’être humain sont considérables. Pour les architectes, il est essentiel de concevoir des espaces privilégiant la lumière naturelle afin de favoriser le confort, la productivité et le bien-être. Cette formation explore les bienfaits des conduits de lumière naturelle pour la santé et le bien-être, ainsi que leur rôle dans la création d’environnements intérieurs plus sains et plus durables. La formation se termine par une analyse de plusieurs études de cas.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    There are many choices for exterior siding—which one is best for your project? The right choice depends on the aesthetic and performance characteristics of the product, combined with your client’s needs and budget. This course compares and discusses the aesthetics, durability, installation requirements, and environmental sustainability of common siding materials, plus those of a new innovation: poly-ash siding.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Vinyl is strong and resistant to moisture and abrasion, and therefore is the most widely used plastic for building and construction. This course presents vinyl flooring and its manufacturing process, testing standards, and performance characteristics. The course discusses the environmental impacts of vinyl flooring throughout its life span and its contributions to meeting green building codes and standards.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    For over 50 years, insulated metal panels (IMPs) have supported high-performance building enclosures by integrating thermal, air, vapor, and water control within a single system. This course reviews the building science and fire-safety principles that guide proper IMP use in the building envelope, ensuring occupant comfort and safety. Also examined are standardized test methods for evaluating enclosure performance and comparisons of IMPs with alternative wall and roof assemblies.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Today, architects and designers need to give special consideration to building acoustics when developing plans for new and newly renovated construction projects. Excessive noise in any environment is considered a serious problem that can negatively impact occupant comfort, leading to learning difficulties, sleep deprivation, delayed recovery from illness, and lack of privacy. Sound basics are discussed in this course, and STC, IIC, and sound attenuation (reduction) techniques are explained. Various case studies are examined to develop further understanding of the performance of common sound abatement assemblies that are essential for occupant well-being and comfort.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Perforated metal panels combine functionality and aesthetics for a wide range of structures, from parking garages to schools, hospitals, office buildings, and more. This course reviews the many options for types of metal and finishes, attachment methods, and perforations, including custom designs and imaging. Application examples and case studies explore how perforated metal panels can be used as unique facades that offer ventilation, shading, safety, and concealment while creating striking aesthetics that enhance building design.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Infrared patio heaters sustainably increase safety and comfort in outdoor entertaining areas. There are many variables in creating ambient warmth, and the effectiveness and cost of heating an outdoor space depend on the design of the selected heating option. This course looks at the available outdoor heating options and their sustainability profiles, focusing on the types, color choices, mounting methods, and control options of electric infrared heaters. It includes a review of the steps required to select the best solution.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Kitchen and bathroom sinks serve as both functional necessities and design focal points, seamlessly integrating into a variety of architectural styles and design visions. Participants will explore sink materials and design considerations to enhance safety, sustainability, accessibility, and user experience. The course provides an overview of commercial and residential applications and trends and strategies for incorporating sinks into building design.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Authorities having jurisdiction all over the world, including in all 50 US states, have mandated photoluminescent egress path markings to support safe evacuation of high-rise buildings in the case of total power failure. This course reviews photoluminescent egress path marking requirements in the model International Building Code® and International Fire Code® (2015, 2018, 2021) and identifies compliant photoluminescent path marking products. The course also discusses recommended best practices that exceed code requirements, which will reduce building operation costs and improve occupant and first responder safety.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores the importance of using natural light in the built environment and provides an overview of the benefits of daylight for building occupants and owners. Automated shading is introduced as a daylight management solution to maximize natural light, preserve views, prevent glare, and minimize solar heat gain and energy use. Also addressed is how daylight management contributes toward credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ v2.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Modern interior spaces often feature open areas and hard surfaces. What should be comfortable rooms in these spaces can become unpleasant from noise and echo or sound reverberation. This course discusses how melamine foam can be used to improve the sound quality in a space. The different options for melamine foam products are discussed along with their installation methods. This course also provides an overview of the sustainability features of sound-absorbing melamine foam.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course introduces architects to the fundamentals of acoustic design and its impact on occupant comfort, communication, and well-being. Participants will explore acoustic principles, including reverberation time, sound absorption, diffusion, and sound blocking, as well as key performance metrics such as noise reduction coefficient (NRC), sound transmission class (STC), and ceiling attenuation class (CAC). The course demonstrates how acoustic systems can be integrated into wall and ceiling designs to support functional, aesthetic, and sustainability goals, including those aligned with the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ v2.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Due to advancements in architectural decorative glass technology, the number of design options available to help designers and architects achieve the specific aesthetics and performance requirements they desire has dramatically increased. This course provides a review of architectural decorative glass including product options, applications, features, and specification considerations. Also discussed is how decorative glass can contribute to sustainable design and LEED® initiatives.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The construction industry has experienced a significant increase in moisture-related problems in exterior walls. This presentation explains how a rainscreen wall system prevents moisture accumulation within walls by providing a means for drainage and ventilation, thereby prolonging the life of buildings. Discussion topics include air and moisture movement in the building envelope, building code and water-resistive barriers, and stucco and thin veneers in rainscreen systems.

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Displaying 51 - 75 of 462 results.

FIRST PREV [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST