There are some complex issues involved in achieving ADA-compliant designs in all types of building construction. In terms of bathroom design, it is important to comprehend the ADA standards in order to minimize the risk of injury and to ensure end user comfort and ease of use. This course covers ADA-compliant design requirements for shower compartments and lavatory tops using solid surface materials—from planning and design to installation.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

The delivery of water can raise a variety of design issues and opportunities. This course discusses how the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design apply to plumbing products, including faucets, flush valves, toilets, and shower enclosures, and addresses key considerations for creating ADA-compliant restrooms, baths, and kitchens. It also illustrates how all structures, including residences, can benefit from elements of universal design and accessibility features that make a space safer and easier for people of all ages and abilities.

Healthcare facilities are now striving to meet the needs of all patients to offer not only healthy and safe spaces, but inclusive spaces as well. Recent advances in plumbing design for healthcare facilities are helping to keep all patients and caregivers safe and healthy. This course reviews innovations in plumbing design and how these designs support trending healthcare needs such as ADA patients, bariatric patients, behavioral healthcare, and infection prevention.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

This course focuses on barrier free shower design and installation. Following a brief review of the reasons, benefits, and legal requirements for barrier free showers it summarizes the features and attributes of shower assemblies, relevant industry standards, waterproofing membranes and drains, best practices, installation methodology, installation tips and techniques, and walk/roll in showers. It includes a review of the design considerations and advice for the creation of perfectly performing showers which follow the latest design trends.

Restroom facilities should provide easy access and use for all users, regardless of ability. It is becoming increasingly important to know the tools needed to properly plan an accessible restroom that will meet the requirements of the ADA and other standards. This course will explore how accessibility standards accommodate a wide range of users, including how to design lavatories, toilet compartments, bathing facilities, and their accessories to meet accessibility requirements.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

“Sustainable” design isn’t just “environmental.” It’s design that works for and contributes to the health and welfare of all individuals as well as the planet, now and in the future. This course looks at hand dryers as part of sustainably designed restrooms, and discusses how air knife hand dryers benefit the environment through energy-efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction, and benefit all members of society by meeting ADA requirements and Universal Design principles.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

Not only are we living longer, but senior citizens are the fastest growing segment of the world’s population. The aging population faces problems with declining vision related to disease as well as growing older. This course discusses changes in color perception among the elderly and explains how appropriate color use and application of low- or no-VOC, durable, high-quality paint facilitates quality of life in all environments for the aging.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

Bathrooms can be dangerous places for people with and without physical limitations. The prevalence of bathroom falls amongst persons of all age groups and levels of ability has driven the trend of accessible shower design. Presented here is an overview of how curbless shower pans are designed for durability and safety, and to meet the needs of accessible design. Included are discussions on traditional and modern shower pan design and installation methods and their associated drawbacks and benefits. Industry resources and standards are outlined.

The design of public restrooms is essential to the success and function of all building projects. Among the most important design criteria are public health, privacy, safety, and welfare. In this course, we take a look at what goes into planning a washroom that meets all these needs, looking at fixture counts, code requirements, and accessibility and selecting suitable partitions that meet these and sustainability requirements.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Adding small pockets of luxury to a home has become commonplace in spaces like the kitchen and bathroom. Personal saunas are a natural extension to this way of thinking, supporting an owner’s health and relaxation. This course looks at the wide variety of heat bathing options: sauna, infrared, and steam, with a focus on how to both select a product and implement heat bathing in residential and commercial projects.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

Sustainable restroom design can address the global concerns of water shortages and the impacts of the building sector on our environment. This program identifies the newest technologies in high-efficiency restroom fixtures including how to choose water-saving products and the practical, economic, and environmental benefits of high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers versus paper towels. Also included is an in-depth analysis of how these products earn points toward LEED® v4 credits and other green building standards to comply with new, best practices in green building.

Good restroom design includes regard for user experience, environmental impact, good hygiene, and cost over time─hand-drying fixtures are a necessary element of this design process. In this course, we review how new technologies can address the hygiene, dry speed, sound level, and accessibility concerns of a restroom project. We also discuss why it is vital to specify hand dryers with optimum energy and cost efficiency.

Commercial building interiors see all kinds of wear and tear on a daily basis. Various forms of wall protection can combat this wear and tear to help extend the longevity of a space, maintain a clean look, and cut down on maintenance costs. This course discusses the different wall protection products available, how to identify which wall protection products fit certain applications, and which building codes apply to these products.

Design-focused wine displays are becoming increasingly popular in amazing residential and commercial properties throughout the world. Top design/build professionals are using stylish wine racks and other premium materials to create wine cellars that are too beautiful to hide in out-of-the-way places like dusty basements. This course explains why wine cellars have become so popular and the key aspects of designing an appealing modern wine cellar, broken into six planning steps that should be considered during pre- or early-construction phases.

What are the macro trends and ideas directing us into the next decade? This course begins with a review of this topic, followed by discussions on movements in each area of color, and the materials, textures, design themes, and motifs that are at the forefront of today’s design trends.

Wood is both beautiful and practical but lacks long term durability when used outdoors. Modified woods change the material properties of the wood at the molecular level to improve its weathering capabilities. This course discusses one type of modification; acetylation. We discuss the process, its impact on wood performance, the life cycle impact of acetylated wood and how and where this type of wood can be used.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

Now more than ever, today’s buildings require strong attention to hygiene, sanitation, and overall safety. With the latest plumbing innovations, health and safety requirements are prioritized, addressed, and met. From achieving appropriate water flow and pressure in the mechanical room, to providing a touchless restroom experience and delivering effective water temperatures and waste disposal in the kitchen, today’s buildings contribute to optimal patron health and safety. This course explains just how engineers, architects, and contractors can incorporate the latest plumbing products in and around their buildings to achieve safety while also providing cost savings, durability, water conservation, and overall building owner and building patron satisfaction.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

Selecting energy-efficient fenestration products that promote comfort, daylighting and views, and natural ventilation while supporting environmental impact concerns can further discussions regarding resource efficiency, material manufacturing, waste reduction, and life-cycle impact. This course examines the attributes of thermally broken aluminum windows and doors and explains why they are energy-efficient, sustainable, fenestration products.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

This course provides a basic introduction to the International, Mid-Century Modern, and Ranch styles of architecture and design (and their offshoots) found in commercial and residential forms in the western United States. These styles helped shape the look of California, especially in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, from the 1920s through 1970s.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

The 19th and 20th centuries brought numerous opportunities to revive classic architectural styles and—in the American West—the architecture and colors of the California missions, adobes, and Monterey Colonial homes provided unique and beautiful examples to support the new Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Monterey Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and Pueblo Revival styles. This course explores local design and the architecture and color of historic buildings in the Southwest to show how it’s possible to establish color schemes representative of the American Western culture.

Prerequisites: No

Course Level: Introductory

For those who desire the look and feel of granite, but are concerned about its drawbacks, engineered quartz may be the solution. Harder and stronger than granite, engineered quartz offers a design aesthetic that is different from other surfacing materials. This course provides an overview of the characteristics, features, and benefits of engineered quartz surfaces, as well as a discussion on the related green certification programs.

While the kitchen has long been considered the heart of the home, the bathroom is often thought of as a utilitarian space. However, by drawing inspiration from kitchen design principles, designers can create a bathroom that’s personalized, organized, and highly functional. Beyond serving basic needs, the bathroom is a space for relaxing, recharging, and preparing for the day ahead. This course discusses strategies for incorporating organization, ergonomics, personalization, and technology to create a streamlined styling space.

Architectural resin panels are engineered to suit the demands of a wide array of interior and exterior applications and offer almost unlimited combinations of color, pattern, and design. This course presents the features and options that allow resin panels to meet design requirements for both function and beauty, and discusses how resin panels may play a role in projects seeking LEED®, Living Building Challenge®, or WELL Building Standard® certification.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

This presentation celebrates the value of incorporating artisanal, handcrafted fixtures and furnishings into a building’s design. Not only are these products unique, functional, and aesthetically appealing, but they can also establish a sense of connection with their maker. Many artisanal, handcrafted products are made using traditional techniques that have been passed down over time, often from generation to generation. And because many of these products are made from sustainable, recycled, or reclaimed materials that are locally available, they can help reduce the environmental impact of a new build. This course illustrates how sourcing artisan-made products for their projects can allow designers and builders to effect social, economic, and environmental change

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...

The cleanliness of a hotel guestroom bathroom directly impacts a hotel’s profitability, by its influence on customer satisfaction and hotel image. Designers should not only consider aesthetics but also the selection of finishes and fixtures that allow for faster, more cost effective sanitation. This course examines the role of clean hotel bathrooms in hotel profitability, customer satisfaction, and public health. Potential modes and threats of infection are discussed and strategies suggested for selecting fixtures that improve sanitation and minimize labor.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...