With the relatively recent development of new products and procedures for polishing concrete, concrete floors have added aesthetic appeal to their list of impressive performance characteristics. This course will discuss improving and prolonging the performance of finished concrete floors by exploring the many benefits of concrete flooring, summarizing the procedure for creating concrete floors, explaining maintenance methods and spill removal, and explaining how a floor protection plan will aid in the prolonged service life of the floor.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

As architects push the boundaries of design, materials that offer flexibility are essential; single-skin architectural metal wall panel systems provide such flexibility. Presented here are architectural metal wall panels, their fabrication process, design possibilities, and applications. Also discussed are the components and features of a perfect wall and a multicomponent wall assembly, the testing, safety, and installation of multicomponent metal wall panel systems, and how metal wall panels and their manufacturers can contribute to sustainability objectives.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

The first course of this series from the Carbon Leadership Forum provides a high-level overview of embodied carbon: how it is defined, its significance in the global climate crisis, and how it is impacted by the construction industry. In addition, the course examines procurement policies as an embodied carbon reduction strategy—in particular, the Buy Clean policies, their uptake in the US, and their key elements.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

In the wake of the green movement, combined with rising energy costs, building sustainability has become an important topic. This course examines how foil-faced polyisocyanurate (polyiso) continuous insulation can function as a multiple control layer, providing a building with an air and water-resistive barrier and a thermal control layer. Additionally, this course reviews building codes and standards for meeting the continuous insulation requirements in steel stud building envelope designs, the benefits of using polyiso insulation in wall assemblies, and how polyiso insulation meets NFPA 285 requirements.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Stairs are often a prominent feature or even the focal point of an architectural design project and play a vital role in creating an aesthetically pleasing interior atmosphere, or an exterior welcoming point to a residential, commercial, or industrial building. This course provides an overview of the many benefits of installing precast concrete stair treads and landings, how to detail and specify them, and how to address related building code, design, and construction requirements.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

When installing precast concrete, it is important to plan for and know how to overcome numerous site challenges. If not dealt with properly, these challenges can prevent a project from passing inspection and can result in installation problems, moving and cracking of pavers, and safety hazards to pedestrians. This course addresses the most frequently asked questions regarding on-site paving issues to facilitate a successful installation for a variety of applications.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

Fireplaces remain one of the main focal points of a home. No longer used only for heating or cooking, and coupled with advances in technology and fuel options, fireplaces have evolved into an architectural component of the designed living space. Modern gas fireplaces offer an environmentally friendly heating solution with high efficiency ratings and contemporary designs that don’t sacrifice form for function. This course offers an overview of contemporary fireplace styles, options, venting, and installation, with a focus on cool wall technology and how it allows electronics and other design elements to be safely mounted over a fireplace.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Bathing facility code compliance does not have to result in an institutional look. Assisted living and healthcare facilities, hospitality installations, universities, multifamily buildings, and large commercial projects all have unique demands, and most require barrier-free, ADA, UFAS, ANSI, California Title 24, or Massachusetts compliant bathing and showering facilities. This course provides an overview of intelligent design solutions that simultaneously address these code requirements and the aesthetic and functional demands of each situation.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains accessible design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

Glass doors, windows, and storefronts are among the most vulnerable points of entry in the building envelope, and with episodes of riots, smash-and-grab crime, forced entry, and active shooters on the rise, the need for security glazing is growing. This course provides an understanding of the physical security needs of the built environment and what requirements should be met by threat mitigation products for existing storefront and building glazing. The course focus is on a new generation of clear, retrofit security “over-glaze” systems, utilizing heavy-gauge, architectural-grade polycarbonate and extruded framing designed to resist forced entry and ballistic attacks.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

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

Play is more than fun and games—it is an essential component in helping children develop critical physical, mental, emotional, and social skills that lay the foundation for adulthood. Inclusive play breaks down barriers and builds community through fostering understanding of our similarities and differences. This course discusses how play impacts child development and describes the options and considerations for designing an inclusive playground that benefits all children and the community.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains accessible design information. See the course details page for more information.

Obesity rates in the U.S. have reached epic numbers and correlate to significant health and economic impacts. Outdoor obstacle courses in public green spaces can provide appealing, effective, and free training equipment to the community to help increase physical activity. Review the theories of obstacle course training and guidelines for their design and installation.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

Play and music are both essential parts of our lives. When we can combine music and play together in a fun and engaging space, the benefits are numerous, no matter your age. This course discusses why play and music education perform such a critical role in the development of happy, healthy children. We'll discuss the copious amounts of research that tell us that music education has real-life benefits, such as increased IQ, language development, and social engagement, and the role music plays within multiple therapies for the elderly and those suffering from mental illnesses. The course finishes with an overview of how to design musical play spaces for safety and inclusivity.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains accessible design information. See the course details page for more information.

Terrazzo is versatile and durable, comes in a range of colors, and has multiple applications. It can be used in interiors and exteriors and, depending on the manufacturing process, can be customized to fit complex geometries. In this course, we discuss different applications of precast, cementitious, and epoxy terrazzo and the installation requirements, as well as the ability to customize these products to fit different design requirements.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

Concrete products such as precast pieces, pavers, and terrazzo have long provided builders with a flexible range of options for their projects. Beyond their versatility, these concrete products are highly sustainable, thanks to their ability to be recycled, low carbon footprint, and long life span.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Aluminum as a building material has been in use for almost 90 years and in that time has proved to be safe, reliable, and extremely durable. Because the energy and resources required to produce it have been radically reduced recently, it is now regarded as one of the most sustainable building materials available. This course explores how the many benefits of aluminum can be incorporated into the design of attractive, strong, extremely durable, and corrosion-resistant aluminum fences and railings; how these products can be finished, specified, and installed; and the codes and standards that inform and govern their use.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Building materials and construction account for approximately 11% of annual global CO₂ emissions. In order to shrink the carbon footprint of new buildings, embodied carbon must be reduced. This course presents an overview of global emissions challenges, reviews the carbon reduction goals of green building programs, and discusses how the cement and concrete industry can use innovative CO₂ mineralization technology to reduce embodied carbon while increasing performance.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Not only is standing seam metal roofing (SSMR) robust and durable, but the seam itself also provides a convenient anchorage point for the mounting of rooftop equipment. This course reviews the features and advantages of SSMR in terms of durability and sustainability, and the appropriate attachment solutions for mounting equipment. The course focuses on nonpenetrating roof seam clamps and design considerations for their use with snow retention and solar panel systems.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

This course explores some of the different types of metal roof penetrations, concerns dealing with improper installation or failures, and associated details and installation practices to ensure a properly performing and long-lasting roof penetration.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

Comfortable indoor environments with enhanced air quality improve the health and well-being of the building’s occupants. This course compares fabric air dispersion systems to traditional metal duct systems. It explores the evolution of fabric air dispersion systems and discusses essential design considerations, including: shape, layout options, system dimensions, suspension systems, fittings, air dispersion design, fabric options, orifices/vents, and air pressure design, and how they impact energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

Lighting controls allow homeowners to adjust lamps and light fixtures from anywhere in the home without special wiring or expensive master controllers. Lighting controls can be integrated into a home for single-room, multiroom, whole-house, or automated systems. This course discusses the role of lighting in design and occupant comfort and then outlines how lighting controls can benefit occupant behavior, health, and productivity and the appeal and performance of the home, especially regarding energy efficiency.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

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

COMING SOON! This course details the benefits and selection process of magnesium oxide (MgO) sheathing in multifamily and commercial construction. MgO sheathing offers structural, fire resistance, and other properties that enable architects and designers to simplify the design and installation of building enclosures. Comparisons of MgO sheathing to traditional sheathing materials such as gypsum are included.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

Fixed access ladders are a part of almost all commercial buildings, and yet their design and installation are often ignored or forgotten until the last stage of building inspection. An improperly designed and installed ladder can lead to safety concerns for the building's occupants. This course reviews different types of fixed access ladders and the corresponding safety codes and standards that ensure users' welfare. Ladder design features and materials required for safe fabrication and installation are discussed and various case studies are examined.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

Fire is a threat that, as designers, you need to consider and design for. Commonly used building materials lose strength when exposed to fire, and so the need to protect the health and safety of occupants through fireproofing is essential. This course looks at fireproofing standards, testing, and the application of a variety of products to meet the fireproofing requirements of your designs.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

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

Recent changes in commercial wall assembly design have resulted in increased energy efficiency but also present new challenges to meeting building code fire safety provisions. The focus of this course is on air barrier membranes and the proper integration of these materials into fire-safe wall assemblies.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.

There are a number of building elements that maintain a separation between indoors and out. These elements should be able to work together to provide a comfortable and energy-efficient building. This course reviews building envelope systems, with a focus on selecting performance-based products for below-grade, above-grade, and roofing applications, and a discussion on best practices for design and installation.

 This course is ONLINE: SELF-PACED. Experience it on your own schedule, at your convenience.

 This course contains sustainable design information. See the course details page for more information.