1 hour

The team dynamic between the owner, architect, and general contractor is critical to the success of any building project. This course illustrates how a collaborative team effort can establish project goals about sustainable building design and the LEED® certification of a healthcare facility. The material is supported by three project case studies which are discussed throughout the program, not only to relay information about high performance design strategies for healthcare, but also to show how evidence-based design (EBD) achieves the best possible outcome for patients, medical staff, building operations, and the environment.

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

 1 hour

Public spaces can benefit from the addition of a fireplace and the inviting ambiance it offers. With the advent of new and innovative technologies, along with the ease of installation and maintenance, electric fireplaces can offer a safe, sustainable option. This course provides an overview of electric fireplaces, including their advantages in public space applications in terms of energy efficiency, heat control, and public health and safety.

 1.0 hour

Around the globe, companies and manufacturers are embracing socially responsible design, construction, and the development of sustainable products. This course provides an overview of sustainable design and the creation of healthier environments in reference to architectural paints. Included are discussions regarding the components of paint, independent testing methods and standards, categories of LEED®, and specification of paint systems for today’s designer.

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

 1.0 hour

Introduction au design durable et création d’environnements plus sains par des peintures architecturales. On trouvera aussi des réflexions sur les composants de la peinture; des méthodes d’évaluation et des normes indépendantes ; les catégories LEED® ; enfin, les particularités des systèmes de peinture pour le designer d’aujourd’hui.

 1.0 hour

Animals, plants, and microbes are engineers of what works and lasts on earth. Biomimicry is a practice in which nature's designs, patterns, and strategies are examined to find sustainable solutions to our technical and design problems. This course discusses how applying the concepts of biomimicry can better connect our designs and buildings with nature and examines the relationship between nature's solutions to light, heat, and glare control and today's shading design principles.

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

 1.0 hour

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.

 1.0 hour

An entryway not only creates a first impression of a building, it is expected to provide a safe, dry, and clean surface for foot and wheeled traffic entering and exiting the facility. This course discusses the design of entryway flooring systems, identifies the options available, and explains their role as the first line of defense in protecting a building’s interior floors and indoor environmental quality.

 1.0 hour

Light-manipulating materials use internal channels to capture, bend, scatter, and redirect light and create visually stunning spaces. Panels and slabs in resin, glass, and terrazzo create an experiential surface for privacy screens or signage, primary or accent lighting, countertops or flooring—anywhere the interplay of light and shadow is desired for beauty and inspiration. This course describes the different types of light-manipulating materials and substrates as well as the design and installation options for a wide range of dynamic, unique applications.

 1.0 hour

Exterior shading devices offer a number of advantages that contribute to a more sustainable building, including minimizing cooling costs, reducing peak electricity demand, and controlling glare. These benefits result in greater occupant comfort and improved productivity. This course provides a review of exterior aluminum shading device systems, including the components, finishes, and design and engineering considerations, as well as a discussion of how shading strategies contribute to LEED® accreditation.

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

 1.0 hour

Metal composite panels deliver a clean and elegant aesthetic while acting as a rain screen or barrier wall. These panels can be produced in two different manners which affect their performance and applicability. This course will review metal composite panels, their methods of manufacture, performance capabilities and methods of installation.

 1.0 hour

Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light into a building. It takes into consideration both direct sunlight and diffuse skylight, and reduces use of electric light, thereby decreasing energy costs. This course evaluates a variety of daylighting strategies for commercial applications and includes discussions about the relevance of daylight factor calculations and the impact fabric characteristics have on a shading solution.

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

 1.5 hour

Provides an overview of the new LEED v4 BD C New Construction credits to which paints and coatings may apply. It reviews credit intents, explains credit requirements and describes where to find materials to meet the needs of the credits.

 1.0 hour

Without light, an object or a viewer, we do not have color. In fact, the way we perceive and view color is impacted by light, both natural and artificial. This course delves into the properties of color and light. The program includes discussions on types of lighting, metamerism, color rendering index (CRI), and light reflectance value (LRV) and how they affect design choices.

 1.0 hour

(Canadian Version) Without light, an object or a viewer, we do not have colour. In fact, the way we perceive and view colour is impacted by light, both natural and artificial. This course delves into the properties of colour and light. The program includes discussions on types of lighting, metamerism, colour rendering index (CRI), and light reflectance value (LRV) and how they affect design choices.

 1.0 hour

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 to view details.

 1.5 hour

The popularity of bamboo products has soared due to their desirable aesthetic and unique, eco-friendly attributes. This course covers an overview of the history, uses, characteristics, and specification considerations of bamboo, including a discussion of the health advantages and green benefits of designing with bamboo products.

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

 1.0 hour

The green building movement is gaining momentum worldwide, resulting in stricter regulations regarding the energy efficiency of structures. Conventional construction methods can’t always meet these demands and more innovative and thermally efficient building products are required. This course will focus specifically on thermal bridging, how it affects the overall efficiency of a building, and how it can be effectively addressed.

 1.0 hour

Gas fireplaces offer a green, environmentally friendly heating solution for the modern era, 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.

 1.0 hour

Indoor air quality can dramatically influence the health and comfort of building occupants. It is critical to understand and control common pollutants in order to reduce the risk of health concerns related to indoor environments. This course examines the pollutants common to building interiors and their potential to cause adverse health effects. Discussions include VOC content and emissions, the value of an IAQ management plan, and the importance of specifying low-emitting materials.

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

 1.0 hour

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.

 1.0 hour

Composite construction utilizes dissimilar materials to exploit the benefits of each. While composite construction in general has been used extensively for several decades, open-web composite joist construction is now becoming a more popular choice through new and innovative solutions. This course presents the components and benefits of composite joist systems, addresses connector types and layouts, and offers specification tips and design considerations.

 1.25 hour

Onsite Storm Water Management (SWM) is becoming increasingly important and, in many cases, mandatory. Concerns regarding municipal sewer system performance and watershed health have generated numerous requirements and techniques to mitigate the effects of storms at the local or site level. Following an overview of these issues, this course examines, in detail, a high-performance system of permeable plastic paving grids that addresses such issues while meeting the most stringent demands of onsite traffic, aesthetics, and SWM. This examination includes installation techniques, details, and specifications.

 1.0 hour

Excessive sound can negatively impact the health and well-being of occupants. This has resulted in a growing trend to improve the acoustical performance of building assemblies. Due to this, there have been significant changes in the 2015 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) moving from sound transmission class (STC) to apparent sound transmission class (ASTC) ratings that reflect assemblies that provide increased levels of acoustical performance. The course will explore how laboratory acoustical testing is performed, the principles of sound control, the different methods of sound transmission within buildings (airborne, impact, and flanking), and how to meet the 2015 NBC requirements for ASTC ratings.

 1.0 hour

Their cost, flexibility, and relative ease of installation are just a few of the reasons why single-ply roofing membranes have seen a growth in popularity over the years. With a focus on commercial roofing systems, this course explores the drawbacks of traditional asphaltic roofing, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of single-ply roofing systems and their attachment technologies.

 1.0 hour

Structural fire protection guards essential structural components from the devastating effects of fire. This course examines the various active and passive fire protection methods that are available with a focus on the features, types, and design considerations of prefabricated fireproof structural columns designed for exposed exterior and interior loadbearing columns.