Parking in buildings can be challenging to design because of space constraints. Automated parking lets architects design better buildings by maximizing parking capacity, using fewer resources, and providing a better parking experience for users. This course explains the different types of automated parking, their benefits and limitations, and what to consider when choosing automated parking for a project.

Retaining walls resist the lateral displacement of soil or other materials, and their long-term performance is dependent on proper design and construction. This course focuses on the segmental retaining wall (SRW), a type of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall. Presented here are SRW types and components, advantages over other retaining wall systems, design considerations, and construction tolerances, as well as reasons that SRWs fail.

Energy conservation and occupant health and well-being are issues of increasing focus in current building design strategies. Appropriate lighting design and control can address both issues simultaneously. This course explores those aspects of health influenced by lighting and the means by which lighting can be designed and controlled in order to increase occupant comfort, productivity, and overall physical and mental well-being and reduce energy consumption in a single, integrated design.

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

Commercial kitchens are demanding environments, and flooring selection directly impacts employees’ health, safety, and welfare. A durable, hygienic, and safe floor protects employees and increases productivity. This course presents slip-resistant flooring performance requirements, types of slip-resistant flooring for commercial kitchens, applicable codes, standards, and tests, and slip-resistant polyvinyl flooring applications and installation procedures and details.

Masonry wall types have evolved from self-supporting mass walls to cavity walls and veneers that require wall ties or anchors. Over time, anchors can fail and masonry wall systems can become unstable and require repair. This course discusses how to recognize unstable façades, how retrofit anchors can be used to repair these instabilities, the different types of anchors available, and how to determine the proper repair procedure.

Where do designers start when designing for safety and security with sectional overhead doors? This course explains not only the safety and security features of overhead doors but also what product options are critical when specifying for safety and security. The course also addresses wind load, fire safety, and industry certifications for installers.

Protected roof membrane assemblies (PRMAs), and vegetative roof assemblies (VRAs) in particular, place extreme requirements on the components below the surface, from waterproofing to insulation and everything in between. Each element must meet specific standards for energy efficiency and durability. This course reviews the benefits and design considerations of VRAs. It also describes the high-performance attributes of VRA components and defines the building code/performance standards and best specification practices for optimal fire, wind, thermal, and moisture performance.

Net zero energy ready buildings are a popular topic in today's world of climate change. This course explores how energy efficiency has expanded toward exterior wall assemblies, where thermal bridging and thermally broken subframing systems are becoming the new norm.

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

There is no single waterproofing system that is best for all, or even most, waterproofing applications. This course evaluates common waterproofing product types and technologies and provides specification tips with an emphasis on quality assurance.

There are a multitude of building envelope products used and a variety of methods taken for achieving energy and building code requirements. Understanding the different roles a product plays in the envelope simplifies its design. In this course, we take a look at the code requirements for buildings classified as IBC Types I–IV, paths to achieving compliance, and the number of roles polyisocyanurate insulation plays in meeting these requirements.

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

Simultaneously improving indoor air quality (IAQ), decarbonizing buildings, and increasing resilience to outdoor pollutants has been extremely challenging because alternatives to conditioning large volumes of outside air to improve IAQ are not well understood. This course aims to change that by introducing a four-step Clean First framework for sustainable IAQ. This framework achieves better indoor air quality and energy efficiency with improved resilience to outside air pollutants. The course also provides recommendations for implementing a Clean First framework.

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

Fallingwater, named the best all-time work of architecture by AIA members in 1991, started experiencing problems shortly after construction. A novel structural system combined with constant interaction with water meant that in order to maintain this national treasure, major restoration would be required. This course reviews the issues experienced by the building and the path to restoration that was taken.

Concrete is an essential part of modern buildings. As net zero energy buildings become more common, it is crucial to find ways to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint without losing the performance characteristics that make it valuable to the building team. This course explains the sources of concrete’s carbon footprint and explores strategies for reducing embodied carbon and operational carbon in precast sandwich wall panels and insulated architectural cladding.

This presentation provides in-depth knowledge of architectural sliding door systems. Up-to-date and detailed information is provided to help you understand how performance and design objectives can be achieved with this type of product. This session covers critical aspects, including product characteristics, properties, specifications, and installations, to improve the decision-making process.

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

Building envelope failure allows air and moisture infiltration that damages building materials, reduces energy efficiency, and creates unhealthy conditions for building occupants. This course reviews how to enhance building sustainability by designing for net zero energy use and explores how rainscreen systems and roof underlayments contribute to building performance. Approaches to enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings are also discussed, including how air and moisture control improvements can be made in historic preservation projects.

The design of behavioral healthcare facilities should address the therapeutic and safety needs of patients and staff while meeting the applicable codes and regulations. Reviewed in this course are ligature-resistant products developed for patient rooms and bathrooms that strike the balance between providing the safest design solutions and creating a noninstitutional environment.