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.

The architectural uses for perforated metal span a wide variety of interior and exterior applications for residential, industrial, and commercial projects. Reviewed in this course are the applications and the specification considerations for standard and custom perforated metal, along with a discussion on how it is used to sculpt light, control sound, and compose views.

In a riot, burglary, or active shooter event, the importance of keeping an armed intruder out of a building cannot be underestimated. Examined here are fenestration security risks, considerations, and solutions for educational, religious, commercial, and retail applications, as well as applicable performance testing and standards. The course provides an in-depth discussion on new, retrofit access-denial glazing systems that provide maximum protection against forced entry and ballistic threats.

Incorporating bulletproof glass into any facility is a sizable investment; however, it is a small price to pay for the protection of human lives. This course illustrates how to maximize that investment by selecting and installing the appropriate system for the threat level and the functional needs of the client. Discussed are UL protection level ratings; types of bullet-resistant barrier systems and their components; planning, production, and installation of systems; security window film vs. bullet-resistant glass; and project security checklists.

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.

Designers, building users, and managers are increasingly focused on building and occupant health as well as energy conservation. This course explores how mixed-mode (hybrid) ventilation systems address all these issues by improving the ratio of fresh air introduced into buildings while reducing energy needs and costs. It describes the benefits, elements, and workings of these systems and provides design guidance and illustrative case studies.

The use of life safety dampers is driven by requirements in various building codes. There are many different applications for which fire, fire/smoke, smoke, and/or ceiling radiation dampers can be used, each having its own specific purpose and unique installation requirements. This course gives an in-depth look at the different types of dampers and explains how and where they're each used and installed.

This course explores the use of coil and extrusion coatings (70% PVDF metal coatings) for protecting and enhancing exterior façades. It demonstrates how utilizing color and aesthetic attributes can further enhance a building’s impact and brand recognition. The coating application/treatment process is also discussed in detail. Sustainability benefits that 70% PVDF coating has to offer are outlined, and real-world case studies show the positive impact that 70% PVDF coatings can have on a project.

Motorized doors in industrial and warehousing environments provide convenience, save time, and increase productivity. However, motorized doors also carry the risk of entrapment. This course explains the need for entrapment protection devices on motorized commercial and industrial doors and discusses how to specify the appropriate sensing edge actuation method and monitoring function to meet design, safety, and industry code requirements for specific building projects.

A detectable warning surface is a surface feature designed to warn the visually impaired of hazards on a circulation path. Both the ADA accessibility guidelines and State of California regulations require detectable warning surfaces at a number of public right-of-way locations. This course looks at current guidelines and regulations for detectable warning surfaces, types of surfaces, and methods of implementing these regulations.

Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light into a building. It takes into consideration both direct and diffuse sunlight and reduces use of electric light, thereby decreasing energy costs. By controlling daylight, solar heat gain can be minimized, lowering the demand on HVAC systems. 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.

Custom window products include a range of products, from truly one-of-a-kind fabrications to customizable components. This course takes a detailed look at what design options are available to the architect in premium and luxury window products. Installation and performance issues pertaining to large window combinations are also discussed, as well as recommended solutions and mitigation strategies for structural and water infiltration challenges.

Plantable permeable paving systems continue to grow in scope and practicality as we search for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, improve water quality, diminish flooding and erosion, reduce the urban heat island from reradiated heat in our cities and environment, and add attractive open space to building sites and neighborhoods. This course looks at plantable permeable pavement system types, their use, and how they can help achieve sustainability goals.

Professional sports stadiums form large complexes with enormous impacts on the environment and local communities. Owners, architects, and operations managers can use this influence to generate a net positive effect on people, the natural environment, and the bottom line. In this video, the executives and consultants involved in the design and daily operation of Gillette Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable stadium design. Topics discussed include district energy generation, gray water treatment, evaluation and implementation of new technologies, partnering with local utilities, cost recovery, profitability, and community health.

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.

With the advent of “cool” single-ply roofs featuring heat-reflective exterior surfaces and the use of mechanical attachment, new questions have emerged concerning the internal forces at play within the roofing system, especially in regard to vapor movement and the potential for moisture condensation within the roof. This course reviews the fundamentals of vapor movement in roofing systems, current roof condensation research, and the tools available to assess roof condensation. It also provides the building design professional with strategies to deal effectively with moisture movement within the roofing system.

The building envelope must withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course explores rainscreen wall design and the control of hygrothermal loads. The traditional multicomponent backup wall assembly is compared with the single-component, insulated metal composite backup wall system, outlining key differences in design and construction and their overall effect on installation and performance.

Keeping bathrooms and kitchens clean and hygienic is essential to health and well-being but can be challenging in busy family homes. This course introduces some basic principles of home hygiene, provides an overview of the most effective cleaning strategies, and shows how contemporary kitchen and bathroom technology and design innovations can make hygienic cleaning substantially easier. Technologies discussed include touchless activation, intelligent toilets, bidet seats, and antimicrobial surfaces.

Fenestration openings are a critical component of a building envelope, especially in present-day sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. Building envelopes play an important role in controlling the movement of heat, bulk water, and water vapor. Designing fenestration openings for buildings that use continuous exterior insulation has a significant role in reducing thermal bridging and thus conserving energy. This course reviews the impact of exterior insulation on fenestration installation design. The course also explores solutions for a wide variety of wall system variations.

Our built environment must be optimized to create comfortable and healthier spaces. Shading systems can be used to enhance our spaces by providing optimal daylight and comfort to create an ideal indoor environment. This course reviews the performance, aesthetics, and material health of various shadecloth compositions and how each factor contributes to the shadecloth selection process.

Metals are ubiquitous in today’s hardscape and are used in a variety of applications. This course reviews the important considerations related to the proper material, finish, and manufacturing technique to meet the function, aesthetic, and budget of metal designs for hardscape applications.

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.

With the range of ever-evolving uses of cold-formed metal framing, it is important for the building professional to be current with the latest product developments and innovations. This course begins with an overview of steel specification, followed by a discussion of a new, preassembled, double-stud sound guard system designed for superior acoustical performance. Also included is a review of fire-rated assemblies, including the recent developments and the expansion of UL assembly inclusions for the three different shaftwall studs (CH-stud, CT-stud, and I-stud).

A naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon is a silent danger to our health. Colorless and odorless, it enters homes and structures through openings in the foundation and below-grade walls, becoming trapped in basements and other poorly ventilated areas. This course looks at methods of controlling radon, how it is addressed in building codes, the advantages of closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) over other insulation materials, and proper installation techniques.

All vapor retarders (VRs) are air barriers (ABs), but not all ABs are VRs. Wait, what? How can that be? This presentation provides the practical side to the AB/VR discussion and identifies common VRs and ABs, how they’re installed, and why AB/VR approaches vary according to the type of construction and building use.