Continuing Education – Distilled, Practical & Advanced Knowledge

Accessibility 2021: Building an Inclusive Community Engagement Process

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05) and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

In this 75-minute panel discussion, three accessibility experts focus on how design professionals can facilitate an inclusive community-engagement process that leads to buildings and public spaces that better serve the needs of the disabled community. The panelists discuss how to engage the disability community, how to help agencies prioritize their building expenditures and how to create inclusive spaces based on a diverse set of disability needs and perspectives. Interspersed with personal examples of how the ADA has affected each panelist’s life, this provocative discussion sheds light on why the disability community often states "Nothing About Us Without Us."

Accessibility 2019: Accessibility and Historic Buildings - San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building

In this 90-minute course, Steven Winkel, FAIA, PE, CASp, walks us through the historic San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building and the inspiring Herbst Theatre. He provides guidance on how to both preserve a building's historic fabric and navigate between the requirements of the State Historical Building Code and the California Existing Building Code.

Viewers will gain a better understanding of the amount of latitude they have in applying elements of the State Historical Code, even in buildings listed only in a smaller community’s register of local landmarks.

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05) and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2019: Design Beyond ADA & Compliance

In this 60-minute course, Peter Slatin, AIA, draws on his experience navigating as a blind person around New York City and discusses how our environment needs to respond to a growing number of people with a variety of disabilities and impairments: vision, hearing, mobility, awareness and memory. Peter also discusses the Elements of Service he created, which consists of Observe, Ask, Listen, Respond and Follow Through, and reminds us that compliance should be the floor, not the ceiling, for addressing accessibility in design.

With his guide dog by his side, Peter addresses some social misconceptions. “It’s important to remember that a person with a disability, for the most part, isn’t feeling afflicted. They are dealing with their challenges, they do it every day.”

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05) and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2019: Accessibility for Persons with Visual Impairments - The New San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind

In this 75-minute course, Gilda Puente-Peters, CASp sheds light on designing accessible spaces for persons with vision impairments. After illustrating how visually-impaired people experience environments and demonstrating how people with canes avoid objects, Gilda presents a case study of the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates with consultation from blind architect Chris Downey

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05) and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2019: Persuading Clients - Where Life Safety & Accessibility Overlap

In this 75-minute course, Dawn Anderson, AIA, CSI, describes how best to educate clients about accessibility requirements and to gain their strong support for creating an expressive design, art and aesthetic that is based on accessibility, inclusion and equality.

This course is interspersed with diagrams from Chapter 11B of the California Building Code.

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05) and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2017: Accessibility in the Public Realm -- Spend a Day in My Wheelchair

In this 60-minute course, Letrice Sherrillo, AIA, a recent wheelchair user, takes us through downtown San Francisco as she navigates hospitality, retail and public spaces. Viewers will gain a better understanding about how accessible spaces in the public realm often fall short of servicing the requirements of people with different levels of abilities.

As Letrice suggests, “Rent a wheelchair for just one day and your perspective will change, the way you design, not only for accessible design to meet ADA codes, but for overall Universal Design.”

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05),the Texas BOE requirement related to barrier-free design, and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2017: Observations From an Accessibility Inspector

In this 90-minute course, Stephen Dolim brings his extensive experience as an architect and accessibility inspector to enlighten us about the most common and frequently misunderstood accessibility violations. After viewing this course, design professionals will better understand how they and building owners can apply an accessibility quality assurance process to eliminate most common oversights and improve accessible design outcomes.

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05),the Texas BOE requirement related to barrier-free design, and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2017: Universal Design in Single-Family Homes

In this 60-minute course, Erick Mikiten, AIA, a lifelong wheelchair user, takes us on a tour of his award-winning design of the universally accessible wine country residence, and shows us how the seven principles of Universal Design can be seamlessly incorporated into any small or large scale, low or high budget, single-family, multi-family or commercial project.

Viewers will also gain a better understanding of how sustainable design, specifically as it pertains to the indoor environment, overlaps with the goals of Universal Design.

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05),the Texas BOE requirement related to barrier-free design, and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Accessibility 2017: Universal Design in Multi-Family Homes

In this 90-minute course, Erick Mikiten, AIA, wheels us through this 39-unit affordable housing project for people with a wide range of abilities. Erick describes the seven principles of Universal Design and then shows us how he incorporated these into this award-winning projects.

Viewers will gain an appreciation for how to make spaces, furniture and outdoor equipment widely usable to people of different ages and abilities while creating rich and rewarding experiences.

This course complies with California licensure requirements for accessibility (SB 1608 and California Business and Professions Code Section 5600.05),the Texas BOE requirement related to barrier-free design, and provides essential information about accessibility requirements applicable in most states.

Understanding Carbon Analysis for Existing Building Renovation

Simone Barth, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C of Mithun moderates panelists from Syska Hennessy, Omgivnign and Skanska as they share zero carbon strategies that reduce embodied and operational carbon through reusing and renovating existing buildings. Viewers will gain an appreciation for the carbon advantages of adaptive reuse and learn how to employ research tools and steps for tracking data to analyze a building’s energy efficiencies and deficiencies.

Justin DiPalo, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, of Syska Hennessy, Sergio Cuculiza of Omgivning, and Mark Chen and Tolga Tutar, LEED AP, of Skanska present a series of case studies highlighting how Adaptive Reuse is an effective strategy for optimizing the operational and commercial performance of built assets.

Material Selection: Embodied Carbon + Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment

This course focuses on how embodied carbon impacts our environment, the urgency or reducing carbon emissions associated with buildings, how to assess the amount of embodied carbon early in the design process, and strategies for reducing carbon emissions. Moderator Frank Bostrom, AIA, is joined by Laura Karnath, AIA, and Dirk Kestner, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, both from Walter P Moore. The course is divided into four parts:

• Embodied Carbon as a Performance Metric
• Embodied Carbon and Structure: Whole Building LCA
• Embodied Carbon and Enclosure: System LCA and Optioneering
• Resources

Carbon Accounting: Terminology and Metrics Part 1

This course, the first in a 3-part series in partnership with the Carbon Leadership Forum, guides viewers through core concepts of carbon analysis and defines commonly used and often misunderstood terms such as embodied carbon, whole-life carbon, and zero carbon. Course takers will develop a foundational understanding of the built environment’s contribution to global climate change, increase their carbon literacy, and be better positioned to embody carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated over the full life cycle of a building.

Designing for Zero Carbon - Three Case Studies of All-Electric Buildings

Edward Dean, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, , PhD, presentss case studies of three common building types that are designed as all-electric buildings and that will operate with zero-carbon emissions once the California electric grid has been 100% decarbonized, currently scheduled for 2045. Each of these case study buildings have been designed to achieve zero-net-energy (ZNE) performance through the use of on-site renewable energy systems and energy-efficient design strategies.

Case Study of All-Electric Buildings – UCI Medical Campus

Moderated by Suyama Bodhinayake, Assoc. AIA, AIA Orange County, this program examines the process and decision making that led to an all-electric approach at the new University of California, Irvine Medical Center design-build project.

The project, located on a pristine site adjacent to a large wetland marsh, includes a 144-bed hospital, an ambulatory care center, a shared surgery suite and outdoor venues. Core design principles include strong commitments to sustainability, a connection to nature, and a belief that these connections lead to wellness and better patient outcomes.

Induction Cooking: The All-Electric Kitchen of Today and ZNCD for Food Service

This course illustrates how all-electric kitchens are instrumental in meeting California’s net-zero-carbon goals and, properly designed, can also save labor, reduce maintenance, increase kitchen comfort, and reduce utility costs. Moderated by Miranda Gardiner, Assoc. AIA, LEED Fellow, this course focuses on applying ZNCD principals to commercial kitchen design; however, viewers can adapt these principles for residential kitchens.

Case Study: California Air Resources Board Headquarters Building

Situated in the historic City of Riverside, the new headquarters of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has now become the largest true net-zero energy facility in the nation—producing more energy than it uses. The project is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and meets all CALGreen Tier 2 building standards. This facility symbolizes the transition of transportation in California to zero-emission technologies.

Presented by leaders of ZGF Architects and Affiliated Engineers, Inc., this program illustrates strategies that contribute to achieving net-zero performance for a dynamic and energy-intensive campus including active and passive energy-efficiency strategies for storing surplus energy and for reducing operational and embodied carbon.

Climate Action Standard for ZNCD All-Electric ADUs and Residential Projects

Great things come in small packages, especially all-electric homes and ADUs. Moderated by Jennifer Kretschmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate, ADU owner Nick Brown, CEA, CABEC, AEA, CABEC, of Build Smart Group and architect Tim Kohut, AIA, Director of Sustainable Design at National CORE, describe a new 1-bedroom all-electric ADU built above an existing garage in Long Beach. They discuss how all-electric ADUs can achieve zero net carbon and discusses the energy efficiencies of heat pump HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters, induction ranges, electric washers, heat pump clothes dryers, Heat Recovery Ventilators, 12-panel PV systems, and SIPS insulated panels.

Nick and Tim also discuss how energy modeling and project cost considerations shaped decisions around building envelope, systems and equipment, and affected T-24 Part 6 compliance.

Climate Action Part 1: Overview

This course is offered FREE courtesy of AIA California

Part 1 of this day-long workshop, hosted by the AIA California Board of Directors, provides an overview on climate change policies and opportunities in the areas of Water, Carbon and Energy.

Presentations include a “State of the State” on California’s ambitious Zero Net Energy goals, an impassioned “Climate Emergency” warning by Ed Mazria, and presentations about preserving water resources and reducing embodied carbon. The presenters than gather for an insightful panel discussion about how the architectural profession can take action in response to the changing climate and its impact on the built environment.

Climate Action Part 2: Implementation Strategies

This course is offered FREE courtesy of AIA California

Part 2 of this day-long workshop, hosted by the AIA California Board of Directors, provides more in-depth insights into the ZERO Code and opportunities for architects to engage in policy discussions and the code development process, strategies for reducing embedded carbon in our built environment, and examples of zero net carbon buildings.

The course concludes with an overview of opportunities and impediments that attendees identified for adopting the Zero Code and how individual architects, firms and AIA chapters can proactively respond to climate change.

Commissioning of Sustainable Buildings

This 60-minute video course reviews the building commissioning process, its value and integration into building projects; including a step-by-step review of the tasks needed to meet LEED Building Commissioning credits.

Net Zero Energy and Future Challenges

This 60-minute, two-part video course provides viewers with an overview of recent efforts, processes, opportunities and constraints related to net zero energy buildings. A detailed case study of the first net zero energy classroom building in North America reinforces these lessons.

Retrofitting Existing Buildings to Improve Energy Efficiency

This 60-minute two-part video course delves into cost-effective HVAC, lighting, steam, and compressed air retrofit strategies to improve energy efficiency. An in-depth case study provides concrete examples on how to achieve positive results in less time and with faster payback.

MDC - Alberto Kalach: Architecture, Landscape and Urbanization

Watch one of Mexico’s most inspiring and famed architects in this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference. Alberto Kalach showcases the work of TAX—Taller de Arquitectura X and passionately illustrates the fragile relationship between nature and urban environments, from a $5,000 minimal house, to his housing developments to one of the largest project ever conceived for the Valley of Mexico Basin.

MDC - Mark Cavagnero: Simple Volumes, Unapologetic Forms

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, takes us on an exploration of his firm’s work, which is grounded in the belief of the power of collaboration and community buildings. His stunning buildings and reductive designs show his journey from his early exposure to Marcel Breuer and the use of architecture “as a foil to reach out and grab space” and to the long, low lines expressed by Edward Barnes.

MDC - Gregg Pasquarelli: Thinkers and Makers

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Gregg Pasquarelli, AIA, of SHoP Architects, captivates us with the art, mathematics, science and design behind his firm’s innovative portfolio. See how this cutting-edge interdisciplinary firm is proving—at sites around the world—that intelligent, evocative design can be made within real-world constraints. Gregg reveals the process behind the world's skinniest skyscraper and a pair of skyscrapers that feature copper cladding, bent silhouettes and a skybridge suspended more than 90 metres above the ground.

MDC - Yvonne Farrell: The EARTH as Client

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Yvonne Farrell, FRIAI, Hon. RIBA, shares what Grafton Architects has discovered through its widely acclaimed practice and how each project explores questions: What do we value? How do we invent? How do we create something that is useful, beautiful and meaningful? Yvonne takes us on journey through the silent language of space and inspires us to “treat EARTH as a client.” Her poetic delivery leaves no doubt about why her firm won the inaugural RIBA International Prize in 2016 and was recently awarded the RIBA 2020 Royal Gold Medal and the 2020 Pritzker Prize.

MDC - Bob Harris: RESONANCE--Nature, Place, Craft & Restraint

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Bob Harris, FAIA, LEED Fellow of Lake|Flato, shares his passion for environmental issues as he illustrates how his firm’s designs push sustainability in new directions. Starting with an overview of Lake|Flato’s practice and design approach, Bob leads us on a visual tour of some of his most innovative projects and explains how the firm’s wide body of scientific research helped produce high performance, ecologically responsive buildings.

MDC - Brian MacKay-Lyons: The Wind and the Moon

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2015 Gold Medalist Brian MacKay-Lyons captivates us with his spectacular buildings, storytelling and dry wit. Brian shows us how his designs draw on his inspiration from a rich local heritage of building types and how he reinterprets local vernacular to respond to harsh climates and exterior elements.

MDC - Lyndon Neri & Rossana Hu: Obsessions and Disappearing Villages

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu highlight their Shanghai-based interdisciplinary work. Through stunning visuals and a series of short movies, they share their design obsessions and how their architectural practice confronts some of China's most challenging urban issues, rapid development and demolition, disappearing villages and disgruntled population. Lyndon and Rosanna highlight some of their most provocative projects and share a glimpse of Chinese urban life that is seldom seen.

MDC - Paul Kephart and Marta Kephart: Lightened Footprints, Natural Landscapes

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California's 2019 Monterey Design Conference, Paul and Marta Kephart deliver a beautifully orchestrated and compelling case for preserving delicate landscapes and illustrate how incorporating biophilic design and ecological engineering can preserve natural landscapes and lighten the footprint on natural habitats. From their innovative rooftop of the California Academy of Sciences to their solutions for restoring dune habitats, these pioneers of landscape design, ecology and horticulture inspire us to design for people in ways that promote sustainability and increase biological diversity.

MDC - Sou Fujimoto: Between Nature and Architecture

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto inspires us with soft lighting effects, visually arresting geometric forms, an interplay between nature and architecture, and with his desire to "question everything."

With a gentle presence and soft wit, Sou describes his ethereal installation at London's Serpentine Gallery, the infinite forest of books that comprises one of Japan's most distinguished libraries, his magical tree-inspired high-rise residential tower in southern France and, of course, his toilet in nature.

MDC - Marion Weiss, FAIA, and Michael Manfredi, FAIA: Expanded Territories

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, Marion Weiss, FAIA, and Michael Manfredi, FAIA, illustrate how movement, light and materiality actively shape how participants perceive and experience environments.

Through their museums, visitor centers, colleges, embassies, technology centers and waterfront parks, Marion and Michael describe how they push the boundaries of design to shape contemporary culture and to create buildings and open spaces that serve as models for urban ecology.

MDC - Julie Eizenberg, FAIA: Urban Hallucinations

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, Julie Eizenberg, FAIA, examines placemaking and community building in Los Angeles and how architecture can address regional issues of sustainability, responsible growth, affordability, and housing shortages.

Showcasing recent affordable housing, apartments, libraries, public spaces and places of worship projects, Julie illustrates strategies for creating informal social interaction within, and between, buildings. And through her firm’s urban research and a personal account of life and work in the Los Angeles region, Julie deftly walks us through her "urban hallucinations."

MDC - Shohei Shigematsu, OMA

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, OMA Partner Shohei Shigematsu leads us through a diverse portfolio of museums, university buildings, high-rise buildings and cultural venues that highlight the interplay of light, movement and shadow.

Shohei captivates his audience with his wit, incisive analogies and over 500 stunning images of his remarkable projects and collaborations with artists.

MDC - Dominique Jakob: Jakob + MacFarlane

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, Parisian architect Dominique Jakob of Jakob+MacFarlane illustrates how her firm uses digital technology as both a conceptual design and a production tool for internationally acclaimed projects in Paris, Lyon, Orleans, Boulogne and Belgium.

Dominique describes how the structure, shapes and cladding of her museums, libraries, office buildings and housing projects were digitally conceived and executed through collaborations with artists and fabricators. She concludes her keynote with a fascinating short video “Augmenting the Invisible” that animates and brings to life a simple sketch.

MDC - Jeff Goldstein: Building Walls: Meaning + Mass

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, Jeff Goldstein, AIA, of DIGSAU explores how to involve end users in using indigenous materials, how existing materials and structures can be re-used and re-purposed to create stunning community buildings, and how the use of form, space, light, and material convey potent ideas and connect to the human spirit.

With passion and a bit of social commentary, Jeff highlights six of his recent projects to illustrate how to create meaningful places that empower and inspire people to be more creative, productive, and fulfilled.

MDC - Dorte Mandrup: Buildings and Conditions

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, Danish architect Dorte Mandrup illustrates the playful, innovative and poetic projects created by her “team of die-hard overachievers.” Dorte showcases her transformations of existing buildings, infills and urban planning to entirely new works, always anchored in location and landscape.

Among the projects Dorte presents are the expressive cantilever of the steel Salling Tower, the wooden truss of the Icefjord Center that bridges the rugged landscape, and the thatched roof of the Wadden Sea Centre that interprets the local building tradition and rural farmhouse typology of the region.

MDC - Gere Kavanaugh: A Unique Multi-Dimensional Design Firm

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2017 Monterey Design Conference, architect Pierluigi Serraino interviews the acclaimed American textile, industrial, and interior designer Gere Kavanaugh about her influence as a designer in the 1960s, the use of color and how interior design relates to the overall architectural design impact of a building.

Gere discusses her work on the Nixon Library and her numerous exhibitions and collections, her collaboration with Victor Gruen and Frank Gehry, and her unabashed opinion about architects.

MDC - Rand Elliott, FAIA: Stray Dogs

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Rand Elliott, FAIA, shares his insights on designing for the environment and discusses the experiences that influence his work.

Rand’s mesmerizing poetry, stunning visuals and provocative videos capture his deep respect for the land, the sun and the wind. His dramatic parking garage, iconic gas station, rhythmic boathouse and small-town house sited in a spare landscape enchant us with how light flows into a building. In his own words, Rand shows us "space that can only be heard by a stray dog."

MDC - Clive Wilkinson, FAIA: The Theatre of Work

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Clive Wilkinson, FAIA, illustrates how architecture can be elevated beyond the pragmatic needs of the people a building accommodates to a level of theater. Clive explores how this theater of architecture can serve as an amplification of human life, a re-energizing of memory and experience, and a reawakening of passion. Drawing upon his diverse portfolio, he illustrates how building designs must address cultural models, community structures, knowledge sharing, diversity, the human scale, and "tribal" organization and connectivity.

MDC - The Work of Carme Pinós

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Carme Pinos illustrates how understanding a site’s context enabled her to express buildings’ structures and create site-responsive and sculptural building designs. With her passionate Spanish accent and command of the stage, Carme becomes part of her own slide show, magically revealing how "rules of design" can be formed by client needs, climate and structural necessity and result in bold buildings in both urban and rural environments.

MDC - Junya Ishigami: How Small? How Vast?

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Japanese architect Junya Ishigama introduces us to an entirely different style of architecture. Is it biophilia? Or magical props?

His designs facilitate the movement of nature along with the movement of people, inviting trees and clouds and rain inside. In varied projects, from house to university hall to port buildings, an unlikely collaboration can be seen -- habitats for the elements as well as for people. Here are materials that fool the eye, and structures so light and airy that they disappear before your eyes.

MDC - Frank Barkow: Spielraum

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Frank Barkow explores his deep interest in craftsmanship, structure and new technologies, and demonstrates how architectural ideas and materials are intertwined in projects that include easy-to-assemble tents, low-cost housing, advanced factory buildings and eye-catching high-rises.

Barkow illustrates how his firm, Barkow Leibinger, begins each project by first examining a particular material, then choosing the tools and software needed to turn it into a final formed product. With a deep knowledge of today’s cutting edge fabrication techniques, extensive research, and traditional model making, surprising new forms and structures arise.

MDC - Insights from Bernard Tschumi, FAIA

A legend goes live!

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, Bernard Tschumi, FAIA, examines some of his best known designs through concepts of space, event and movement.

Tschumi's early theoretical interests were in understanding and notating movement through space. He takes us through his design process, beginning with the concept, which evolves into form. In his varied museums, concert halls and other projects, Tschumi illustrates how structure and materials determine the form as much as the activities and movements within the space. Whether forms of movement or using a concept of "no form," his architecture is suffused with meaning.

MDC - Art Installations by Pae White

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2015 Monterey Design Conference, artist and collaborator Pae White shows her early projects, multi-media art and site-specific installations, which defy easy categorization.

White “listens” to space and uses her art to create a story that amplifies and alters the surroundings, whether a reflective curtain for Snøhetta's Opera House or a hall for pigeons at the Venice Biennale complete with birdseed chandeliers. The inventiveness of the many projects shown, their uniqueness and unexpected variety are inspiring proof of art’s ability to transform place.

MDC - Marlon Blackwell, FAIA: Transmutations

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIA California's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, discusses how his architecture and design process is based in design strategies that draw upon vernaculars and building typologies, upon contradictions of place, and upon strategies that transgress conventional boundaries for architecture.

Marlon skillfully demonstrates how resilient architecture can be achieved as an interplay between details, form and place and how responding to the specificities of site and sustainable design principles can result in architecture that can be felt as much as it is understood and be as immediate and tactile as it is legible, all while contributing to the fundamental civic dignity of communities.

MDC - Odile Decq: Horizons

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Odile Decq, one of Europe's most provocative architects, reviews her award-winning and highly experimental work in architecture, art and design products.

With her passionate French accent, Odile demonstrates how a strong vision and a bit of persuasion translates concepts into stunning restaurants, museums, glass houses, galleries, yachts, furniture and, yes, even dog houses. She generously weaves her signature shade of red throughout her sensual designs to infuse them with energy, passion and wit.

MDC - Kengo Kuma, Hon. FAIA: Age of Locations

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Kengo Kuma, Hon. FAIA, shows over 360 mesmerizing images of his projects throughout Japan, China, Italy, France, Germany and England, poetically describing how architecture should place location, climate and environmental harmony above all else.

Kengo describes his “regionalism” as a movement aimed at true independence of each town, starting with reliance on local materials and skilled craftspeople. From museums and train stations, to an “umbrella house” to a Starbucks assembled with local timber in Fukuoka, Japan, Kengo’s mastery of details will inspire and delight

MDC - Marcio Kogan, Hon. FAIA: What Makes Your Heart Beat?

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at the AIA California Council's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Marcio Kogan, Hon. FAIA, Director of studioMK27 in San Paulo Brazil asks "What Makes Your Heart Beat?"

Known for his special attention to details and finishes, and his own interpretation of Brazilian Modernism, Marcio and his co-presenter Diana Radomysler mix images and film in this creative presentation. Marcio and Diana brilliantly showcase their work with humor, passion and with the help of an inquisitive cat.

MDC - Jennifer Yoos, FAIA: Material / Immaterial

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Jennifer Yoos, FAIA, illustrates how VJAA’s research-based design approach is applied to diverse building programs, locations, and scales.

Jennifer illustrates the idea of “materiality” that emphasizes craftsmanship and research into new material systems and structure. She then discusses “immateriality” by illustrating how buildings interact with climate and changing uses over time. Jennifer weaves these ideas together with her firm’s sensitive and striking designs of museums, libraries, hotels, exhibits and a rowing club.

MDC - Anne Fougeron, FAIA: A Decade

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, San Francisco-based Anne Fougeron, FAIA, showcases a decade of her award-winning work.

With humor and wit, Anne describes how her body of work embraces architectural opportunities and responds to political forces to create buildings that redefine program, reinvent historical building types, and reinvigorate civic centers. Each project is a careful consideration of context, light and structure.

MDC - Thomas Phifer, FAIA: Outside In - Architecture, Landscape

In this 75-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2013 Monterey Design Conference, Thomas Phifer, FAIA, discuss aesthetic and environmental principles guiding the design of recent buildings and their landscapes. He poetically illustrates how technical innovations can be used to express structural lightness and architectural transparency.

Thomas presents six recent projects showing how incorporating high levels of controlled natural light and views of nature increases human comfort and health and how utilizing sustainable design features grounds a building in its place.

MDC - Jeanne Gang, FAIA: Fish, Sticks, Birds and Bricks

How do the migration patterns of birds relate to the design of city towers? How can innovative community planning spur economic recovery in suburbs? Find out by stepping into the mind of 2011 MacArthur Genius Grant winner Jeanne Gang, FAIA, Founder and Principal of Studio Gang Architects. This 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, offers fascinating insight into the creative process and thematic undertones that shape the work of one of America’s most visionary architects.

MDC - Tom Kundig, FAIA: Landscape, Community and Craft

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Tom Kundig, FAIA, takes us through a vast body of his past and current work. Filled with wonderfully imaginative designs, inspiring solutions and more than a little subversion, Kundig's brilliance is on display as he discusses the aspects of architecture that are most personal and meaningful to him and have continued to resonate with him since he began working as an architect. Tom's inspirational lecture discusses four key aspects of his work: Craft and Making, Site, Hot-Rodding and Reuse, and Community.

MDC - Borja Ferrater: Architecture and Geometry

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Borja Ferrater, a part of the family team at the innovative firm, Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB), demonstrates his and the company's unique work. Ferrater delivers an engaging, entertaining and often amusing lecture, packed with fascinating projects incorporating techniques utilizing light, geometry and materials in ways that have only recently been possible. The projects themselves span a variety of different scales, budgets and purposes. Yet, given Ferrater's interest in buildings as systems, the projects form a cohesive and narratively-driven portfolio, populated by some work from one of the most exciting and innovative international firms.

MDC - Michael Maltzan, FAIA: No More Play

How can architecture convince people to live, work and play in a single community? How can public housing be as beautiful as it is efficient? In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Michael Maltzan, FAIA, draws on his significant architectural experience to offer new ideas for transforming the way we design, build and think about public structures and the cities they help to define.

MDC - Peter Walker, FASLA: 9/11 Memorial and Its Precedents

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Peter Walker, FASLA, reviews his landscape architecture work on one of the most significant new projects in the United States: the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Walker puts the Memorial's design in the context of his firm's previous work on several notable projects and examines the special techniques he helped to develop in order to implement his vision. Peter also provides a detailed account of how the Memorial came to exist in its current form: what challenges were overcome, what concepts changed, and how he helped to create a unique and somber landmark.

MDC - Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA: Linking Light & Landscape

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA, of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and the University of Toronto, illustrates how she exploits seasonal changes to light, water and landscape to intertwine with her building designs. Shim's engaging lecture is filled with examples from her firm's earlier and recent cutting-edge work, significant not just for the buildings’ construction but also for the way they are integrated with their surroundings.

MDC - Dr. Dickson Despommier: The Vertical Farm

In this 60-minute course, filmed live at AIACC's 2011 Monterey Design Conference, Dickson Despommier, PhD, demonstrates the concept of vertical farming, a unique way of using technology to change how we grow food, treat the earth, and form our urban spaces. In a simultaneously heart-wrenching and uplifting lecture, packed with astounding facts, statistics and anecdotes, Dr. Despommier illustrates that humanity's future can easily be a bright one, but only if we act now.

MDC Emerging Talent
Chris Warren, AIA, WORD

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation from the 2019 MDC, Chris Warren, AIA, Principal of Los Angeles-based WORD, takes us on a tour of his firm's recent work and how their designs respond to the interface between architecture and the natural elements--light, sky and view. See why his designs have been described as confidently choreographed, experienced through ephemerality and as an intersection of the elemental and the phenomenal..

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Ed Ogosta, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Edward Ogosta Architecture

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation from the 2019 MDC, Ed Ogosta, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, of Los Angeles-based Edward Ogosta Architecture, showcases his firm's quiet architecture of sobriety, coherence, simplicity and atmosphere. Ed artfully illustrates how his firm’s designs emanate from two principles: ROOTEDNESS to site, context, culture and time, and CLARITY of concept, form, experience and execution.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Dan Spiegel, AIA, and Megumi Aihara, ASLA, PLA, SAW // Spiegel Aihara Workshop

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation from the 2019 MDC, Dan Spiegel, AIA, of SAW and Megumi Aihara, ASLA, PLA, of Spiegel Aihara Workshop start by walking us through and around their design for COURT, YARD, HOUSE in Palo Alto. Showcasing their love of storytelling, they then show us how their TRY-ON TRUCK transforms itself from a lingerie store to a meditation studio and present their prototypes of a variety of other building types.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Dan Weber, AIA, LEED AP, ANACAPA

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation from the 2019 MDC, Dan Weber, AIA, LEED AP, of Santa Barbara-based ANACAPA, takes us on a journey through his firm's experiential and award-winning hospitality, custom residential, creative office and urban infill mixed-use projects and, of course, his recent design for a marijuana dispensary.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Heather Roberge, AIA, MURMUR

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation, Los Angeles-based Heather Roberge, AIA, of murmur, explores the roles of computational and digital fabrication in shaping contemporary architecture, and illustrates how lightweight construction can defy structural expectations.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Alan Tse, Associate AIA, Alan Tse Design

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation, San Francisco-based Alan Tse, Associate AIA, captivates the audience with stunning images and a delightfully dry wit as he describes how he learned about budgets, his role as a designer, getting work and meeting client expectations. Alan's stunning restaurant, mixed-use, residential and work space projects combine a warm neutral palette, natural light and a welcoming modern style.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Laura Crescimano, AIA, SITELAB Urban Studio

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation, Laura Crescimano, AIA, of San Francisco-based SITELAB Urban Studio, deftly shows how extraordinary events in symbolic spaces or banal ones such as highways and roads can temporarily reveal and transform our image of the urban environment. Laura illustrates how placemaking can elevate the social practice of architecture and encourage inclusive decision making.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

MDC Emerging Talent
Jimenez Lai & Joanna Grant, Bureau Spectacular

Among the most inspirational events at the famed Monterey Design Conference are the 15-minute presentations by some of California’s finest emerging talent.

In this FREE presentation Jimenez Lai & Joanna Grant describe how their Los Angeles-based Bureau Spectacular began at the beginning of the Great Recession--through research, experimentation, teaching, publications, and exhibitions and competitions--and evolved into a group of avant-garde individuals who explore design through the lenses of art, culture and education. They conclude their presentation with a delightful Pool Party video created as part of a 2017 MoMA PS1 competition.

Don’t miss the Keynote Presentations from the Monterey Design Conference!

Just Transition - The Water We Swim In

Lisa Richmond, Hon. AIA, (Former) Executive Director, AIA Seattle + Design in Public, and Meghan Lewis, Senior Researcher, Carbon Leadership Forum, University of Washington, introduce us to the upstream and downstream impacts of decarbonization and how equity and social justice impact a transition to clean energy sources, materials, and processes.

Kristen Dotson, Assoc. AIA, Sustainability Services Director, The Miller Hull Partnership, and Brent Davies, Vice President, Forests and Ecosystem Services, Ecotrust, then discuss some of the upstream impacts of the built environment including how “Climate-Smart Forestry” and the complexities of timber sourcing aim to balance ecosystem health with strong local economies.

After viewing this course, you will understand how a massive mobilization of labor and resources are often locked into systems and processes that either prioritize equitable advancement or sustain the current systemic oppressions and privileges that have been in place for generations.

Just Transition - Building as a Public Benefit?

This session explores the downstream impacts of decarbonization, focusing on how the shift to reducing emissions influences equity, community health, and community wellbeing. Moderator Amarpreet Sethi, Assoc. AIA, Enviro, introduces how buildings can serve as public benefit rather than perpetuating the inequities that pervade our current structures.

Clyde Abrahamson, Development Manager, Spokane Indian Housing Authority, then presents a case study “Children of the Sun Solar Initiative” that highlights the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ vision to lower its carbon footprint, reduce energy cost and become more energy self-reliant.

Miquel Maestas. Housing and Economic Development Director, El Centro De La Raza, presents a case study of “The Center of People of All Races” that inspires us to design buildings that benefit the public.

Jamie Stroble, Co-Chair, Seattle Planning Commission; Founder & EJ Educator, Noio Pathways Capacity Building, presents examples of project-based considerations for climate, health and equity co-benefits.

A short, insightful panel discussion explores how the shift to reducing emissions influences equity, community health, and community wellbeing.

Just Transition - Upstream and Downstream Impacts of Decarbonization

Moderator Daniel Glenn, AIA, Principal, 7 Directions Architects/Planners and a Native American architect, sets the stage by posing the question: “How can building professionals and their clients respond to the impacts of decarbonization?”

Eileen V. Quigley, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Transition Institute, discusses applying the five pillars of deep decarbonization in Washington State to help accelerate the path to zero-carbon buildings.

Jonathan Heller, President, Ecotope, Inc. takes us on a deep dive into the world of electrification and illustrates how clean energy options were incorporated into several buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

Anyeley Hallova, an equity & sustainability-focused real estate developer, presents a case study of the Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and how the design and process helped achieve its aggressive equity and sustainability goals.

Just Transition - Building Equity, Now!

In this passionate keynote, Carlton Eley, Regional Equity Initiative Manager for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, explores the groundswell of activity that is compelling communities to "find their true North." He explores equitable development as an approach for meeting the needs of underserved communities through projects, programs, and/or policies that reduce disparities while fostering places that are healthy, vibrant and diverse. As Mr. Eley explains, the equity challenge in the built environment rises above false choices, encourages curiosity and requires design professionals, planners, local governments and the public to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Mr. Eley is introduced by Rico Quirindongo, AIA, Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development, who emphasizes how we must keep equity, community health, economic stability, and social context in mind as we transition to a more sustainable built environment.

2 Degrees Symposium: L.A.'s Green New Deal

In this 60-minute course filmed live at the AIA Los Angeles & AIA|LA COTE 2020 Two Degrees Symposium, Dominique Hargreaves, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles, provides an overview of LA's Green New Deal, one of the nation's most ambitious plans to combat climate change and achieve a zero-carbon grid, zero-carbon transportation, zero-carbon buildings, zero waste and zero wasted water. Dominique then illustrates how we can lead our industry and the world in mitigating climate change.

Berkeley City Council Member Kate Harrison inspires us to kick-start the Green New Deal with all-electric buildings and explains how Berkeley is implementing steps to eliminate fossil fuels from new buildings and creating well-paid jobs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and economic inequality.

2 Degrees Symposium: Urban Scale

In this 75-minute course filmed live at the AIA Los Angeles & AIA|LA COTE 2020 Two Degrees Symposium, three presenters provide inspiring perspectives about how design professionals can help transform the urban regions into more sustainable, less carbon-intensive environments.

Dylan Jones, AIA, of Gensler's Mobility Lab discusses how mobility has shaped our communities and how the past decade of technology-driven disruption is shaping the way we move, connect and plan the cities of tomorrow.

Nick Saponara, Deputy Executive Officer of Transit Oriented Communities at LA Metro, provides an overview of one of the largest transportation infrastructure programs in the nation, and how LA Metro fosters transit-oriented communities.

Matthew Wintner, AIA, then leads us through the planning process for the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict, which focuses on place, prosperity, health + wellbeing, connectivity, living infrastructure and resource regeneration.

2 Degrees Symposium: Building Scale

In this 75-minute course filmed live at the AIA Los Angeles & AIA|LA COTE 2020 Two Degrees Symposium, three presenters share insights on the design of healthy, low intensity buildings that meet or exceed the goals set forth in the Green New Deal.

In “Adaptive Reuse,” William Leddy, FAIA, provides insights into why adaptive building reuse reduces both embodied operational carbon and why it is imperative in a climate-positive world. He then suggests tangible strategies for design professionals to promote adaptive reuse.

In “Building to Cool the Climate,” Bruce King, Founder and Director of the Ecological Building Network (EBNet) provides strategies for pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and sequestering it within foundations, walls, roofs and insulation, and inspires us to transform buildings from massive carbon emitters into carbon sponges.

In “Aligning Climate and Health Goals,” Bill Walsh, Founder and Board President, Healthy Building Network, discusses why reducing embodied carbon is essential to meeting our climate change goals and why this demands a revolution in how we specify and manufacture building materials.

2 Degrees Symposium: The Terrestrial Biosphere

In this 75-minute course filmed live at the AIA Los Angeles & AIA|LA COTE 2020 Two Degrees Symposium, Dr. Joshua B. Fisher, a climate scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and one of the leaders of the ECOSTRESS mission, captivates us with stunning visuals, videos and metaphors about "The Fate of the Terrestrial Biosphere Under a Changing Climate." Dr. Fisher gives an overview of the latest remote-sensing datasets and model developments from JPL and discusses new insights into the behavior and understanding of terrestrial ecosystems.

Viewers will appreciate why Dr. Fisher has been named one of the world's most influential climate researchers and is a widely sought-after lecturer on climate change.

Design Excellence and Climate Change – Bay Area Case Studies from AIA San Francisco COTE

Course release date: April, 2019.

Climate change is one of the fundamental design problems of our time, and architects need the skills to help create attractive, resilient, high- performing buildings. In this engaging 75-minute course, presenters discuss the recently released AIA COTE® Top Ten Toolkit, their firms’ integrative design approaches, and how architects can persuade clients to incorporate strategies that achieve both design excellence and exceptional building performance.

The course starts with architects from three Bay Area COTE ® Top Ten award winners (LMS Architects, EHDD, and Siegel & Strain Architects) presenting short case studies that include a variety of high-impact, low-cost building performance strategies. Marsha Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP, of LMS Architects and the 2019 Chair of AIA National AIA COTE® then moderates an informative panel discussion with Tate Walker, AIA, LEED Fellow of OPN Architects, Corey Squire, AIA, of Lake | Flato Architects, Brad Jacobson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C of EHDD, and Susi Marzuola, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, of Siegel & Strain Architects about applying the AIA COTE® Top Ten Toolkit to projects of various scales.

Includes a download link to AIA's free COTE® Top Ten Toolkit "Super Spreadsheet"

Twelve Years, Seven Houses, a Thousand Experiments

In this 75-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle's 2018 Housing Forum, Stephen Kieran, FAIA, LEED Fellow, shows his firm's artistry in six inspiring residential projects, including prefabricated high-performance solutions that are proving to be instrumental in changing the way the industry models, constructs and delivers housing.

In the final segment of this course, Stephen discusses his firm's research and involvement in Living Choices Homes and its quest to create affordable, solid and renewable housing to meet the demand projected for India's emerging middle class.

Housing Inspiration: Sawmill House and Karuna House

This 60-minute course, filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, includes case studies on two inspirational residential projects.

First, Elizabeth Bianchi Conklin and Vikgram Sami of Olson Kundig present the Sawmill House, a net-zero, off-the-grid family retreat embedded in the tough, scrubby landscape in the harsh high desert of California. Sawmill harnesses the challenges and opportunities of its remote site, emphasizing sustainable strategies and reclaimed materials. The design was driven by a scavenger mentality, seeking always to do more with less, including using salvaged and recycled materials whenever possible.

Second, Cory Hawbecker of Holst Architecture presents the stunning Karuna House, an ambitious residential project designed to meet a combination of the world’s most demanding green building certifications. Built on a south facing slope overlooking the Willamette Valley’s rich agricultural land, Karuna House is the first MINERGIE-certified building in North America.

Housing Innovation: Case Studies

This three-part, 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, showcases a series of highly innovative approaches to the housing industry.

First, Craig Curtis, FAIA, LEED AP, presents how Katerra is redefining the $1.3 trillion housing industry through offsite manufacturing and by optimizing every aspect of building design, materials supply and construction.

Susan Jones, FAIA, LEED BD+C, of atelierjones then showcases her high-performance CLT House, a modest 1,500 SF single-family home washed in light and full of the textures and smells of natural materials.

Elizabeth Golden and Rick Mohler of the University of Washington, along with Yasaman Esmali of modular housing start-up blokable, then showcase innovative multi-family solutions that can be integrated into single-family housing zones.

Making Room: Housing for a Changing America

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2018 Housing Forum, Chrysanthe Broikos, an architectural historian and curator, leads us through the Making Room: Housing for a Changing America exhibit at the National Building Museum and makes a compelling argument for a wider menu of housing options to respond to the diversity of households across the country.

Through images of the exhibit, Chrysanthe educates us about demographic trends, micro-units, shared housing and other concepts that appeal to multi-generational families.

Inspiration, Innovation, Impact: The Future of Residential Design

Eric Drivdahl (right) moderates a lively panel discussion with Craig Curtis, (Chief Architect, Katerra), Susan Jones, FAIA (Atelierjones), Stephen Kieran, FAIA, LEED Fellow (KieranTimberlake). Chrysanthe Broikos (Architectural Historian & Curator National Building Museum) and Rob Johnson (Seattle City Councilmember).

Among the topics: artificial intelligence, responding to rapid social change, housing prototypes, regional affordable housing policies, managing risk while embracing innovations, and lessons learned. Stephen Kieran ends the panel discussion with a moving story about how his own house has accommodated life-changes in his family.

Density Done Right - Social Occupation

As architects, we have a responsibility to cities and the people who occupy them. In this 75-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Lorcan O’Herhily, FAIA, passionately illustrates how his projects serve as a social act--a tool for engaging in politics, economics, aesthetics, and smart, sustainable growth. Lorcan shows how his firm’s recent work creating affordable, high-density housing promotes equity, human interaction and cultural evolution.

After watching this presentation, you will fully appreciate why Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects was recognized in 2018 as the #1 Design firm in the country by Architect magazine’s Architect 50.

Density Done Right - Minneapolis 2040: Race, Place and Equity

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Paul Mogush and Heather Worthington discuss their work with the City of Minneapolis creating more affordable and accessible housing and creating living-wage jobs through zoning changes. The Minneapolis 2040 plan is one of the nation’s most progressive planning strategies for creating higher density transit-oriented districts and lowering traffic congestion.

Learn from two accomplished city planners how to create cities more resilient to the effect of climate change and diminishing natural resources, and how to create affordable strategies for improving access to healthy living activities and environments.

Density Done Right - The Roost: Micro Housing, Community and Cultural Space

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, David Neiman discusses his firm’s innovative designs that focus on livability, affordability, community, and access to housing for all. David then presents a case study of The Roost, an affordable micro-housing development that supports and strengthens Seattle's arts community, on which he served as both architect and developer. David illustrates how to overcome market constraints and achieve a 5-Star Built Green certification in this remarkably energy-efficient congregate housing development.

Density Done Right - Pax Futura: A High-Performance Community

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, designer and developer Sloan Ritchie of Cascade Built and designer Brittany Porter of Weber Thompson (formerly NK Architects) present Pax Futura, Seattle’s first certified multifamily passive house building. Learn how this 35-unit complex builds caters to music lovers, environmentally minded and socially conscious residents while building on the concepts of Passive Houses. This case study shows how to provide thermal comfort, energy-efficiency and lower moisture penetration through heat pumps, heat recovery systems, thermal bridging, computerized shading models and air barrier details.

Density Done Right - Othello Square

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, architect Carey Dagliano, LEED AP BD+C and landscape architect Rachael Meyer, GRP, LEED AP of Weber Thompson and Faduma Ahmed, MPA, of HomeSight present a fascinating case study of the community-based planning and design process of Othello Square, one Seattle’s most recent affordable housing projects. They discuss how this highly inspirational project helps restore the local ecology and provide healthier living to lower income residents.

By watching this course, you will learn how proactive community engagement empowers community stakeholders to inform, consult and collaborate to design more affordable and sustainable housing.

Density Done Right - Granny Pad & Big Mouth House

In this 60-minute course filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, Ian Butcher, AIA, and Kailin Gregga, AIA, of Best Practice present case studies of affordable accessory dwelling units. The fun designs for Granny Pad, Big Mouth House, and DadPad illustration how micro units and accessory dwelling units can increase housing density, provide much needed affordable housing options, decrease carbon footprints and better accommodate the needs of an aging family member.

Density Done Right - Lightning Talks

In this series of “lightning talks” filmed live at AIA Seattle’s 2019 Housing Forum, seven planners, designers, architects and builders provide distinct strategies for creating more sustainable, livable and affordable urban residential developments and safe pedestrian corridors.

Pitfalls and Minefields of Specification-Writing

This course will help design firms produce higher quality specifications that respond to the increasing complexity of building projects and that minimize the adverse consequences of poorly-worded or incomplete specifications.

Course takers will develop a better understanding of and appreciation for specifications – an often-overlooked part of the Contract Documents – and learn how to craft specifications that achieve design objectives, meet code requirements, and avoid added costs, delays, construction coordination problems and disputes. .

The presenter provides specific solutions to overcome common challenges design professionals face when writing design-based, performance-based, propriety or hybrid specifications.

BIM: Leveraging Level of Development & BIM Execution Plans

Course release date: May, 2019.

This 75-minute course features industry experts from SmithGroup, Boldt Construction Company, Stanford Health Care’s Planning Design + Construction, and Autodesk. This highly informative set of presentations and panel discussion illustrates how to: develop Level of Development and BIM Execution plans to reduce design errors and construction conflicts; leverage data incorporated into BIM models; manage scope and risks when sharing BIM models; and integrate design-assist into BIM models. Tune in as practitioners discuss lessons learned and Autodesk evangelist Jon Van Benthem presents a case study of the Denver International Airport.

This course was filmed live as part of AIA San Francisco’s Integrated Practice series.

Risk Control in Construction Contract Administration

This course will help design professionals better understand and respond to the growing risks entailed in providing construction contract administration (CCA), how better to protect public health, safety and welfare, and compliance with building codes.

The presenter makes a compelling case for why architects and engineers must serve as both a risk manager and a project manager, and provides an easy-to-follow approach to controlling risks in a manner that enhances service effectiveness.

Viewers will gain valuable insights into how best to identify CCA areas of vulnerability, improve their ability to develop risk averse CCA procedures, and expand their skills in persuading owners to share in the numerous risks inherent in CCA.

Drawing the Line: Monitoring the Contractor’s Work Plan

This course will help design professionals understand a contractor’s exclusive responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing the construction work, and will describe the indicators that are evident when a contractor’s work plan is executed effectively.

Course takers will develop a better understanding of the need for dialogue, and the tools to initiate and improve communication, amongst all team members, pertaining to contractor work coordination activities.

With a wry sense of humor, the presenter discusses how to review and respond to construction coordination drawings, clarifications sketches, submittals and mock-ups, and provides valuable insights that will help guide pre-installation conferences and enforce contract requirements.

Growing a Small Firm: Marketing

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on marketing and business development.

Through their passion, collaborative perspectives and willingness to step outside of their comfort zones, each of the presenters built highly successful design firms. This course captures their insights and provides invaluable advice to professionals who have recently branched out on their own and those considering starting their own firm.

Although the panelists practice in small firms, their insights will apply to practitioners interested in growing a firm of any size and to emerging professionals of any discipline.

Growing a Small Firm: Public Design Opportunities

Garnering widely sought after public-sector projects can be daunting for a small or growing firm. By the time you arrive at a pre-proposal conference amidst a sea of other qualified firms, the opportunities to differentiate your firm and eventually sway a selection committee are already slim. You look around at your colleagues, many from firms much larger than yours, listen to the qualification criteria, and eventually ask yourself, Why am I spending my valuable time and limited resources chasing this project..

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion captures the insights and advice of owner representatives responsible for hiring and working with small firms on small- and large-scale public projects. The panelists are remarkably candid in describing how to gain market intelligence on upcoming projects, what happens behind the scenes in selection deliberations, and what strategies resonate most during selection interviews.

Although the panelists practice in small firms, their insights will apply to practitioners interested in growing a firm of any size and to emerging professionals of any discipline.

Growing a Small Firm: Elevating the Role of Women

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on the challenges women face in elevating their roles as design professionals, navigating work/life challenges, and competing against other accomplished professionals within the male-dominated professions of architecture, landscape architecture and construction.

As panelist Marsha Maytum, FAIA, stated, "It's a matter of being able to find your voice in that group and feel of equal value."

The four women panelists, each of whom has found her voice and successfully navigated her way to an influential position, offer candid advice to both genders about work/life balance, finding the right mentor and partners, publicizing your achievements, establishing yourself on a construction site, and staying true to your passions.

Although the four panelists practice in small firms, their insights will apply to women in any size firm and to emerging professionals of any discipline.

Growing a Small Firm: Teaming with Larger Firms

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on how small firms can broaden their skills and obtain larger commissions by teaming with larger firms.

The panelists, based on decades of experience teaming with larger firms, offer candid advice about how to identify the right firms with whom to team, which projects are most appropriate for teaming, how to align cultures, how to make a smaller firm attractive to larger firms, how to navigate potential problems, what to consider when allocating scope and fees, and, of equal importance, when to run away from a teaming opportunity.

Their insights will help your firm form valuable relationships and deliver better projects while saving you countless sleepless nights.

Growing a Small Firm: Diversifying Your Practice and Entering New Markets

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on how small firms can diversify their practices and effectively enter new markets.

The panelists, based on decades of experience, provide pointed advice about how to effectively identify new marketing opportunities, build a brain trust, leverage technology and social media, partner and joint venture with other firms, and overcome marketing barriers unique to small and growing firms. Their insights will help you broaden your firm’s base, gain entry into highly desirable market sectors and appeal to a growing list of clients.

The panelists bring experience from small, medium and large firms, and their insights will apply to practitioners interested in growing a firm of any size and to emerging professionals of any discipline.

Growing a Small Firm: Creating Successful Partnerships

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on how small firms how small firms can benefit from teaming with other small firms.

The panelists, each from small architectural firms that have successfully navigated the often long and ambitious journey of partnering with other small firms, discuss: how to become more viable for projects by partnering with other small firms; how partnering can help your firm diversify its services, project types and geographic reach; how to present your team to prospective clients and communicate your team’s value proposition; and why developing a familiarity and clarifying your roles and responsibilities are essential when partnering with other firms.

Growing a Small Firm: Online Media and Social Networking

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on how small firms can use online media and social networking to gain valuable exposure in the digital world.

From their experience as writers and communication consultants, the panelists discuss why compelling and relevant narratives are essential when approaching a writer or publisher, why small firms should establish multiple digital and personal touch points, why good photography is critical for getting published and driving traffic to your website, and even why relentless self-promotion is so important in today’s digital age.

Growing a Small Firm: Developing Your Identity and Building Your Reputation

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco as part of its Growing a Small Firm series moderated by Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, this 90-minute panel discussion focuses on how small firms can effectively develop their identity, brand their business and build a solid reputation.

The panel of communications experts and architects, each of who has created their own strong identities, offer candid advice about defining and building your firm’s reputation, the benefits of communicating your values and distinct personality, the importance of establishing your authenticity through word of mouth and in-person contact, and why focusing on your clients’ goals and seeking their advice is essential for developing and communicating your identity.

Metropolis Think Tank: Sasaki – Campus + Workplace

This 75-minute panel discussion features international planning and design firm Sasaki Associates, campus planning directors from Tufts University and Dartmouth College, and a leading technology consultant.

Susan S. Szenasy, Publisher/Editor in Chief of Metropolis, deftly moderates this diverse panel of professionals as they reflect how designs need to adapt to the rapid pace of change, and why focusing less adaptability over permanence to a richer experience. They share insights on new ways of data-gathering and analysis; outcome-based parameters; ecosystem design; and campus planning trends.

Metropolis Think Tank: CBT – Mixed-Use Development

Join Metropolis Publisher/Editor in Chief Susan S. Szenasy as she moderates a lively 75-minute conversation with CBT, an international architecture, interior and urban design firm, about the design of flexible, adaptable and livable workplaces in this increasingly mobile and high-tech world.

The panelists discuss: their collaborations on smart blocks and on innovative mixed use and office projects; the importance of the ground floor and public spaces; CBT's visioning lab; and the difficulties in achieving more earth-friendly and humanistic work environments.

Metropolis Think Tank: EYP – Maker Culture on the Campus

In this 90-minute panel discussion, design professionals from EYP and clients from institutions of higher learning join Metropolis Publisher/Editor in Chief Susan S. Szenasy to discuss how maker spaces are changing the cultures and teaching styles on higher education campuses.

Panelists discuss how colleges and universities are accommodating a new style of teaching that promotes hands-on learning and a desire to work together that's not served by traditional classrooms and lecture halls. They share insights about enhancing collaboration, mitigating safety concerns in maker spaces, and selecting materials that promote health and sustainability.

Metropolis Think Tank: Gensler – Lifelong Learning

Thought leaders from Gensler's San Francisco office, MKThink and California College of the Arts join Susan S. Szenasy, Publisher/Editor in Chief of Metropolis, in this high-energy 110-minute panel discussion.

With a dash of irreverence, the panelists discuss crossing education's traditional boundaries with new hybrid approaches that include: greater connectivity and inter-disciplinary programs; a balance of technological and in-the-flesh presence, thematically based delivery of content within spaces; and biophilia design.

Metropolis Think Tank: HDR & AMA – Healthcare

In this 70-minute panel discussion, thought leaders from HDR's Chicago office and from the American Medical Association join Susan S. Szenasy, Publisher/Editor in Chief of Metropolis, to discuss new technologies and ideas that altering the healthcare landscape. The panelists passionately share their commitment to designing facilities and experiences emanating from a patient- and community-centered focus.

Topics include: designing and recalibrating healthcare campuses that aid in the entire healing process; connecting physicians to each other and to patients through innovative technologies; and how designers and healthcare professionals can work in tandem to develop cutting-edge solutions to vexing healthcare challenges.

Metropolis Think Tank: HDR & Kaiser Permanente – Wellness vs Healthcare

Susan S. Szenasy, Publisher/Editor in Chief of Metropolis, moderates this revealing 90-minute conversation with leaders from HDR and from healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente as they discuss overcoming challenges of moving healthcare towards the business of wellness and keeping people healthy.

The panelists illustrate how the design and building of healthcare facilities can better emphasize connections to both community and nature, empower patients with choices, create collaborative workspaces, and incorporate experiences from the retail industry to create facilities that are innovative in layout, look and intent.

Active Design 1: Creating Active Cities Through Design

Can transformations in the built environment inspire people to be more physically active and make our communities healthier? According to a growing body of research, the answer is yes. New York City’s Active Design Guidelines translates this knowledge into concrete strategies for a healthier, more sustainable future. Architects, designers, planners, developers, and operations managers can adapt the Guidelines to their own projects to promote physical activity and help counteract the most pressing health epidemics of our time – obesity and its related chronic diseases. Active Design 101 is a 1-hour presentation that will provide an overview of the connections between health and design of the built environment; cover the urban design and building-scale strategies included in the Guidelines; and explore the synergies between Active Design, environmental sustainability and universal accessibility. More information, including a free electronic copy of the Active Design Guidelines, can be found at www.nyc.gov/adg.

Active Design 2: Creating Healthy Places Through Design

New York City’s award-winning Active Design Guidelines (www.nyc.gov/adg) offer a manual of strategies for creating healthier buildings, streets, and urban spaces, based on the latest academic research and best practices in the field. Active Design 201 is the second in a two-part series about how architects, designers, planners, developers, and other built environment professionals can encourage physical activity and improve access to healthy foods and beverages through design strategies. This one-hour session will cover in greater depth the Building Design chapter of the Active Design Guidelines, the new LEED Design for Health through Increased Physical Activity Innovation Credit, and several case studies of architecture projects that implemented the Guidelines’ strategies.

Aging in Place(s): Designs for Senior Living

As the baby boomers turn 65 and populations around the world continue to age, supportive living environments for seniors are receiving increased design attention. This presentaton shows how innovative examples of building designs for seniors from the United States, Europe and Asia enables seniors to lead productive and creative lives in environments that allow them to age in place with independence and dignity. This course also describes the aging-related issues that design professionals need to consider to enter a growing market sector.

Historic Preservation of Modern Architecture

The postwar period, 1945 through 1980, produced buildings that are now old enough and sufficiently significant to warrant thoughtful preservation. This 75-minute course offers insight into the unique challenges of preserving postwar modern architecture, differing significantly from preserving buildings from an earlier period. Viewers will gain an understanding of the philosophical and technical complexities of preservation efforts for the sheer number of buildings to be considered.

Navigating the COVID-19 Economy: Insights from Firm Leaders

This course is provided FREE courtesy of Strogoff Consulting and does not qualify for AIA Learning Units.

On April 22, 2020, 10 leaders from some of our nation's most respected firms shared their insights about how to effectively respond to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. This 75-minute panel discussion provides specific recommendations for your firm to put into motion.

Among the topics:
• What is the biggest challenge your firm is now facing?
• What has your firm learned about working remotely and how are clients responding?
• How do you maintain a collaborative culture and approach to projects?
• How are you keeping employees engaged?
• How are clients responding to your firm working remotely?
• If billable work declines, what staff initiatives might keep staff busy?
• How do we avoid losing another generation of architects
• How do you think this new normal might change how we operate as a profession?

Starting Your Own Firm

Find out whether you have the skills, personality and stomach to start your own firm as you watch this 90-minute panel discussion featuring five principals of renowned architecture and design firms.

Filmed live at AIA San Francisco, each panelist provides insights and invaluable lessons from years filled with joy and anguish. This inspiring and eye-opening conversation offers candid advice and practical tips on everything from building a portfolio and branding a firm to managing cash flow, motivating staff and responding to relentless client demands. This course should be on the "essential viewing" list for anyone thinking about starting an architecture or design firm.

Financial Management: Introduction for Design Professionals

This distilled 60-minute course provides an overview of financial management for anyone involved in managing or leading an architecture, engineering or design firm. Course takers will learn basic accounting and financial management terminology and the difference between cash and accrual reporting, be able to dispel myths that keep firms from becoming more profitable, understand a Chart of Accounts and basic financial management reports, gain an overview of the financial management cycle, and set financial performance goals.

The presenters, Rena Klein, FAIA, and Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, consult with design professionals nationwide about financial management, and are skilled in distilling financial knowledge and concepts into bite-size pieces that position firm leaders to make strategic operational decisions.

This course dispels myths that have haunted design professionals since the days of Michelangelo.

Financial Management: Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPFIs)

The second course of this series takes a deeper dive into Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPFIs), which will enable anyone involved in managing or leading an architecture, engineering or design firm to track and act on key metrics. Course takers will learn how to calculate seven KPFIs and apply them to calculate net billing multipliers and hourly billing rates and quickly analyze how their firm is performing. Viewers will also learn how to develop project fee budgets and avoid common pitfalls.

The presenters, Rena Klein, FAIA, and Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, consult with design professionals nationwide about financial management, and are skilled in distilling financial knowledge and concepts into bite-size pieces that position firm leaders to make strategic operational decisions.

If you ever had any doubts about your firm’s Net Effective Multiplier, this course is a MUST SEE!.