This course provides an overview of the important factors - such as building codes, safety of use and fall protection, material selection, secure installation methods, and design - that must be considered when selecting or specifying a railing system for a commercial or residential project.

A tour of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia reveals Antoni Gaudí’s design links to sustainability through integration of natural lighting principals, natural ventilation, Integrated design, and borrowing freely from natural structures. One AIA LU/HSW credit will be awarded for touring Gaudí’s Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain with a licensed tour guide provided by The Barcelona Guide Bureau. Tours are one hour long, after which you are welcome to stay and enjoy exploring the building on your own.Tour tickets (the majority of which constitute a donation to the construction of the Basilica) may be purchased through the link provided. A 5% discount is offered on all tickets purchased through TCA when you use the promotional code “TCABarcelona”. TCA is not benefitting financially from this offer. Tours of additional sites in Barcelona are also available through the Barcelona Guide Bureau at http://www.barcelonaguidebureau.com/daily-tours/ To gain a discount for private or group tours, please mention TCA. To claim your credit simply send us your contact information, along with confirmation of your ticketing (ticket info, receipt, or scan) to TCABarcelona@thecontinuingarchitect.com and we will provide you with a certificate and, if you’re an AIA member, we’ll report your credits to AIA on your behalf.

(Please note: The Study Guide consists of ADA Standards as published by the Department of Justice and includes dimensional and installation washroom elements that may not be included in the video. It is intended to be a part of the course. Please download upon enrolling.)

"Accessibility Disconnects in Washroom Design presented by ASI Group in HD video explores various compliance requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act related to commercial restroom design and provides examples of correct and incorrect usage and placement of various restroom fixtures and accessories. Upon viewing this course a student will have a much clearer understanding of ADA requirements for commercial restrooms and how these requirements help to improve the quality of life for the elderly and disabled."

This course identifies and describes three available roof drain systems including siphonic drain systems. Siphonic theory is explored to better illustrate how siphonic roof drains uniquely operate and the many benefits siphonic drainage systems provide, including those directly related to sustainability. Participants also learn how to specify a siphonic roof drain system and are introduced to important rules for successful siphonic drain system design. (Course includes a downloadable PDF study guide.)

This course explains why severe weather events are causing designs, standards, and codes to be revisited. Resiliency in architecture is explained and the reasons resilient buildings suffer less downtime and provide improved performance under extreme conditions are enumerated. While resilience generally means better prepared for adverse conditions and better able to handle and survive them, this course will drill down into the many facets of resilience that include planning and material selection, to provide a better understanding of performance of materials and systems under stress.

AIA Course Code PacClad2018-D

For the good of your practice: This lively video features construction marketing expert Jim Nowakowski discussing how your design/architectural service can get a better understanding of the market today in view of ongoing "Digital Disruption." The course will give you a better understanding of the tools available to help keep your services relevant, and of your own value in the scheme of business today.

The program will discuss how architects and designers can get a better understanding of the market today in regards to developing a strategic plan. Attendees will ascertain a clearer perception on how to respond to market challenges based on the overall business strategies developed.

Designing commercial buildings requires that high performance becomes married with great aesthetics. Increasingly, both must be done while containing the material, labor, and installation costs. One area that has received attention in all of these regards is exterior cladding. While many different choices abound with varying degrees of weight, thickness, and ease of installation one product has emerged as a very appealing solution in many cases. Architectural Wall Panels made from fiber cement have a proven history of allowing architects to create building exteriors that are innovative, affordable, sustainable, and able to create a variety of aesthetic design appearances.

This course, based upon scientific research and emerging medical discovery, illustrates how top daylighting (daylight penetration through the roof) design strategies produce positive biological responses impacting employee health and well-being. Participants will examine how exposure to "skydome dynamic daylight" throughout the workday provides all biologically relevant criteria for positive circadian system impact.

This course will equip participants to compare features, benefits and limitations of particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF) with considerations of product grades and their physical properties for proper end-use selection.