Thursday, January 8, 2026  |  2-3pm ET

Federal student loan policy plays a significant role in shaping access to architectural education, early-career financial stability, and long-term workforce sustainability within the profession. As federal policies evolve, architects, firm leaders, and educators must understand how changes to borrowing limits, degree classifications, and repayment programs affect students, employees, and hiring pipelines. This course provides a comprehensive overview of current federal student loan structures and recent policy changes, with specific focus on their relevance to architectural education and practice. Participants will examine how these changes influence affordability of professional degrees, repayment strategies for existing borrowers, and firm-level considerations related to recruitment, retention, and career advancement. While individual loan counseling is outside the scope of this session, attendees will leave with a clear framework for evaluating impacts and identifying reliable resources for further guidance.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026  |  3-4pm ET

Discover the advantages of integrating 100% offsite fabricated and custom- designed stainless steel railing systems in your architectural projects. When compared to local fabrication, 100% custom-prefabrication of railing systems not only dramatically improves product quality, regardless the number of project phases, it also reduces product cost, and streamlines the fabrication and installation processes. Due to its durability, recyclability, and resistance to corrosion, stainless steel is the preferred choice for products and structures that require little maintenance and long lifespan. In this presentation you will learn how architects, designers, and engineers can reduce overall project cost and improve project outcomes by specifying architectural products which have been custom-designed to precisely fit each project, and then prefabricated to completion offsite.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026  |  3-4pm ET

AI is all the rage in today’s design firms, but many jump into the deep end without regard for the security and veracity of their source data. Further, many firms still separate their design technology and IT teams—despite their sharing of critical data. In this session, we will explore today’s cloud, cybersecurity, and AI landscape in AEC, highlight the risks of inadequate preparation for AI, provide guidelines for establishing a firm-wide digital foundation, and share a simple framework for evaluating AI tools and platforms you may be considering for your practice.

Thursday, February 19, 2026  |  2-3pm ET

Join AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, and AIA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Carole Wedge, FAIA,  for our quarterly conversation about the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI). The ABI is a leading monthly economic indicator that uses proprietary AIA data to predict nonresidential construction activity 9–12 months ahead. Get ahead of emerging challenges and opportunities and inform your strategic planning with key insights into the industry’s latest economic data and trends.

This program will feature a panel discussion with authors of Prospering in the US - A Handbook for Immigrant Architects, a comprehensive guide published by the Immigrant Architect Coalition in 2024. This session will offer invaluable insights into navigating the architectural profession in the United States for immigrant architects. Panelists, who are themselves successful immigrant architects and designers, will share their experiences and practical advice on topics ranging from cultural acclimation to career development. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn directly from the contributors of this essential resource, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities unique to immigrant architects seeking to build thriving and inclusive careers in the US. This program builds upon the mission of the Immigrant Architects Coalition to support their fellow immigrant architects through shared knowledge and mentorship.

This session was recorded live on July 10, 2025.

As remote work transforms the commercial real estate landscape, architects face unprecedented opportunities to address the affordable housing crisis through innovative adaptive reuse strategies. This course explores how underutilized office buildings in suburban markets can be transformed into vibrant residential communities. Our expert panel will examine current office vacancy trends and their implications for conversion opportunities, while diving deep into practical design strategies that navigate stringent zoning challenges and building code adaptations essential for structural health and safety. Participants will discover the complexities of adapting essential infrastructure, particularly the requirements for updating mechanical, electric, and plumbing systems to ensure adequate sanitation. These design challenges also include addressing issues such as the potential need for seismic retrofits in certain areas and determining the usability of existing structures, such as existing circulation and floor slabs. Beyond addressing housing shortages, these conversions offer substantial environmental benefits by extending building lifecycles and reducing construction waste. Join us to explore cutting-edge approaches that transform vacant commercial spaces into thriving residential neighborhoods while supporting sustainable development goals.

This session was recorded live on December 9, 2025.

This session explores the vital role of sound in shaping healthy, sustainable, and inspiring built environments. Drawing on research in indoor environmental quality (IEQ), behavioral science, and biophilic design, it examines how acoustic design influences human well-being, productivity, and social connection. Participants will discover how to integrate acoustics seamlessly with aesthetics, using evidence-based strategies and real-world case studies to create spaces that are not only visually compelling but also sonically supportive.

This session was recorded live on October 28, 2025.

Balancing professional demands with caregiving responsibilities remains a significant challenge in the architecture industry, often impacting employee well-being, retention, and firm culture. This strain on employees threatens the consistency and quality of professional service required to uphold the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants. This session explores how architecture firms can better support parents and caregivers through thoughtful policies and inclusive practices. Panelists will share key findings drawn from in-person workshops and conversations with professionals across the industry, revealing the lived experiences of caregivers and highlighting the gaps in current workplace support. Attendees will be introduced to the adaptive framework recommendations and practical tools aimed at fostering a more equitable and sustainable work environment—a necessary foundation for architecture professionals to focus adequately on design excellence and public safety.

This session was recorded live on December 4, 2025.

Propel your practice’s success with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence—the defining 10 principles of design excellence in the 21st century. In this introductory course, you will learn the origin, evolution, and significance of each of the framework’s principles and examine how they advance progress toward a zero-carbon, healthy, just, resilient, and equitable built environment. Learn from real-world case studies showcasing successful implementations across diverse firms and project types. Plus, you’ll learn how to navigate the valuable online resources for each of the 10 principles to use in your design process for future projects. Course expires on 2/04/2027

Changing access and supervision requirements are beginning to challenge the traditional norm of designing segregated, gender-specific restrooms and locker rooms for K–12 schools. Inclusive facilities offer a more humane and dignified approach to the traditional toileting and locker room experience. Learn the benefits and practicalities of designing inclusive restrooms and locker rooms—highlighting their role in promoting equity, accessibility, efficiency, and student health.  Understand how inclusive facilities can reduce bullying, enhance privacy, and improve overall student safety and well-being. Gain practical tools to navigate conversations with community stakeholders, code officials, administrators, staff, families, and students—ensuring a smooth transition to more inclusive environments in K–12 schools. AIA Best Practices Guide To learn more about inclusive and universal restroom and locker room design in K-12 schools, read the AIA Guide on Inclusive restrooms & locker rooms in K-12 schools by Cheryl Jacobs, AIA, Greg Louviere, AIA, & Benjamin Fields, AIA, published June 2024. This session was recorded live on August 29, 2024.  Course expires 6/14/2027

Join us to hear from the AIA national advocacy team as they explain the structure and timeline of the federal budget process, including how appropriations affect architecture and vertical infrastructure programs. This course will highlight why the federal budget matters to architects and designers, and discuss how architects can engage in the budget cycle and support advocacy efforts. Discover how to connect federal spending priorities to opportunities and challenges facing the built environment and the profession. By translating complex fiscal policy into clear, actionable insights, this course aims to empower practitioners to anticipate funding trends, align services with public investment priorities, and engage in effective advocacy. 

Take your architecture career to the next level with our 3-course package designed for architects aspiring to step into leadership roles or elevate their impact within their firms. This specially curated bundle provides the tools, strategies, and insights to shape you into a leader who can inspire, motivate, and drive team success. 

Improve your understanding of the fundamental business concepts in architecture and design. Learn the significance of business acumen in your professional journey and gain insights into how you can use it to have the greatest impact on your career. Dive into the current and historic internal and external business dynamics—from organizational culture to economic conditions—shaping architecture and design firms to establish a crucial foundation for making informed and strategic decisions.

Learn the essential skills and insights needed to develop effective team leadership and cultivate positive team dynamics. Understand the six essential characteristics of team excellence that distinguish high-performing teams from average ones so you can analyze individual roles and nurture the key traits that drive successful teamwork. Plus, dive into the major impact employee engagement can have on team performance—learning actionable strategies to boost engagement and motivation among your team. Assess the influence of team dynamics on productivity and performance and acquire practical techniques to optimize these dynamics, ensuring that your team works cohesively towards shared goals. Course expires 04/06/2027

Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? In this interactive course, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the core leadership principles needed to become an effective leader in any organization. Explore various leadership styles, including autocratic, democratic, transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire, and discover the situations when each style is most suitable. You'll also learn the key elements for creating a leadership vision statement that motivates and drives your team and/or organization. Get actionable insights to enhance your leadership skills with six proven practices to propel you toward becoming a more effective leader. Whether you're a seasoned leader seeking to refine your abilities or an aspiring leader ready to take your first step, this course will empower you to become a more confident leader capable of inspiring, motivating, and driving positive change. Unlock your potential on your path to leadership excellence.

In today’s competitive and turbulent marketplace, it can be a challenge for design firms to reach and maintain sustained growth. That’s why developing your firm’s strategic planning and learning new growth strategies is vital to your firm’s success. In this course, you will learn about the strategic planning process and explore growth strategies such as market development, diversification, and strategic alliances. You’ll also understand how to incorporate the components of the business model canvas into your decision-making to develop and implement effective strategic plans that drive firm growth.  

Get an in-depth overview of the accessibility requirements for new and existing buildings and learn how to avoid common compliance issues.  

Take your design practice to the next level and make a measurable impact on the planet. Designing for Decarbonization is a five-part learning series that equips architects and design professionals with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to take meaningful action on climate change—turning sustainable vision into practical, measurable results.  From understanding the built environment’s role in global emissions to applying cutting-edge, data-driven tools to enhance energy performance, this series delivers practical guidance you can apply immediately. Explore real-world examples, technical insights, and actionable design approaches to reduce both embodied and operational carbon, integrate passive and high-performance strategies, and make informed design decisions with energy modeling.  Whether you’re advancing firm-wide sustainability goals or sharpening your personal expertise, this series provides the skills, insight, and leadership strategies to design buildings that perform better, last longer, and contribute positively to the planet. 

Architects have a critical role to play in preparing communities for disasters. In this 3-course series, learn how you can use your skills to support communities before and after a disaster. Discover innovative approaches and best practices to safeguard structures and minimize the devastating effects of floods. Explore the trends and projections that highlight the growing frequency and complexity of cascading and compounding disasters, and gain insights into the implications for disaster preparedness and response efforts. Learn how you can contribute to enhancing equitable outcomes by actively involving community members, considering their unique perspectives and needs, and designing resilient and inclusive spaces. Presented in partnership with the AIA National Disaster Assistance Program (DAC).

Upholding ethical obligations to clients and fellow professionals is the cornerstone of a successful architecture practice. These essential courses will reinforce your ethics knowledge and skills, helping you effectively navigate ethical dilemmas. Explore the foundations of client-professional relationships with a focus on the importance of ethical standards and legal requirements and steering clear of conflicts of personal gain.  Learn how the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct can assist in attaining individual and organizational objectives while safeguarding the public's health, safety, and welfare. Review anti-discrimination laws and specific sections within the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct that underscore the critical need to prevent harassment and discrimination, especially concerning protected characteristics Learn strategies for preventing and addressing harassment and discrimination, such as cultivating a respectful workplace culture, establishing clear policies, and providing education on diversity and inclusion Save up to 15% when you purchase the bundle.