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Stay on top of the industry’s latest topics and trends with free courses from ARCHITECT U (formerly Hanley Wood University), brought to you by the team behind ARCHITECT magazine. Our online courses are created for architects, designers, engineers, builders, and other industry professionals, and are accredited by: AIA, AIA/HSW, ASLA,
GBCI, IDCEC, NAHB, NARI, and NKBA. We report AIA and IDCEC credits on your behalf, as well as provide a certificate of completion.
Findings from the 2023 National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Design Trends Report pointed to the growing importance of function and flexibility in kitchen and overall home design. Homeowners are seeking order, flexibility to accommodate a wider variety of needs, and breathing room in flowing floor plans and outdoor spaces. This course discusses the growing importance of outdoor kitchens, mudrooms, pantries, and spa-like suites, as well as how multigenerational living is changing household structures. The course will demonstrate how these factors are influencing home design and a wide variety of uses for what are traditionally considered “kitchen appliances” but are indeed household appliances that can help add flexibility and function to these spaces.
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Achieving carbon neutrality and protecting the world's water supply are vital to the AEC industry because of the significant impact buildings have on the environment and occupant health. The structures that we live, work, and commune in use a vast amount of the energy and water consumed on the planet for building operations and maintenance.
Over the past two decades more and more organizations, from private companies to federal governments, have taken steps to minimize their impact on the environment and, more recently, on society's wellbeing as a whole. This has been accomplished through sustainable building design, social accountability, and ethical economic practices. This course will discuss a Net Positive approach to design and business operations.
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Designers have a plethora of options when specifying interior surface materials, but one stands out among the crowd, despite being an age-old material: veneer. This course will explore the evolution of veneering from ancient times to today and how factory-crafted veneer cabinetry remains a handcrafted art. We will also discuss design options and performance benefits that this sustainable material of choice offers.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or renovated state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. When designing restrooms, some of each type of accessible plumbing fixture and restroom accessories and their installation location must meet accessibility requirements contained in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Many projects must also follow the provisions of the 2017 Edition of the ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Standard.
As states adopt the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) into their states’ building code, the ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible Standards will become effective for existing and new buildings. Forty-six states follow the ICC A117.1-2017 Standards (all but California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Texas; who harmonize with the ADA Standards). Additionally, states such as California have accessible requirements that vary from the ADA standards and are more stringent providing greater access.
In this course, we will cover the 2010 ADA and the ICC A117.1-2017 accessibility standards. We will also point out where and how the states including California, Florida and Minnesota building codes differ from the ADA and the ICC A117.1-2017 standards. It is important that you always check the accessibility standards that apply to your project’s location.
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While most kitchens do have ventilation systems, homeowners often don’t use them properly and aren’t aware of how quickly cooking can negatively impact a home’s indoor air quality. This course discusses that impact and how proper specification of ventilation systems can significantly improve indoor air quality to protect occupant health and safeguard a home’s fixtures and furnishings from detrimental grease and odors. We will cover how to achieve proper sizing and positioning of a ventilation system, design and customization options, as well as projects where ventilation systems were used to maximize style and safety in residential kitchens.
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Minimalism is a philosophy of simplicity that’s taken off since the pandemic. More homeowners are demanding minimalist kitchen designs, but what does that mean – and what does it look like? This course will explore the concepts of minimalism and minimalist design, trends shaping modern kitchen design and use, and how minimalist design can be used to increase and improve the functionality of the kitchen. Finally, learners will review the role of luxury appliances in a minimalist kitchen and how to specify appliances to meet changing consumer needs.
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According to the CDC, well-being integrates mental health (mind) and physical health (body) resulting in more holistic approaches to disease prevention and health promotion. Wellness has suffered greatly during the pandemic, with an increasing number of adults reporting a struggle with mental health or substance abuse. This underscores a holistic sense of wellness via occupational, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional fulfillment.
This course will discuss how water-based treatments such as hydrotherapy, heat therapy, and chromotherapy promote wellness and how designers can use freestanding bathtubs to create an at-home wellness experience for their clients. Trends in self-care and wellness experiences will be covered, as will features and specification considerations for freestanding bathtubs.
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Aging is traditionally seen as a negative experience fraught with challenges and limitations. Baby Boomers are changing that narrative and reshaping what it means to age for themselves and future generations. With this shift comes a heightened sense of health, wellness, and desire to stay at home — to live in place. To accomplish that, architects and designers must approach adaptive kitchens to suit the changing needs of older adults as well as multigenerational users. This course will examine active aging; adaptive kitchen design; and connected, smart appliances that are as high-performance as they are functional. The CEU qualifies for continuing education credits that count toward the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB’s) Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential.
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