Designing with Pre-Crimped Woven Wire Mesh is a streaming video course that explores interior and exterior applications and functions for woven metal mesh products in architectural design. The course examines key functions of these materials, details the manufacturing process, and outlines critical specification considerations to ensure beautiful and long lasting installations.

Inverters are a modern, simple way to achieve an emergency lighting solution while minimizing maintenance costs and utilizing existing architectural fixtures for emergency purposes. This course will give the student the skills they require to design and specify inverter-based emergency lighting systems.

This course will discuss light pollution and its relation to the International Dark-Sky Association. After taking this course, individuals will know the impacts of light pollution as well as the difference between IDA and non-IDA lighting.

At the end of this course, participants will learn:

1. To define IDA, light pollution, and related terms
2. To identify the impacts of light pollution
3. To demonstrate the difference between IDA and non-IDA lighting
4. To assess the process of establishing IDA certification

This course aims to help educate the designer about what performance fabrics are, the content of various fabrics, how they work, and the benefits to a sustainable design in meeting and maximizing your goals of occupant health, safety, well-being, and sustainability. Windows, views, and openings in buildings present the classic battle between form and function. The designer naturally wants the building’s occupants to enjoy views and light, but the solar heat gain from these openings can wreak havoc on sustainable goals. Sophisticated and high-performing solar control fabrics can help reconcile the form and function of light, views, and sustainability.

HSW Justification: Substantially all of this course is dedicated to a discussion of the health, safety and welfare aspects of performance fabrics through their appropriate specification, their fabrics' chemical composition, their proper use, their ability to meet safety and performance standards, and their aesthetic contribution.

Learning Objective 1: The student will learn how to analyze shading fabrics for solar light management including energy reduction, glare and outward visibility, using published shading coefficient data.

Learning Objective 2: The student will be able to list certification requirements for indoor air quality, anti-bacterial protection, flame retardancy, and environmental regulations.

Learning Objective 3: The student will be able to identify fabric composition options with an emphasis on sustainable design.

Learning Objective 4: The student will be able to apply their knowledge of performance fabric features to unique, real-world applications in healthcare, hospitality, government, business, and residential projects.

Program: Landscape Environmental Design

This course will describe the replica Green Wall Trend, that is the use of biomimicry in artificial plants in interior and exterior green wall systems. The trend toward biomimicry is driven by low cost, low maintenance, very high quality plant substitutes, and no water, light, power or HVAC resource requirements. Yet, Replica installations provide the same aesthetic and evoke the same desirable biophilic responses as live plants.

HSW Justification:
Replica Green Walls have all the biophilic benefits of green walls, such as promoting healing, reducing anxiety, and attenuating noise. Replica green wall spaces are especially conducive to gathering and can foster community, encourage group meeting and communication, and promote human interaction. In addition, they have added sustainability benefits by eliminating regular maintenance, the need for water for irrigation, or the need for electrical energy for light, or the need for electrical and/or natural gas for heating or cooling.

Learning Objective 1:
Students will be able to define a Replica Green Wall and describe its benefits and advantages

Learning Objective 2:
Students will be able to identify and describe the quality indicators in a green wall, including the types of systems available, the types of foliage available, and the areas of research and development underway.

Learning Objective 3:
Students will be able to describe appropriate applications for a replica green wall.

Learning Objective 4:
Students will be able to list in detail the various methods of installation.

Note: The Continuing Architect is permitting the brand name of this product to be mentioned because it was the only product of its type and is patent pending.

This course provides fundamental information about Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology while overviewing three different application projects that feature the design flexibility, efficiency and owner benefits of specifying VRF systems.

This course will teach students how to recognize non-compliant rooftop equipment support scenarios and will discuss their impact on safety and the public health, general welfare, and property value.

This course will introduce you to the custom balanced door. You will learn about the system components and the differences between a Balanced door and a conventional hinged or pivoted swing door. Then we'll take a closer look at how a balanced door works in an installation. Finally you'll learn about the specific engineering requirements needed to accommodate balanced doors.

HSW Justification:
Balanced doors are safer than conventional doors because they require a smaller interference zone on the sidewalk. Also, they open with ease which benefits smaller people, weak or disabled persons, and the elderly. The majority of this course deals with those benefits and with the mechanical features of the door that make these health and safety benefits possible.

Learning Objective 1:
Understand the differences between the balanced door and a conventional hinged or pivoted swing door

Learning Objective 2:
Know specific requirements for ADA handicap guidelines LO 5: Understand how the balanced door interfaces with power operation LO 6: Understand specific engineering requirements to accommodate balanced doors

Learning Objective 3:
Understand what components make up a typical balanced door system

Learning Objective 4:
Know how the design concept works in an actual installation

Beauty, functionality, and wellness-enhancing can co-exist in design, with the right products. This article explores solutions that help architects achieve these important multi-benefits. Pavers that create beautiful outdoor spaces that are easy to maintain. Skylights that allow daylight and fresh air into the interior. Underlayment that improves acoustics and sound management, while protecting the integrity of the interior air quality. Each improves the functionality of the space and the wellness of the people in the built environment.

This course is designed to introduce the architect to emergency lights. These lights are meant to be selected and installed according to specific standards established by building codes. Additionally, once installed, these systems must be tested to assure their efficacy in case of an emergency. How to select and specify the appropriate markers and the technological solutions available, as well as testing methods, will all be covered in this course.

HSW Justification:
The selection and implementation of a proper emergency lighting program is essential to the life safety of a building's occupants.

Learning Objective 1:
The student will understand egress signage obligations as imposed through building codes and standards.

Learning Objective 2:
The student will further understand the various technologies available to address those signage codes and standards.

Learning Objective 3:
The student will learn what the requirements are to conduct on-going testing of egress systems after installation.