Have you ever thought about how buildings are like humans? For humans to function properly a complex set of body systems have to integrate and work together as a whole. Our bodies must be able to respond and adapt to changing internal and external conditions, produce and efficiently use onsite energy, be resilient and even age gracefully. The approach to Whole Building Design treats buildings as if they were bodies that require an integrated team approach to design and develop coordinated systems to achieve sustainability, energy efficiency and true universal accessibility. This course will look at some successful and not so successful design approaches to integrating and powering the body of a truly universal building to create healthy structures, happier clients and a better world for everyone.
This two-hour course reviews significant updates in the 2023 8th Edition Florida Building Code, Florida Residential Code, and Florida Existing Building Code. Participants will explore key sections with exact code text and commentary for practical context. The course also covers how key changes relate to other code sections. Upon completion, participants will understand the 2023 code changes and their impact on public safety and the built environment.
Join us to learn about ethics for design professionals through a series of ethical problems and potential resolutions. This course explores the standards and codes of professional responsibility as set forth in the ethical codes of AIA, ASID, IIDA as well as federal and state laws. The presentation also explores the analysis and evaluation of ethical dilemmas, the roles of professional organizations, and state agencies in the regulation of the behavior of design professionals, and their relationship with consumers.
In this dynamic 2-hour session, you’ll explore how to design buildings and spaces that prioritize both human wellbeing and climate resilience—without compromise. Through global case studies, practical frameworks, and interactive discussion, you’ll gain tools to create architecture that enhances occupant health, ensures environmental safety, and fosters long-term community welfare. You will gain a clear understanding of how to integrate human-centered and climate-centered design into your projects. This course empowers you to challenge false trade-offs, work more ethically, and design with care for both people and the planet, leading to an impact-driven and future-ready practice.
Holistic is a word that is being applied to many industries, ranging from yoga retreats to healthcare, and now to Architecture and Design. It is the belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and everything is interconnected. Thinking holistically about design, means considering the mental, physical and emotional impact of the design on the user as well as the environmental and global impact on the planet.
This course explores global programs that help foster holistic thinking as well as projects that exhibit this thinking. Holistic Architecture and Design is complex, multifaceted and achievable, going beyond form and function to improve wellness for individuals, society and the planet.
