The impending climate crisis casts a looming shadow over our planet, and the responsibility to avert catastrophe falls upon us all. Design professionals can wield their creative powers to conceive sustainable, resilient, and regenerative solutions before it's too late. Diverting construction waste from landfills and prom...

In a world where climate change rages unchecked, the skies weep acid rain, monstrous storms destroy coastal cities, vibrant communities turn into desert wastelands, millions flee their homes, entire species go extinct, and ecosystems collapse. Renewable energy can play a vital role in addressing these challenges and miti...

Imagine this scenario: skyscrapers that breathe sustainability, neighborhoods that pulsate with community vibrancy, and cities that hum with innovation. This is the future we envision. Through a captivating blend of in-depth case studies, insightful analyses of proven practices, and visionary examination of cutting-edge...

In this course, we describe how design professionals can achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C Sensitive Land Protection credit and reduce environmental impacts for building sites. We review sensitive land areas including wildlife habitat, wetlands, prime farmland, floodplains, and water bodies.

Noise can negatively affect human health and productivity in the workplace. Poor acoustic performance can critically affect learning in schools and impact healing at healthcare facilities. It is imperative that design professionals balance acoustical design strategies when planning systems and indoor spaces. In this pres...

In this course, we explain how to achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C MR: Sourcing of Raw Materials credit and how to specify environmentally friendly building materials. We review FSC certification, recycled content, and how bio-based materials could change the future of construction.

Ever wonder why that fluorescent-lit hallway gives you the creeps? Turns out, millions of people on the internet figured it out. When an anonymous internet post about endless yellow office spaces went viral, it accidentally created one of the largest public engagements with architectural psychology. This course explores...

As severe weather events and rising sea levels threaten to reshape our coastlines and devastate communities, our team discusses cutting-edge strategies to create resilient, sustainable structures that can withstand nature's fury. We explore LEED v4.1's robust framework for climate-adaptive design, exploring innovative te...

A LEED site assessment evaluates environmental features that the design of a sustainable site and building should take into consideration. A well-developed assessment conducted before or during the conceptual design phase may reduce project costs and risks, promote occupants’ health, and honor a site’s unique characteris...

What do a 2,400-year-old philosopher and today’s toughest client meetings have in common? More than you think. In this course, you’ll discover how ancient Greek Cynic philosophy can help you defuse conflict, win over clients, and keep your sustainable design goals on track. Packed with real-world case studies and practic...

Discover a radical new lens on design in this course on material vitalism—an approach that redefines materials not as passive stuff, but as active participants in shaping architecture. We'll explore how matter itself can tell stories, shape experiences, and even guide design choices, from the weathered warmth of timber t...

In this course, we review the intent and applications for prerequisites and credits for the LEED v4.1 BD+C EQ category. We discover strategies to designing healthier spaces by improving indoor environmental quality for occupants. We discuss how indoor environmental quality can improve human health and well-being, worker...

Building occupants who can visually connect with outdoor environments while performing everyday tasks experience greater satisfaction, attentiveness, and productivity. In healthcare facilities, providing patients with views and access to nature can shorten hospital stays and reduce stress, depression, and the use of pain...

Imagine walking through a city where every crack in the sidewalk, every forgotten alleyway, and every hidden elevation tells a story more complex and fascinating than any guidebook could ever reveal. Welcome to the world of deep topography, an interdisciplinary methodology for understanding spatial environments through m...

In this course, we explain how design professionals can achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C Indoor Water Use Reduction Prerequisite. We discuss strategies to help reduce potable water use in buildings such as specifying WaterSense labeled products. In addition, our team discusses challenges regarding the nation’s water supply and...

In this presentation, we explore the WELL Building Standard and how it can advance human health and well-being. WELL v2 is an evidence-based, technically robust, resilient rating system that can help design professionals create inspiring and healthy buildings. Our team discusses the ten concepts of WELL v2 and performanc...

The year is 1414. Europe teeters on the brink of collapse—cities drowning in their own filth, forests stripped bare, ancient wisdom crumbling into superstition. In a forgotten Swiss monastery, a Vatican spy named Poggio Bracciolini makes a discovery that will shake the foundations of civilization. Hidden beneath centurie...