Knowledge is Powers!

This course explores innovative architectural and design strategies for creating open, vibrant, and healthy learning environments in PK12 schools to enhance student well-being and productivity. The course delves into the challenging balance of keeping students and staff safe, through the implementation of advanced safety practices and solutions, while also offering an open and vibrant environment. Finally, the course examines reliable solutions for improving building resilience against environmental threats such as hail, tornadoes, and fire, ensuring safety and sustainability in educational settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Study how architects are creating open, vibrant, and healthy learning spaces using daylight, fresh air, views, and flexible spaces
• Learn how designers and school districts are implementing the latest safety practices, while still achieving open and inviting buildings
• Become familiar with strategies for creating safe, open, and collaborative classroom spaces using automated walls, ballistic and forced entry resistant doors
• Explore solutions designed to increase building resiliency against the threats of hail, tornadoes, and fire risks

Amenity spaces have become an increasingly important element of today’s architectural design for both public and private buildings.  Atriums and amenity spaces support collaboration, openness, access to daylight and the outdoors, and occupant well-being.  In this course, we will explore the benefits of both amenity and atrium spaces and share design examples of successful projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore examples of how both private and public sector building owners are enlivening their facilities through the addition of amenity spaces and atriums and the motivations behind these investments
• Examine various architectural features in these designs that contribute toward sustainability and promote wellness for the building users including connections to outdoor spaces and access to natural daylight
• Understand relevant IBC requirements related to fire and smoke separation and egress that commonly factor into atrium designs and identify various code-compliant solutions to satisfy these unique challenges
• Review common design challenges and architectural solutions to achieve space flexibility in amenity space conference areas including manual and automated operable partitions as well as folding, sliding, and pivoting glass walls

Modern architectural design must balance the aesthetic beauty of natural light with its profound biological and environmental impacts. This course examines the critical link between daylighting and human physiology, specifically focusing on how “useful” natural light regulates the circadian system and sleep-wake cycles. Moving from theory to practice, the session introduces advanced simulation software used to predict daylight levels and evaluate potential glare risks during the design phase. Finally, attendees will learn how to implement design strategies—such as high-performance glazing, skylights, and tubular daylighting devices—to maximize beneficial daylight while successfully mitigating the challenges of thermal gain and visual discomfort.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the physiological effects of useful natural light on the human circadian system and its role in regulating human wellness.
• Identify specific health and productivity outcomes in healthcare, education, and workplace environments linked to daylighting. 
• Learn how advanced software programs can be used as a powerful tool for predicting daylight levels and evaluating harmful glare.
• Implement evidence-based design strategies to maximize useful daylight while mitigating thermal gain and glare.

  Glass operable wall systems offer a multitude of benefits including adaptability, daylighting, energy savings, sustainability, and occupant well-being. These systems optimize the entry of natural light, creating well-lit spaces that positively impact employee well-being, productivity, and satisfaction. This not only reduces energy consumption but also aligns with sustainable design practices. The adaptability of glass wall systems allows for flexible space configurations, accommodating changing needs and promoting a dynamic work environment. Glass wall systems can contribute to LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss how glass operable wall systems can contribute to sustainability, daylighting, energy savings, noise reduction, occupant well-being, and LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C systems
• Compare and contrast glass wall systems and their benefits related to acoustics, adaptability, privacy, egress options, occupant control, and LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C strategies
• Describe how glass wall systems can contribute to LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C credits and foster healthy building materials, thermal comfort, daylighting, acoustics, and occupant health
• Review glass wall system case studies that demonstrate cost-effective and sustainable solutions for multiple applications in various environments

In this seminar, design professionals, general contractors, owners, and facility managers will gain a thorough understanding of the top 5 challenges inherent to flexible spaces and be shown examples of how address them.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the common challenges when designing flexible space such as acoustical performance, structural deflection, optimizing usable space, life safety, and health wellness post pandemic
• To understand the advantages & disadvantages of various solutions in terms of sound isolation, support structure requirements, egress, and space utilization
• To explore the impact to client’s budget and how others saved cost and created long term value for the end user
• To discover how upward thinking solutions can enhance both architectural & user performance with real world examples

The demand for flexible, multi-purpose environments has made operable wall systems a critical component of modern building design. This course provides a comprehensive overview of both interior and exterior operable partitions, detailing how they serve as vital tools for space optimization and biophilic integration. Participants will explore the unique features and functionalities of glass systems—which enhance daylighting and occupant well-being—versus solid walls that offer superior acoustic privacy and structural separation. Using real-world case studies this session visualizes how these dynamic systems can transform static floor plans into adaptable, high-performing spaces.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the variety of interior and exterior operable partitions available and how they differ from one another
• Explore the features and functionality of glass and solid operable walls
• Learn how to specify the best design solution based on your space configuration and acoustic requirements
• Through case studies, visualize how operable wall systems can be used in a variety of environments and different markets

This course explores the technical specifications, architectural applications, and safety considerations of vertical lift door systems for both interior and exterior environments. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanical differences between hydraulic, actuator, strap, counter-weighted, and spring lifting technologies. The presentation evaluates how these systems impact building envelopes, structural requirements, and occupant experience, specifically focusing on space optimization, durability in extreme conditions, and safety. Through case studies, attendees will learn to accurately specify the most appropriate system to meet project-specific performance goals, including thermal efficiency, wind load resistance, and long-term operational safety.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between the five most common systems to determine the most durable and safe operation for specific building occupant needs. 
• Evaluate the structural and electrical requirements for various vertical opening systems and understand their impact on the overall building design and life safety.
• Analyze performance benefits such as thermal insulation, wind load, and acoustical control to ensure compliance with modern energy codes and occupant comfort standards.
• Identify key design and planning criteria—including cladding options, safety sensors, and design aesthetics—to accurately specify high-performance vertical doors that align with project design objectives

This course is designed to provide architects with an understanding of the definitions, continuous capabilities, and advantages of large moveable glass wall systems. It explains the importance of form and function in design, exhibits innovative project ideas, and depicts how glass wall systems can improve an occupant’s safety and health.

Learning Objectives:

• Inform others of the capabilities, usages, and definitions of large moveable glass wall systems
• Exhibit innovative and new ideas for commercial & residential project design processes
• Depict how large glass walls can be an important part of form and function in sustainable design
• Deliver answers for how operable glass wall systems can improve an occupant’s safety and health

Operable walls offer the opportunity to maximize any space by implementing superior engineering, aesthetics and technology. Join us in this one-hour course as we dive into key understandings of operable partitions to address panel construction, suspension systems, sealing mechanisms, design options, automation, and safety. By the end of this course, design professionals will learn how all these components work together to impact a project’s environment in terms of space management as well as the end users’ experience and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the variety of panel construction and suspension system offerings
• Differentiate between all partition seals and their unique benefits and options
• Evaluate all design options within the marketplace to customize your wall
• Comprehend the associated automation options and safety guidelines for use

This course provides a complete overview of movable wall systems. Topics include panel types, seals, closures, panel movement, stacking, acoustical control, finishes, and field integration. Ideal for architects, facility managers, and contractors seeking practical guidance on specifying and detailing partition systems.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate panel types and select appropriate construction for performance and design goals.
• Specify effective seal and closure systems to meet targeted STC/ acoustic requirements.
• Design panel movement and stacking solutions addressing safety, storage, and labor constraints.
• Integrate finishes, glazing, doors, and ADA requirements into coherent partition specifications.
• Produce a basic performance specification and layout for a movable partition installation.

  Americans need to co-exist with wildfires. In 2023, over 3,000 buildings were lost to wildfires in Colorado alone. Ember and wildfire protection can increase structure retention in buildings where we live and work by up to 80%. This presentation will review the protective technology available and highlight general safety measures to protect and prevent wildland fire loss in residential and public buildings.

Learning Objectives:

• Review various ways in which wildfires can attack structures
• Discuss fundamental best practices for protecting against structure loss due to wildfire
• Identify the most vulnerable points of a structure when exposed to a wildfire
• Explore how specially designed mesh, shutters, fire-rated doors, and windows are engineered to withstand extreme temperatures and intense heat accompanying fires

Explore innovative architectural solutions to meet IBC requirements for opening protectives within fire walls, fire barrier walls, and atriums.  Wide-span openings promote health and wellness, including the introduction of daylighting from the building perimeter and the creation of dynamic spaces for collaboration and socialization. Innovative passive fire and smoke separation systems play an integral role in realizing these benefits and are instrumental in providing life safety for both building occupants and first responders.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the history and requirements of fire and smoke protection for openings within Fire Walls, Fire Barrier Walls and Atriums
• Examine how the use of wide-span opening protectives can create a healthy built environment
• Review available solutions and recent product innovations to meet IBC requirements
• Through case studies, analyze the pertinent codes and design solutions for a variety of building types, including hotels, multi-family, schools, offices, high-rise, municipal and healthcare facilities

Designated as an I-1 occupancy, the types of assisted living settings vary from high-rise apartments to multi-acre campuses and everything in between. Within this setting, passive fire and smoke protection are a major concern, in addition to effective use of space. The evolution of high-temperature materials has made it possible to provide minimal, high performance, code-compliant smoke-and fire-rated protection for openings throughout the constructed environment. This presentation will touch on IBC and NFPA requirements for fire and smoke protection throughout assisted living facilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the nature of residents and architectural qualities of spaces in assisted living facilities
• Understand the purpose of smoke compartments and the dynamics of egress in an assisted living facility
• Review IBC and NFPA 101 requirements which address smoke + fire protection requirements in this unique occupancy
• Explore the architectural advantages and disadvantages of the available solutions for smoke + fire protection

There are a multitude of solutions for delivering daylight into a building, and with these systems come the complexities of architectural detailing.  Join us for a tour through some beautifully daylit projects to understand the systems and details that make them shine.  Using physical product samples and construction drawings, we will share how to appropriately detail various daylighting systems.  This proper detailing will lead to improved project success, lower cost and shorter durations.  We will also review the sustainability and wellness advantages of these systems and demonstrate how useful daylight can be delivered most efficiently.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the benefits of daylighting for building occupants, in terms of health, safety and security
• Examine how thoughtful daylight design can impact sustainable design and energy conservation
• Learn how translucent daylight systems, tubular daylighting devices and ETFE are being creatively integrated into beautiful, meaningful architecture worldwide
• Demonstrate how to detail various daylight delivery systems in your construction documents

Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs) have traditionally been seen as a functional solution to bring natural light into interior spaces where windows and conventional skylights fall short. However, architects are increasingly turning to TDDs not only to solve practical lighting challenges but also to enhance the aesthetic and experiential qualities of a space. This session explores inspiring, real-world applications of TDDs from around the globe—highlighting how these devices deliver dynamic daylight to unique spaces while elevating design intent. By combining form and function, TDDs enable architects to create healthier, more sustainable environments that support both occupant wellbeing and performance goals.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how TDDs can be used as an effective daylighting strategy compared to windows and skylights 
• Discover the role TDDs can play with health, safety, and welfare of building occupants
• Review how TDDs can be used as a daylighting strategy for sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives
• Explore how TDDs can be implemented in inspiring and innovative ways, with both design and functional objectives being met