AIA Learning Lab/Webinar Symposium
- Earn 5 AIA LU/HSW + 1 AIA LU/Elective
Learning Objectives
- Based on your current state of affairs identify and itemize what your firm needs to do, not only to get through the crisis, but to come out of it stronger and more resilient.
- Familiarize yourself with the best practices on dealing with your clients, employees, finances and business practices and processes.
- Create the business plan of the future by examining the unique opportunities presented by COVID-19.
- Evaluate your firm's current technology and learn the requirement for technology that will sustain your team's need for productivity, scalability and flexibility into future decades.
The economy was thriving, unemployment was at its lowest in recorded history, and your firm had enough work to keep you busy for months if not years. In a matter of weeks, it all dissipated.
This webinar will look at our current state of affairs and what your firm needs to do, not only to get through the crisis, but to come out of it stronger and more resilient.
We will look at best practices to deal with your clients, employees, finances and business practices and processes. We will discuss how to create the business plan of the future by examining the unique opportunities presented by COVID-19 and reflecting on your firm’s values and culture.
Finally, your firm can secure financial stability regardless of whether you return to a co-located environment, expand into a remote workforce or remodel your firm into a distributed workforce. We will examine the significance that an integrated technology system will play in your firm’s ability to ride-out any imaginable crises and ensure your firm is properly positioned to thrive into the future.

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Steven Burns, FAIA is a licensed architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. For more than 30 years, Steve has been involved in every aspect of the architectural profession. After seven years in the Chicago, London and Berlin offices of SOM, he founded his own firm, Burns + Beyerl Architects, in Chicago in 1993. Fourteen years later, Steve sold his 17-person architectural firm to work full time on the startup he launched to create the office and project management software solution ArchiOffice. In 2009, he merged his business with BQE Software, where he is now the chief creative officer. Steve earned his Master of Architecture (with distinction) from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. He is a thought leader who has delivered presentations at architectural and engineering conferences around the world on topics related to business and project management, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Steve is passionate about ultra-endurance cycling. He is also a partner with Social Venture Partners in Los Angeles, an organization that helps innovative nonprofits change the landscape for social justice. |
Learning Objectives
- Identify the advantages and implications of using continuous insulation (CI) in energy-efficient exterior wall design and construction.
- Discuss key building and energy code requirements related to the use of CI.
- Learn about the raw materials used to manufacture mineral wool CI as well as its manufacturing process.
- Understand the many benefits of mineral wool CI in sustainable, exterior wall assemblies.
Insulation can help increase overall energy efficiency, minimize the spread of fire, manage risks associated with moisture and mold, and improve occupant comfort. When designing exterior wall assemblies, the type and placement of insulation is critical.
Depending on climate zone and construction type, insulation batts alone may not provide enough thermal resistivity. Continuous insulation is now often required to optimize thermal performance.

Photo courtesy of Owens Corning
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Tiffany Coppock, AIA, NCARB, CDT, LEED AP, ASTM, RCI, EDAC, is a commercial building systems specialist with Owens Corning. She provides leadership and technical guidance in building science, testing, and documentation to design professionals and the Owens Corning team. Formerly, Tiffany was a building science manager answering technical questions, reviewing drawings and specifications, and giving educational sessions on topics such as air barriers, waterproofing, vegetative roof assemblies, and insulation. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University, a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado, and is a registered architect specializing in health care and historic preservation. |
Learning Objectives
- Discuss how environmental product declarations (EPDs) allow for apples to apples comparisons of building products in terms of hygiene, welfare, and health performance.
- Explain how product category rules (PCRs) establish clear, consistent evaluation methods for building products as a means to help ensure and validate the environmental performance of buildings.
- Describe how PCRs, LCAs, and EPDs can be used together to assess and optimize the hygiene, health, and sustainability characteristics of high-performance restroom designs.
- Apply the information provided by environmental and efficiency standards when making product and welfare decisions.
Construction is going green. As both sustainability and efficiency advance in the built environment, architects, specifiers, and buyers are increasingly concerned with purchasing products that are environmentally friendly and can achieve project performance and client welfare goals. Architects and designers are, in essence, visionaries. This course explores options that architects and designers have when choosing products that accurately support and fuel their passion for possibilities while maintaining the health, safety, and welfare of the clients needs. Definition for PCRs, LCAs, and EPDs are discussed and various case studies are examined.

Photo courtesy of The Cottage Restaurant
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Paul Marquez has been and continues to be a valued member of the Excel Dryer team. Working first in the sales department overseeing the development of the Dodge Sales platform before assuming the role of Head of Architectural Specifications, Paul persistently utilized his management experience and business acumen drawn from a decade of being a client advocate and providing dynamic solutions to both management and client needs. In his current role, he is charged with sales functions, client relationship management, B2B development and gathering and conveying business partners/customer needs to guide product development with a particular emphasis on understanding the specification process. |
Learning Objectives
- Analyze and explore the fundamental principles related to interior acoustic design and their relationship to green buildings and sustainable design.
- Examine the traditional and new ceiling system options available to provide interior acoustic treatments that are both visually appealing as well as acoustically appropriate to the space use.
- Assess the various characteristics of acoustical ceilings that can contribute to green and sustainable building design.
- Recognize and identify the acoustic needs of different design applications and the attributes to look for including contributions to green building certifications.

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Sean Browne is senior principal scientist for Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he leads the Armstrong Acoustics Program. He is a member of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Sean holds engineering degrees from Florida State University and The University of Miami and a patent for a power and signal distribution system (interior building spaces). He has been published in the journals of the International Symposium on Room Acoustics and the Acoustical Society of America. |
Learning Objectives
- Explain the positive and negative effects of sonic environments on people and wellness
- Comprehend and appreciate the issue of noise in society and a range of common built environments that can affect health & safety, and welfare of occupants
- Define basic acoustical terms and concepts and be able to apply this knowledge to make informed design and product specification choices
- Appreciate new possibilities for acoustic treatments that combine acoustic effectiveness with aesthetic appeal and elevate the human experience
An introduction to the power of sound in built environments and the new possibilities for acoustic design.

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Julian Treasure is CEO and chairman of The Sound Agency and a presenter for Armstrong Ceiling Solutions. His five TED Talks have been watched more than 100 million times. One of his talks is in the top 10 TED Talks of all time and listed as one of the best TED Talks by Oprah Magazine. Julian is regularly featured in the world’s media and has guested on dozens of top podcasts. |
Learning Objectives
- Comprehend and be well-versed in hardware considerations and compatibilities, including panic handles.
- Recognize the current trends that are influencing the future of glass entrances, including NFRC documentation and energy code requirements.
- Identify critical considerations needed to specify panic devices including life safety issues, UL standards, ANSI/BHMA criteria, fire code requirements, occupant loads, and opening force.
- Define the GANA guidelines including guidelines for interior swinging glass doors.
Along with the many benefits of glass entrances come unique challenges. This course covers current trends in glass entrance design and key considerations for hardware in all types of applications. Attendees will get an overview of specification criteria to ensure openings are in compliance with fire, life safety, accessibility, and other building code requirements, all while meeting the project’s design intent. The presentation will also address what makes different types of glass entrances both appealing and functional, and what challenges must be overcome when specifying them. This includes all-glass entrances, thermal doors, and balanced doors.

Photo courtesy of C.R. Laurence
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Mark Suehiro has more than 15 years of experience in the architectural entrance systems and hardware field. His extensive knowledge of doors and entrances encompasses product engineering, testing, manufacturing, distribution, and new product development. In his role as director of the architectural entrances group at C.R. Laurence, Mark leads a team of technical specialists in assisting architects, building owners, and contractors with the design, specification, and installation of code-compliant glass entrance systems. |
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