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What Every Design Pro Should Know About the Replica Green Wall Trend

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.

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The Implications of Light Pollution and the Impact of IDA

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
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Achieving Beauty, Wellbeing, and Functionality in Design

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.

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Egress Path Lighting & Emergency Lights ISO 502

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.

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Exploring Design Trends for K-12 Applications

Addressing student behaviors, improving the learning environment, and enhancing the sustainability of educational buildings with design.

Learning Objective 1: After reading this article, you should be able to: describe how the inclusive restroom design concept addresses the bad behaviors plaguing bathroom spaces and improves student safety

Learning Objective 2: After reading this article, you should be able to: summarize the ways that acoustical surfaces, lighting, and HVAC systems are being used to improve the comfort of the learning environment, helping students perform better in class.

Learning Objective 3: After reading this article, you should be able to: identify various solutions that can be incorporated to heighten security throughout a school.

Learning Objective 4: After reading this article, you should be able to: explain some of the sustainability strategies making schools more environmentally friendly.

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New Principles in Residential Design Using Opening Glass Walls

This course aims to familiarize you with the terminology, capabilities, and applications of operable glass walls in both interior and exterior residential settings. You will learn how operable glass walls can enhance the health, safety, and welfare of residents. Additionally, we will share ideas that you can incorporate into your current projects.

 

Learning Objective 1: Students will be able to explain the welfare aspect of design and product selection that enable equitable access to all, can elevate the human experience with daylight and outdoor access, and benefit the environment through sustainable building design.

Learning Objective 2: Students will be able to assess the safety aspects of incorporating product selections that protect buildings and people from harm and damage, particularly considering unexpected violence or vandalism.

Learning Objective 3: Students will be able to identify and recognize the significance of ongoing health concerns related to residential design and product selection.

Learning Objective 4: Students will be able to determine ways to incorporate the design principles as presented in case study examples into single family building projects.

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Sustainable Resiliency with Garden Roofs

Designing with green roofs affords design professionals opportunities to plan projects with exciting new elements, added value, and significant, tangible benefits, thereby enhancing the built environment with newly-created landscapes. This course examines green roof systems, including the types, benefits, components, and related standards. It also reviews a number of installations that demonstrate these principles.

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924 & 1008 Lighting Controls

NFPA 70, the national electrical code details 2 different types of Emergency Lighting Control Devices—devices that guarantee that life safety lighting will be on at desired illumination levels in the event of an emergency. This course will help mitigate the confusion regarding the specification of these devices and understand their applications in the real world.

Prerequisite Knowledge: Knowledge of life safety systems, particularly a high-level understanding of the purpose of emergency lighting inverters and generators. In particular, ISO-1001/ISO-1002 would be a perfect lead into this course.

HSW Justification: This deals with life safety, the safe egress, and illumination of buildings in the event of an emergency.

Learning Objective 1: Understand the background technology where ALCR and BCELTS devices need to be deployed.

Learning Objective 2: Learn the difference between the technologies and reviews how they sit within one-line diagrams.

Learning Objective 3: Understand some of the real world tradeoffs between the device types as it relates to wiring, proximity and ease of testing.

Learning Objective 4: Understand the integration of lighting controls with the different types of ELCDs and review some tricks for how to reduce costs in systems.

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Surface Engineered Metals for Resilient Design

Program: Architecture, Design, and Building Science

The purpose of this presentation is to give you a clear understanding of the features and benefits of textured metals and discover how to best specify stainless steel and metal alloys in your projects. The first part of our talk will introduce the ecological and economic properties of textured stainless steel as well as educate you on the composition of metals and alloys. The second portion of this presentation will illustrate the process of texturing metals and their applications, as well as how to specify them. The session will also review projects that use textured metals - with beautiful results.

HSW Justification:
Most of this course is dedicated to explaining the aesthetic, ecological and economic advantages of textured metals. Most often, the metal used in stainless steel, which is very long-lived, valuable and 100 percent recyclable. The case studies focus on many beautiful installations that enhance the lives of occupants and visitors through the art and craftsmanship of the installations.

Learning Objective 1:
Students will understand ecological, economic, health and safety benefits of utilizing metals that can be deep textured.

Learning Objective 2:
Students will explore current applications that employ deep textured metals because of their ecological benefits, enhanced performance, and aesthetic attributes.

Learning Objective 3:
Students will learn compositions of metals that can be deep textured, how each performs under varying environmental constraints, and how to safely and economically specify deep textured metals.

Learning Objective 4:
Students will discover end user benefits of deep texturing metals, including performance enhancement, material usage reduction and longer product lifecycles.

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Lighting Overview for Healthcare Facilities

 The class is a high-density orientation to lighting considerations and methods in the healthcare environment. Topics will include application situations, impacted populations, design methods, and a review and critique of examples of successful and less-than-successful healthcare lighting designs.

At the end of this course, participants will:

  1. Identify current trends in the healthcare lighting design and the impact lighting has on its occupants and the environment. 
  2. Identify who is impacted by our lighting design decisions and learn best practices on how to light the spaces they occupy.
  3. Identify specific lighting needs of patient rooms.
  4. Identify emerging lighting methods including design for circadian health.
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