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Neuroarchitecture is a design discipline that seeks to incorporate neuroscience into design to augment the built environment’s positive influence on the emotional and physical health of people.
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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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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:
This course explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on design and construction decisions, particularly focusing on operable glass walls in interior and exterior applications, primarily in the hospitality industry. Students will gain familiarity with terminology, capabilities, and uses of operable glass walls, with an emphasis on addressing health concerns post-pandemic through responsive design. The course highlights how operable glass walls contribute to improving the health, safety, and well-being of building occupants while also providing psychological benefits by creating comfortable environments. Practical design concepts applicable to various commercial projects will be covered, with direct access to manufacturer resources for further assistance.
Learning Objective 1: You will be able to identify and recognize the significance of the health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic as they relate to building design and product selection.
Learning Objective 2: You will learn how to assess the safety aspects of incorporating design and product selections that protect buildings, occupants, and owners from harm and damage, particularly in light of unexpected violence and vandalism.
Learning Objective 3: You will be able to explain the welfare aspects 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 4: You will be able to determine ways to incorporate the design principles as presented into different building types and applications.
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This course provides fundamental information about Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology while overviewing three different application projects that feature the design flexibility, efficiency and owner benefits of specifying VRF systems.
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This course aims to help educate the designer about what performance fabrics are, the content of various fabrics, how they work, and the benefits to a sustainable design in meeting and maximizing your goals of occupant health, safety, well-being, and sustainability. Windows, views, and openings in buildings present the classic battle between form and function. The designer naturally wants the building’s occupants to enjoy views and light, but the solar heat gain from these openings can wreak havoc on sustainable goals. Sophisticated and high-performing solar control fabrics can help reconcile the form and function of light, views, and sustainability.
HSW Justification: Substantially all of this course is dedicated to a discussion of the health, safety and welfare aspects of performance fabrics through their appropriate specification, their fabrics' chemical composition, their proper use, their ability to meet safety and performance standards, and their aesthetic contribution.
Learning Objective 1: The student will learn how to analyze shading fabrics for solar light management including energy reduction, glare and outward visibility, using published shading coefficient data.
Learning Objective 2: The student will be able to list certification requirements for indoor air quality, anti-bacterial protection, flame retardancy, and environmental regulations.
Learning Objective 3: The student will be able to identify fabric composition options with an emphasis on sustainable design.
Learning Objective 4: The student will be able to apply their knowledge of performance fabric features to unique, real-world applications in healthcare, hospitality, government, business, and residential projects.
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This course will describe the aesthetic and biophilic benefits, as well as the objective sustainability standards achieved by innovative metal wall materials that mimic wood. The course will describe how the materials provide both physical and emotional comfort to occupants, protection from harsh weather, and the community benefits of sustainable construction. A variety of applications are also detailed in case studies of actual projects.
Learning Objective 1:
The student will understand how and why the use of materials that mimic but outperform natural materials is highly desirable.
Learning Objective 2:
The student will be able to explain the technologies applied to materials and methods of construction that mimic wood in order to improve sustainability and resist environmental attack.
Learning Objective 3:
The student will recognize the favorability of these materials and methods of construction through a recitation of their achievements in testing and evaluation, how they meet construction standards, and what contributions they make to LEED v4.
Learning Objective 4:
The student will become familiar with a variety of existing projects that demonstrate successful adoption of these products and methods.
The WELL Light concept promotes exposure to light and aims to create lighting environments that are optimal for visual, mental and biological health. This session explores the elements that make up the WELL Lighting concept and provides insights and recommendations for designing to these standards.
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Solar shading devices, while available in numerous weaves, textures, and colors, go beyond contributing to the aesthetics of a space. Specified correctly, solar shading devices can maximize daylighting benefits and contribute to occupant well-being, productivity, and engagement, while mitigating the detrimental effects of UV rays and glare.
Learning Objective 1:
Students will understand the benefits daylighting, including the psychological and physiological well-being of occupants, as well as its drawbacks, such as glare and solar heat gain
Learning Objective 2:
Students will become familiar with the types of solar shading fabrics available for use in commercial settings and their components, including operating systems, weave, color, and openness factor, and the ways in which these contribute to the control of daylighting.
Learning Objective 3:
Students will explore the benefits of solar shading devices that extend beyond light management, such as sound mitigation, sustainability, and antimicrobial properties.
Learning Objective 4:
Students will determine how to select the right fabric for an application, taking into account aesthetics and room conditions
Program: Architecture, Design and Building Science
This course explores a few of the many ways that interiors impact the health and well-being of the people inside them. From restrooms being designed to reduce contact with contaminated surfaces and inhibit the presence of bacteria, to acoustics solutions that absorb or isolate noise, making interiors more comfortable and productive. Biophilic design, a health-focused design concept that encourages the inclusion of plants, daylight, and natural elements like wood and stone, is also discussed, as are the options designers have for bringing stone elements inside.
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