Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification has been a leading driver of global forest conservation since 1994, and the green building movement is a cornerstone of its success. The US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system and the designers, specifiers and builders who apply LEED standards play a critical role, as doing so rewards and promotes forest conservation. Other FSC market drivers, such as Living Building Challenge, and high volume purchasing by major retailers all work together to expand the marketplace and make finding FSC building products easier.

This course examines Low Impact Development (LID) as a high-performance alternative to conventional stormwater management, with a focused application on plastic permeable grid paver systems. Participants will analyze LID principles, evaluate system performance across cost, structural capacity, and occupant well-being outcomes, and apply current LEED v4 credit pathways to real-world site conditions. Case studies drawn from contemporary practice illustrate how permeable grid paver systems deliver measurable environmental, financial, and occupant comfort benefits across project types.

This course examines the role of moisture mitigation in improving the performance, durability, and sustainability of concrete systems. Participants will explore how water vapor transmission affects concrete slabs and contributes to common failures in flooring and coating systems, as well as the associated risks to occupant safety and building performance.

Buildings outlive the climates they were designed for — and people are dying because of it. LEED v5 doesn't treat resilience as a bonus feature; it makes it a prerequisite. From mandatory climate hazard assessments to envelopes engineered to keep occupants alive when the grid collapses, this framework forces the building industry to reckon with a brutal truth: in an era of megadroughts, supercharged storms, and record-breaking heat, a building that can't protect its occupants isn't sustainable — it's a liability.

Sustainability is everywhere right now. Whether in project meetings, bid documents, or client requests, it’s a hot topic. That’s why we are here today, to inform you about choices—specifically, the materials and manufacturers you choose to work with, and what those companies can provide to support your project goals. This course examines the role of building material selection in advancing occupant health, safety, and environmental performance.

Metal surfaces are widely used in architecture for their durability, aesthetic richness, and evolving character. However, traditional fabricated sheet and plate systems introduce challenges related to weight, seams, structural support, and transportation. This course examines decorative liquid metal finishes systems as an alternative approach to achieving real metal finishes on architectural substrates. Participants will explore system composition, substrate compatibility, adhesion performance, finishing techniques, exterior exposure considerations, and long-term maintenance strategies.

This course explores structural fire protection and its critical role in safeguarding essential building components from fire damage. It provides an in-depth look at both active and passive fireproofing strategies, with a focus on the features, types, and design considerations of prefabricated fireproof structural columns. Special attention is given to solutions for exposed interior and exterior load-bearing columns, highlighting practical applications that support safety, durability, and compliance with building codes.

Concrete forming is evolving as projects demand tighter schedules, more complex geometry, and higher durability, especially in infrastructure and data center construction. This course introduces modern stay in place forming systems as a practical and reliable alternative to traditional plywood formwork. These systems offer a lightweight, galvanized steel mesh that simplifies rebar and conduit penetration and remains in place after concrete is poured.

In this one-hour course, we will consider the components necessary to keep an HVAC system functioning efficiently. We will examine various types of sealants and coatings and how best practices concerning their installation and quality control can be used to increase the lifespan of the HVAC system. This course will explore the importance of minimizing air leakage in the HVAC to avoid environmental issues, such as high levels of energy consumption, and to improve the indoor air quality for the building’s occupants.

The battle to maintain temperature and humidity within critical zones has given HVAC engineers headaches for years—but not anymore! Join us in this one-hour course as we discuss the effects of poor temperature and humidity control on the building and its occupants, as well as the main zone variables and how to balance these attributes. Participants will learn how technology can provide a neutral air zone in the most sustainable and efficient manner to provide a predictable indoor environment.

Overlooking the smallest detail in HVAC systems design can cause huge issues later. Join us in this one-hour course as we discuss HVAC systems as it relates to thermal comfort, the ever evolving changes to energy requirements that impact HVAC systems and the factors that impact durability, sustainability and longevity. Participants will evaluate HVAC systems with a focus on leading technology that optimizes comfort, energy efficiency and code compliance that is redefining thermal comfort, performance and product longevity today.

The land beneath our buildings tells a story of disrupted ecosystems, rising temperatures, and communities bearing the weight of inequitable development. LEED v5 Sustainable Sites gives design professionals the framework to write a different one, where buildings restore habitat, manage water responsibly, cool overheated neighborhoods, and create spaces where people and wildlife thrive.

What if the biggest carbon problem in your next building project has nothing to do with energy bills? The construction industry has spent decades obsessing over operational efficiency — better HVAC, tighter envelopes, smarter controls. But a quiet revolution is underway, and it starts before a single occupant flips a light switch. LEED v5 has fundamentally rewritten the rules on building materials, and the stakes couldn't be higher: the stuff we build with — concrete, steel, glass, flooring, furniture — is responsible for significant amounts of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Moisture is one of the most persistent threats to any wall assembly, and often the damage goes unseen until it’s too late. This course explores how rainscreen systems protect buildings by managing water, promoting ventilation, and extending the life of the exterior envelope. Participants will learn how to design and specify assemblies that drain and dry effectively, reducing the risk of mold, rot, and costly structural repairs. Through real-world examples, we’ll look at how changing codes, climate conditions, and construction practices make moisture management more important than ever.

Discover how the world's most efficient pollinators can transform your sustainable design projects. This course explores the fascinating intersection of bee ecology and green building, revealing practical strategies for architects and design professionals to integrate pollinator habitats into LEED certified projects. Learn how bees can help your projects while delivering measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Plastics like PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PE (polyvinyl ether) have long been used in the built environment, yet myths and outdated perceptions continue to impact their use in sustainable design. This course explores the distinct characteristics of PVC and PE, focusing on their material benefits, fire resistance, moisture durability, and safety in construction applications. Participants will examine the evolving environmental narrative around plastics, including the realities of recycling, microplastics, and the life-cycle performance of plastic-based building products.

This comprehensive course empowers design professionals to implement personal creative practices for managing stress during high-pressure situations while transforming organizational cultures to improve team well-being. You'll develop creative culture transformation strategies tailored to specific organizational needs, learn to select sustainable materials, lighting, and natural elements for healthier creative workspaces, and master structured brainstorming techniques using established protocols to boost team creativity.

In this one-hour course, we will explore how accordion doors, hardwood rolling counter doors, and space saving doors can help design professionals create a secure and elegant space. We discuss design strategies, ADA compliance, LEED v4 credits, and how these doors can benefit building occupants and owners. Finally, we review case studies, design challenges, and how to achieve successful outcomes using these effective doors.