May 13, 2008

McGraw-Hill Construction Announces Continuing Education Center for ArchitecturalRecord.com and Other Media Websites

Unique 'mentored-learning' approach offered for AIA-approved courses.

McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC), a part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), announced its new interactive Continuing Education Center, the first online learning center to provide American Institute of Architects (AIA) approved courses in a “mentored learning” format, which seamlessly directs users who get a wrong answer to the exact section where the misunderstood topic is discussed.  For more information, please visit McGraw-Hill Construction. 

Posted by Maria Sigillito on May 13, 2008 6:31 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 28, 2008

OAA Holds Annual Conference in Niagara Falls

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is holding its annual conference "The Future of the Profession" at the Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel and Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario from April 30 to May 3, 2008.  For more information, please visit Canadian Architect.

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 28, 2008 12:43 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Use of AIA Logo

The Institute's Bylaws provide as follows:

2.121 Title. Architect members in good standing may print and otherwise use in connection with their practice and work:

a) the initials AIA as a suffix to their names and

b) the titles Member of The American Institute of Architects and Member of the (assigned chapter or state organization) of The American Institute of Architects.

2.122 Pin and Symbol. Architect members may use the gold AIA lapel pin and AIA symbol within the limitations established by the Board.

The Institute's Rules of the Board state:

2.121 Institute Symbol. The Institute symbol may be used in the same manner as the seal and may also be used by Architect members and their firms on their letterheads, business cards, signs, brochures, and other business materials related to their practice, provided that all of the names of living architects included in a firm's name are members of the Institute. The symbol may not be used by a firm that does not include the names of member architects in the firm name. No other use of the symbol may be made without specific approval by the Executive Committee. The Institute symbol may be used in the same manner as the seal and may also be used by Architect members and their firms on their letterheads, business cards, signs, brochures, and other business materials related to their practice, provided that all of the names of living architects included in a firm's name are members of the Institute. The symbol may not be used by a firm that does not include the names of member architects in the firm name. No other use of the symbol may be made without specific approval by the Executive Committee.

2.122 Use of Membership Title by Firm. When the majority of financial ownership in a professional architectural firm is held by registered architects, and all the registered architect principals are AIA members, that firm may use the phrase, "Members of The American Institute of Architects" in its public listings.

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 28, 2008 10:36 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 24, 2008

Online Continuing Education

Many of AIA CES registered providers offer distance education.  Please look at the distance education page of providers including free courses some providers offer.

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 24, 2008 11:13 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 16, 2008

School launches first Google Authorized Training Center in the U.S.: Over 100 AIA Continuing Education courses in SketchUp and Google Earth now available

School recently launched a Google Authorized Training Center, complete with AIA CE courses in Google SketchUp and Google Earth. Both software applications have become well known design and visualization tools in architecture firms around the country. The new classes are being offered all over the United States - to date, nearly 150 classes in 17 states. All classes are taught by the most qualified SketchUp trainers around. Between them, the School instructors have instructed over 10,000 architects and design professionals around the country. For more information about the new classes, please visit http://go-2-school.com/live

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 16, 2008 10:39 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 8, 2008

New Feature on Soloso.aia.org

Members can now access Sweets building product information at Soloso.aia.org.

What does this mean for members? Members can use Soloso’s innovative graphic displays and search functionality to quickly and easily research, find, and specify products for their designs. In addition to searching more than 10,000 building products, members can download product catalogs, CAD details, 3D models, and 3-part specifications. By using Soloso to search for Sweets building product information members will be able to make quick decisions, ensure accuracy, and save time. 

Soloso will continue to have the most current building product information through regular updates and product additions.  For more information, please visit Soloso.aia.org. 

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 8, 2008 11:37 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 1, 2008

Sustainable Design Learning Objectives

As noted in the CES Provider Connection, AIA CES has changed the continuing education requirement to include 4 sustainable design hours as part of the total 8 health safety welfare hours.  The change in requirement will be effective January 1, 2009.  Considering the changes, isn’t time you re-evaluated your learning objectives?  When course content is questioned the first place auditors look is at the learning objectives.  The Program Registration Form A is being redesigned.  Once that becomes available you will be required to re-register any course you want to qualify as Sustainable Design (SD).  Prepare now for the evaluation and writing of your learning objectives so that they are compliant with the sustainable design definition and criteria.  If you have questions on how to write learning objects, please email Sara Thomas.  If you have examples of good sustainable design learning objectives, please post them to this blog.

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 1, 2008 3:50 PM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

New Requirements to Protect Children from Lead-Based Paint Hazards

(Washington, D.C. - March 31, 2008) To further protect children from exposure to lead-based paint, EPA is issuing new rules for contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities or schools built before 1978. Under the new rules, workers must follow lead-safe work practice standards to reduce potential exposure to dangerous levels of lead during renovation and repair activities.

"While there has been a dramatic decrease over the last two decades in the number of children affected by lead-poisoning, EPA is continuing its efforts to take on this preventable disease," said James Gulliford, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "Today's new rules will require contractors to be trained and to follow simple but effective lead-safe work practices to protect children from dangerous levels of lead."  For the full article please visit the US EPA.

For providers of continuing education regarding paint, what courses can you offer to educate the design industry of this news?

Posted by Maria Sigillito on April 1, 2008 11:42 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 31, 2008

NEW: Green product checklist for remodels

The Green Product Checklist is two pages in PDF that asks: What makes a product green? The checklist was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Interior Designers, who joined up to create the recently launched ReGreen Program.

The list has a place for your notes and asks questions like this:

• What are the raw materials used to create the product?
• And where do they come from?
• Is the manufacturing process energy efficient?
• Does the manufacturing process release harmful substances?
• Does the product release VOCs? At what rate?
• How is the product packaged and transported? And so on. 

For more information, please visit the LA Times.

Should providers use the lines items on the checklist as the foundations for creating green remodelling courses?

Posted by Maria Sigillito on March 31, 2008 2:52 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 6, 2008

Green Hospitals Conference

How Hospitals and Health Systems Can Implement Green Practices Creating Healthy Environments for Patients, Employees and the World.  Please download the brochure for more information.

How do you prioritize what type of facilities are green first?  Are the greening of buildings prioritized based on need or availability?

Posted by Maria Sigillito on March 6, 2008 10:58 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)