Top 25 continuing education courses on BDCuniversity

Building Design+Construction's professional development website, BDCuniversity.com, features hundreds of free AIA CES courses covering a variety of topics in the nonresidential building industry, including metal construction, roofing, modular buildings, glazing, and sustainable construction.

Here's a roundup of the 25 most popular courses based on the number of AEC professionals that took the course material and completed the exam. Check out www.BDCuniversity.com to earn 1.0 AIA CES learning units for each successfully completed exam.

PROGRESSIVE STEEL JOIST AND METAL DECKING DESIGN

A three-part course examining cost and performance considerations of steel joist and metal decking construction. Provided by New Millennium Building Systems.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/progressive-steel-joist-and-metal-decking-design-0

PAINTS & COATINGS: THE LATEST TRENDS IN SUSTAINABILITY

How to assess the sustainability value of architectural coatings relative to their performance value to end-users.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/paints-coatings-latest-trends-sustainability

INSULATED METAL WALL AND ROOF PANELS FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

IMPs in depth, from materials, finishes, and construction life cycle to energy conservation and other sustainability characteristics. Provided by MBCI.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/insulated-metal-wall-and-roof-panels-sustainability-and-energy-efficiency

THE PERIMETER ROOF EDGE: FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN A WIND EVENT

Details of the ANSI/SPRI ES-1 Standard, and how to determine the correct specs for perimeter roof edges. Provided by Duro-Last.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/perimeter-roof-edge-first-line-defense-wind-event

PVC SINGLE-PLIES AS SUSTAINABLE ROOFING SYSTEMS

Learn the attributes of PVC single-ply roofing, including their potential for high-performance design. Provided by Duro-Last.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/pvc-single-plies-sustainable-roofing-systems

FIBER CEMENT PANELS AS RAINSCREENS

Review the causes and effects of moisture intrusion and learn appropriate rainscreen technologies, including fiber cement panels. Provided by Nichiha.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/fiber-cement-panels-rainscreens

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING EDUCATION PROGRAM

A four-unit program with an increasing level of difficulty, designed to provide in-depth training in BIM. Provided by the Associated General Contractors of America.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/building-information-modeling-education-program

ADVANCED CONTROLS AND EXTERIOR TACTICS FOR BETTER ILLUMINATION

Lighting control strategies that contribute to energy-efficient buildings and occupant well being, plus tips for lighting exteriors.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/advanced-controls-and-exterior-tactics-better-illumination

INSULATED METAL PANELS

Business development opportunities involving IMPs, terms associated with the product, relevant policies and codes, and sustainability implications. Provided by MBCI.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/insulated-metal-panels

A PROVEN SIX-STEP APPROACH TO TREATING HISTORIC WINDOWS

Step-by-step prescriptive advice on when it makes sense to repair or rehab existing windows, and when clients should consider replacement, from experts at Hoffmann Architects.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/proven-6-step-approach-treating-historic-windows

FLEXIBLE PLASTIC POROUS PAVERS

Learn how porous paving systems compare with conventional paving. Provided by Invisible Structures.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/flexible-plastic-porous-pavers

GREENER GLASS: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & ADVANCED, FIRE-RATED GLASS TECHNOLOGIES

Novel fire-rated glazing systems for sustainable design, including how to meet applicable codes and standards. Provided by Safti First.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/greener-glass-sustainable-design-advanced-fire-rated-glass-technologies

SUSTAINABLE ENCLOSURES: DESIGN, ENERGY & CODES

Details for creating more sustainable enclosures, including insulation improvements, intelligent window-to-wall ratios, new technologies for facilitating net-zero, and benefits of active façades.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/sustainable-enclosures-design-energy-codes

DOES THE OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS EQUAL GREEN?

Discover the inherent green benefits of off-site, prefabricated, and modular building systems. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/does-offsite-construction-process-equal-green

PREVENTABLE CURTAIN WALL FAILURES

Highlighting errors of curtain wall design that lead to in-field failures, including aspects of fabrication and installation. Provided by Kawneer.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/preventable-curtain-wall-failures

CONCRETE ADDITIVES: WATER-REPELLENCY & EFFLORESCENCE CONTROL IN MASONRY

How to achieve water repellency and efflorescence control in masonry construction, including single-wythe masonry walls. Provided by BASF.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/concrete-additives-water-repellency-efflorescence-control-masonry

NEW TRENDS IN CEILING DESIGNS AND MATERIALS

Improved ceiling products that offer superior acoustics, closed-loop recycled content, and easy integration with lighting, HVAC, fire sprinklers, and overhead infrastructure.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/new-trends-ceiling-designs-and-materials

COMBINING OFF-SITE AND SITE CONSTRUCTION

Large-scale, multi-story projects can benefit from a combination of on-site and permanent modular construction. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/combining-offsite-site-construction

MODULAR BUILDING: A GREEN LIFE CYCLE

How to apply Building Service Life Planning concepts to manage environmental impacts using modular systems. Provided by the Modular Building Institute.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/modular-building-green-life-cycle

BUILDING WITH BRICK, STONE, AND MASONRY

New types of brick, stone, and masonry systems, including thin brick veneer, clay brick paving, and stone cladding.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/building-brick-stone-and-masonry

ROOFING RETROFITS AND RENOVATIONS

How to make a roof last as long as possible, and how to properly retrofit or reroof.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/roofing-retrofits-and-renovations

THE RAINSCREEN APPROACH TO A BETTER BUILDING ENVELOPE

Best ways to use rainscreens, encompassing cladding, cavity, insulation, air barrier, moisture barrier, and the supporting wall.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/rainscreen-approach-better-building-envelope

HIGH-EFFICIENCY PLUMBING

How to implement water-conserving products and systems for commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily building projects.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/high-efficiency-plumbing-systems

CLADDING AND EXTERIOR INSULATION

Discusses new requirements in the 2012 IECC, the IgCC, and ASHRAE 189.12 for continuous insulation, maximum fenestration area, and air and moisture barriers.

http://www.BCDuniversity.com/cladding-and-exterior-insulation

FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY IN LARGE BUILDINGS

Criteria for designing and installing integrated emergency lighting, voice communication, and security systems.

http://www.BDCuniversity.com/fire-and-life-safety-large-buildings

Building Design+Construction's new conference and expo, BUILDINGChicago, kicks off in two weeks. The three-day event will feature more than 65 AIA CES and GBCI accredited sessions, on everything from building information modeling and post-occupancy evaluations to net-zero projects and LEED training. Here are 13 sessions I'm planning to attend.

| Aug 22, 2013

Energy-efficient glazing technology [AIA Course]

This course discuses the latest technological advances in glazing, which make possible ever more efficient enclosures with ever greater glazed area.

| Aug 21, 2013

First look: Petersen Automotive Museum's dramatic facelift

One of the world's largest automotive museums unveils plans for a stunning, sculptured metal exterior and cutting-edge interior upgrades.

| Aug 6, 2013

Australia’s first net zero office building features distinctive pixelated façade

Australia's first carbon neutral office building, featuring a distinctive pixelated façade, recently opened in Melbourne.

| Jul 30, 2013

Metl-Span launches Envolution website

Metl-Span® has launched a new website for its recently-announced Envolution™ Architectural Products, the company’s branded line of architectural panels, trim items and accessories.

| Jul 23, 2013

Paul Bertram to speak at ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency

Paul Bertram, FCSI, CDT, LEED AP and director of environment and sustainability for Kingspan Insulated Panels N.A., will present a white paper during the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 2013 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry.

High-rise Construction | Jul 9, 2013

5 innovations in high-rise building design

KONE's carbon-fiber hoisting technology and the Broad Group's prefab construction process are among the breakthroughs named 2013 Innovation Award winners by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

| Jun 28, 2013

Calculating the ROI of building enclosure commissioning

A researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory calls building enclosure commissioning “the single-most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings today.”

| Jun 27, 2013

Thermal, solar control designs can impact cooling loads by 200%, heating loads by 30%

Underestimating thermal bridging can greatly undermine a building’s performance contributing to heating load variances of up to 30% and cooling load variances of up to 200%, says the MMM Group.

St. Joseph Patient Care Center, Orange, Calif. Photo: Tom Kessler

| May 17, 2013

5 things AEC pros need to know about low-e glass

Low-emissivity glasses are critical to making today’s buildings brighter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. Here are five tips to help AEC professionals understand the differences among low-e glasses and their impact on building performance.

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