EDUCATION PROVIDER PROGRAM (EPP)

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

As more and more commercial interiors, from offices to schools, veer toward open concepts and exposed structures, the spaces become susceptible to noise. And for occupants, excessive noise can lead to increased stress, lower productivity, decreased focus, and poor communication. This session will help architects understand the challenge by exploring how sound is generated, transmitted, and reverberates. Attendees will learn a simpler approach to sabins, how to calculate absorption, and how to apply that knowledge to designing ceiling systems that hit the sweet spot for noise reduction.

Course Length - 1 Hour

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

Unwanted sound and reverberation in a room can cause a multitude of problems, not the least of which are poor speech intelligibility and uncomfortable noisy environments. In this course we will discuss the best ways to control sound and noise through adequate sound absorptive materials to avoid these problems. We will examine what it means to optimize design and how this plays into crafting the human experience within a space. This course will walk you through some of the fundamentals of acoustics that will help you evaluate the available solutions in light of acoustical challenges in each market.

This course is a part of the Architectural Acoustics series.

The population of adults over 65 years old is growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2034, older adults are expected to outnumber children for the first time in US history. As individuals age, the body’s ability to maintain a balanced integration of the organs, muscles, bones, immune and nervous systems decline. Planning for the environments where older adults live, work, and travel presents an opportunity to promote healthy living, adapted to meet the unique physical, mental, and biological needs of an aging population. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities to infectious disease for older adults and senior living communities. Older adults, especially those in senior living facilities, will continue to be vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks, as well as familiar respiratory illnesses like influenza and pneumonia. Healthy building upgrades can have multiple benefits beyond infectious disease risk reduction, including improved comfort and cognition.

CLASSROOM, WEBINAR, STREAMED EVENT, LIVE INSTRUCTOR - 1 HOUR

Detailing Perimeters and Floating Elements in the Ceiling Plane helps participants compare and contrast different types of perimeter and trim treatments along with the benefits and draw backs of the various solutions. This one-hour course identifies key spaces where perimeter treatment is functionally and visually critical to the finished design of the ceiling plane in commercial interiors. The course also describes integration with lighting and HVAC and outlines code based guidelines to keep in mind when designing the ceiling plane perimeter.

Intro with learning objectives (5 mins)

The Basics of Ceiling Perimeters (15 mins)

Ceiling Perimeter Solutions (20 mins)

Floating Ceilings & Elements (15 mins)

Summary with Q and A (5 mins)

Modern construction has come to understand that a façade, as part of an overall building envelope, is not only a visual statement, but also an important influencer in the protection of a wall’s structural components, the energy efficiency of the building, and the health of its occupants. This course explores a unique surfacing material known as ultracompact surfacing (UCS) and evaluates its mechanical properties, technical characteristics, and aesthetics to illustrate its endless design potential in exterior cladding, façade, and rainscreen applications.

CLASSROOM, WEBINAR, STREAMED EVENT, LIVE INSTRUCTOR - 1 HOUR 

The events of the past two years as related to the pandemic are redefining standards for health and safety protocols in all aspects of life, including indoor spaces. As employers, educators and building owners seek to reopen their facilities, they are looking for ways to meet the heightened expectations of their workers and occupants. Guiding these decisions are recommendations from industry organizations such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EAP) which offer guidance on how changes to building operations, particularly HVAC systems, can reduce airborne exposures.

Intro and learning objectives (5 mins)

Managing and improving indoor air quality (15 mins)

Evolving standards and initiatives for healthy buildings (10 mins)

The role of finish material (15 mins)

Ceilings and sustainability (10 mins)

Conclusion with Q and A (5 mins)

CLASSROOM, WEBINAR, STREAMED EVENT, LIVE INSTRUCTOR - 1 HOUR 

Two major components of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) are aesthetics and acoustics. This course discusses ceiling systems that provide both qualities, leading to better health, safety, and well-being for occupants. It provides a historical exploration of ceiling systems that have evolved to meet occupant needs, incorporating materials that meet safety standards and exceed performance standards for sound absorption and speech intelligibility—all of which ultimately affect how people work, learn, heal, and play in ways that elevate the quality of their lives. In the past, when architects designed ceilings, they contended with the fact that they can achieve either a smooth, monolithic drywall aesthetic or excellent acoustics, but not both. One solution has been acoustical plaster systems, which have excellent acoustics and beautiful aesthetics, but they are expensive. Now, a new acoustical drywall alternative offers a solution for spaces that require acoustics and the look of drywall at a lower cost. This course offers a look at the evolution of seamless ceiling solutions and provides guidance on how new seamless acoustical ceilings benefit occupant health and well-being.

Intro and learning objectives (5 mins)

Evolution of Seamless Ceiling Systems (15 mins)

Indoor Environmental Quality for Occupant Well-Being (10 mins)

Sustainability (5 mins)

Integrated Solutions for Seamless Acoustical Ceiling Systems (10 mins)

Case studies (10 mins)

Summary with Q and A (5 mins)

Participants will explore the many benefits of integrated ceiling and lighting systems, such as increased efficiency and enhanced aesthetics. The course will also delve into the significant impact these integrated solutions have on occupant health and wellness, emphasizing the crucial connection between lighting design and overall well-being.

By the end of this course, participants will gain a thorough understanding of the technological, practical, and health-related aspects of integrated ceiling and lighting solutions. This knowledge will enable them to effectively implement these systems in a variety of settings.

Green building benefits are more than its surface level financial and environmental merits as it has also been shown to bring positive social impacts. Many of these benefits revolve around the health and wellbeing of people who work in green offices or live in green homes. In this course, participants will learn about the future of sustainable mineral hybriq surfaces. We will discuss sustainable manufacturing practices and potential LEED credits that can be earned. Moreover, participants will learn how the industry is moving toward a more advanced sustainable technology as these techniques become expanded and combined. The course will review how these surfaces have become an ideal product for all commercial and residential applications.

ONLINE - (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

This program will explore the evolution of drywall ceilings, acoustical ceilings and innovation in monolithic acoustical drywall ceiling systems. It includes an introduction to the history of gypsum plaster, the invention of the gypsum wallboard panel and modern gypsum panel technology. The standards used to gauge performance of ceilings will be discussed. A review of where and when and how to specify monolithic acoustical drywall ceilings.

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

The concept of sound and the concept of Human Health are intimately related. This presentation explores the benefits of the collaboration between the science of sound and architecture in healthcare spaces. To look closer at the patient experience, we examine its connection to architecture, specifically how spatial design and material play into the space. We examine the unique considerations required in areas of the healthcare facilities and outline the testing methods used in evaluating material performance against design standards and guidelines set by key industry associations for privacy and noise in healthcare environments.

Course Length - 1 Hour

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

This program will demonstrate the importance of considering acoustics in the earliest phases of design. The audience will learn about acoustical design and the codes and standards that measure the performance of an acoustical material. Several examples of acoustical challenges will be explored. Solutions of many types will be presented including new monolithic acoustical drywall.

The course provides a detailed exploration of the benefits and practical applications of metal in both interior and exterior commercial projects. Participants learn about the latest trends in metal ceiling and wall designs, including the diverse range of styles, shapes, and patterns available. The course covers critical aspects of the manufacturing process and offers insights into choosing metal elements that ensure durability and optimal building performance. Additionally, the course highlights how metal installations can enhance user comfort and align with environmental sustainability goals, promoting efficient energy use and responsible material sourcing.

Course Length - 1 Hour

In person (requires the presence of a live instructor, classroom, webinar, streamed event)

Scientific consensus has already established that increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide—created by fossil fuels and energy production—is contributing to rising sea levels, intensification of weather-related events, and the degradation of natural resources. This course discusses the impact carbon emissions have on the planet and how buildings can influence greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon, to lower embodied carbon through more sustainable building products offering. We will learn about manufacturing transparency and the ability to compare embodied carbon values against a baseline and against similar products, which are critical to reducing embodied carbon.