EDUCATION PROVIDER PROGRAM (EPP)

Join us for an in-depth exploration of how drywall grid systems can significantly enhance your design vision while promoting best practices through early collaboration with ceiling partners.

This course offers valuable insights into the benefits of pre-engineered drywall grids, addressing both the design and construction phases. Participants will discuss how to alleviate common pain points associated with framing flat and curved drywall grid. They will discuss the impact of Drywall Grid on embodied carbon and uncover solutions that improve safety, minimize labor and time, and support sustainability through efficient product use.

This course is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of drywall grid systems and integrate innovative, sustainable practices into their projects.

ONGOING - UPON REQUEST

Gain insights into the societal implications of increased energy consumption in commercial buildings. Grasp the financial advantages of integration, and learn how integrated lighting systems enhance occupant well-being. Recognize the pivotal role architects play in creating safer, more sustainable spaces. Learn how to make informed decisions, contribute to sustainability, and inspire a brighter, greener future in design. By the end of the course, participants will understand the link between electricity use, architectural choices, and occupant well-being in commercial buildings.

This course explores the transformation of single-use materials into innovative room acoustic products that enhance well-being while promoting sustainability. Participants will examine global trends and frameworks such as the Triple Bottom Line (3Ps), Circular Economy, and ESG metrics, understanding their role in creating environmentally-conscious spaces. The course covers essential green building and product certifications, highlighting their impact on resource efficiency and environmental impact mitigation. By focusing on circular design principles, material selection, and durability, students will learn to create sustainable, long-lasting environments.

Discover the connection between nature and design through the lens of biophilia. This course explores the science behind biophilia and introduces key design patterns that foster well-being and productivity. Learn how biophilic design strategies lead to measurable outcomes, including increased productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and improved guest and employee satisfaction. With resources and real-world applications, participants will gain valuable insights into creating environments that promote the well-being of occupants while supporting organizational goals.

Learn the history of how the custom shower evolved. Explore the types of shower experiences that can be created and the elements to create a custom spa-like shower. Learn about new technologies that improve the shower experience. Learn key considerations in developing an ideal custom shower experience.

As aesthetic for kitchen design becomes more refined, so does the aspect of entertaining at home. And when there is entertainment at home, it typically centers around enjoying food and beverages. Wine is an essential element of entertaining and culinary experiences. This course focuses on why using an active wine climate control system is beneficial to your clients. We will discuss the evolution of a wine storage (cellar). Define passive and active (cooled) modern storage systems. Go over the guidelines of easy specification and proper installation of the wine appliances. Understand the ROI, and more importantly, why entertaining guests will never be dull with a proper wine storage system.

Learning how to move around the kitchen is important, but is it you or is it the layout? This course focuses on redefining what it means to have proper workflow in the kitchen. We will discuss some of the major changes that take place during kitchen renovations and how that affects the flow of the kitchen. Kitchen triangles are a concept of the past, but we all understand why it’s important. This course will focus on parsing out the details of the concept and redefining it to a new palatable concept of what we know as workflow. Finally, we discuss an important appliance being utilized to prep, cook, plate, and serve in kitchens that uncorks the secret to a successful kitchen workflow.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of sliding and folding door systems, including their historical development and the technological advancements that shape their use. Participants will learn about the benefits of various door hardware options, explore diverse configurations, and assess the impact of different materials on installation and functionality. The course also provides practical guidance on planning, selecting, and specifying the most effective door systems for various applications.

Some colors may be calming and relaxing, while other hues may be energizing and lively. Colors are known to create feelings of joy, while others leave us feeling unsettled. Color has the incredible ability to evoke both physical and emotional reactions in humans that are unique to each individual, making this a highly subjective topic. By understanding how color impacts humans on both physical and emotional levels, we are better equipped to select hues for our spaces that contribute to a desired sensibility. Likewise, color is an ideal communication tool; using the many associations had with colors across the spectrum. This course explores physical and emotional responses to color that shape our color preferences, in addition to insight on color trends with the Color Trends 2021 Palette and Color of the Year.

Schools are a cornerstone of childhood development. Numerous studies have shown that the teaching environment can significantly influence academic outcomes and student wellbeing. In ground-breaking research, architects, scientists, educators and artists collaborated to explore how biophilic design elements within a Baltimore middle school classroom enhance human experience and learning outcomes. This presentation will explore the scientific justification for biophilic design, how biophilic design patterns can be applied at minimal cost to classrooms, and how doing so positively impacts student stress recovery, environmental perceptions, and test scores.

According to the U.S. EPA, almost 90% of our time is spent indoors, emphasizing the importance of the materials that surround us. Acoustical design can enhance or diminish the experience of any space. This course will walk through the importance of designing and installing appropriate acoustical treatments, which may be about more than absorption; for example, spaces in healthcare, education, and office rely on sound blocking for speech privacy and clear communication. Participants will learn how acoustical ceiling and wall solutions can contribute to improved Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and meet today’s most stringent sustainability requirements.

This course examines the color wheel and the Munsell Color system, along with other historic contributions to our modern understanding of color. You will also learn about the importance of color, how to distinguish between the latest fads and trends, and understand the impact of color in business by exploring the emotions associated with each color by using examples of successfully used color schemes in retail design.

Color & Light educates professionals on what elements of light must be considered when making color and paint selections. Course topics include: Obtain an overview of the properties of color and light, in addition to history on lighting options. Discuss the various types of lighting available today and how light technologies can enhance or alter colors within a space. Understand metamerism, Color Rendering Index (CRI), Light Reflectance Value (LRV) and how these elements impact design decisions.

This presentation is based on a 2024 research project that originated from the 2023 Healthy Building Summit in Chicago. The summit brings together architects, designers, researchers, planners, facilities teams, and other education sector stakeholders for two days of interdisciplinary discussion. The 2023 theme explored the intersection of building maintenance and healthy environments, leading to a simplified approach to understanding the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of building materials. Dr. Ted Weidner, professor of Engineering Practice and TCO expert, joined forces with Cameron Christenson, Head of Operations at Princeton University, and Jonathan Stanley, Director of Public Sector at Tarkett, to conduct the research presented here.

An overview of materials transparency and how it relates to green building, and socially and environmentally responsible manufacturing. The program contains an explanation of products™ life cycle and associated environmental impacts from creation, use, and disposal as well as the ways transparency documents can be used when determining the appropriate material choices when designing the built environment.