AIA Canada Society - AI’s Role in Securing AEC Data: Paving the Path Forward

When: Wednesday 28 May 2025 @ 12:00 (Eastern US Time)
Where: ONLINE
CES: 1.0 LU for AIA Members

Speaker

Aaron Vorwerk, AIA, NCARB, EIT, LEED AP BD+C

Description

As AEC firms navigate an increasingly complex data environment, the need for robust data control and security has never been greater. With the rapid growth of project data, artificial intelligence (AI) offers practical, scalable solutions for managing permissions, preventing data leaks, and uncovering actionable project insights. Beyond automation, AI plays a critical role in supporting ethical and compliant data practices—enhancing, not replacing, human decision-making. This course explores how AI can empower AEC professionals to proactively manage data governance, mitigate risks, and build organizational resilience. It’s time for the AEC industry to adopt a smart, secure, and responsible approach to data through the thoughtful integration of AI.

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AIA Japan - Moreau Kusunoki: Resilience Through Design in Museums

When: Tuesday 27 May 2025 @ 06:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 19:00 (Japan time)
Where: In-Person (Gensler Tokyo Office, Minato City, Tokyo)/ ONLINE

Description

Join AIA Japan for an evening lecture by Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki of Moreau Kusunoki, the acclaimed Paris-based architecture studio.

Their talk, Resilience through Design in Museums, will share insights from their international practice and reflect on the evolving role of museums in contemporary society. CES credits available.

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AIA Canada Society - Building Code Updates for Tall Wood Construction in Canada

When: Wednesday 21 May 2025 @ 12:00 (Eastern US Time)
Where: ONLINE
CES: 1.0 LU for AIA Members

Speaker

Hailey Quiquero, MASc, P.Eng; Technical Manager, WoodWorks Ontario

Dammy Olafimihan, Meng; Technical Advisor, WoodWorks Ontario

Description

Mass timber is at the forefront of the shift toward more sustainable, low-carbon construction, offering a compelling example of how innovative materials can shape the future of our cities. As tall timber construction continues to gain momentum across Canada, the possibilities for sustainable and forward-thinking design have significantly expanded.

This session explores the state of tall wood adoption, highlighting recent regulatory advancements, including code updates that now permit encapsulated mass timber buildings up to 18 storeys.

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AIA Sub-Saharan Africa - Una Ferreira: Architecture Built on Solid Rock

When: Thursday 8 May 2025 @ 12:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 18:00 (Namibia Time)
Where: The Mining Auditorium, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Wagner Street, Windhoek, Namibia

Description

This talk focuses on the work and design philosophy of Una Ferreira.

Una Ferreira completed her Bachelor of Architecture in 2005 at the University of the Free State. She drawsdeep inspiration from her upbringing in Katutura, a township in Windhoek, Namibia, which ignited her passion for community service and human-centred design. Through her firm Una Stuurmann Architects and Social Enterprise Bold Creations, she embodies a profound architectural philosophy - anchored in the human vector in architecture - where each project is a heartfelt response to the people who will inhabit and experience spaces.

Her work is steeped in empathy and storyteIIing, as she strives to create emotionally resonant buildings that do more than just serve functional purposes; they care for the emotional and psychological well- being of the occupants. This approach, which she calls empathy layering architecture, involves a deep discernment of the social and physical needs of the community. Through this lens, she ensures that her designs are not just visually appealing, but also rich in physio- sociological architecture - spaces that address both the physiological and sociological dimensions of human life.

Her work extends beyond architecture into the realm of sustainable, community-driven creations. Bold Creations show cases Namibian talent through recycled and handcrafted furniture, art, and sculpture, emphasising her belief that architecture and design are powerful tools to foster both community pride and environmental stewardship. With every project, Una embodies innovation, care, and a commitment to the sustainable growth of her community, proving that architecture can be a force for social change.

AIA UK - Understanding the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

Join AIA UK for the latest lunchtime talk in our Sustainability Series - a guide to using the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.

When: Monday 31 March 2025 @ 07:30 (Eastern US Time)/ 12:30 (UK time)
Where: ONLINE
CES Credits - Estimated 1.0 LU/ HSW for AIA Members

Speaker

Jess Hrivnak, RIBA Lead on Sustainability

Moderator: Mark Breeze, AIA UK Sustainability chair

Description

Discover the essential elements of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS), launched in September 2024 to unify the approach to net zero carbon in the built environment. Join us to understand how to leverage this comprehensive and collaborative standard to design, verify, and future-proof your projects, and dispel any greenwash claims. The Standard, created for the industry by the industry, provides robust, transparent guidelines to achieve Net Zero Carbon Aligned Buildings, and addresses upfront carbon, operational efficiency, and performance alignment with UK carbon reduction targets.

Jess Hrivnak will share how to use this free-to-access framework to initiate impactful change.

Speaker Bio

Jess Hrivnak is the RIBA’s Lead on Sustainability, and member of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard’s Technical Steering Group since its inception. She heads up the Institute’s work on the UKNZCBS Standard, and is responsible for the RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge guidance and the RIBA’s Chartered Practice Sustainable Development Toolkit. She works collaboratively within the Institute and with partner organisations to improve climate literacy, align design targets, strategies and processes. She is passionate about bridging gaps between sectors and disciplines to enable better guidance and action to improve planetary and human health outcomes.

AIA Japan - Book Talk: The Making of The Critical House

When: Thursday 27 March 2025 @ 06:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 19:00 (Japan time)
Where: Lutron Asuka Co., Ltd., 1 Chome−1−1 Shin-Aoyama Bldg. West 14F Minamiaoyama, 107-0062 Japan/ ONLINE

Speaker

Mohammad Eimar, Mohammad Eimar Architects; leading design, KKAA

Masaru Otsuka, Institute of Science Tokyo

Koshiro Ogura, architect and researcher

Description

A lecture and discussion exploring the research and editorial process behind the book “The Critical House: Words of 20 Contemporary Architects (Shokokusha, 2024).

The newly released book, entitled in Japanese 住宅は、批評する, “Houses Criticize,” reflects on the post-WWII concept of “criticality” in the architecture of Japanese houses and its evolving role since the turn of the 21st century.How did criticality become a precondition for the design of a single-family house? What sparked the turn away from it? The Critical House unpacks the initial debates within the architecture scene of the 1990s at the juncture between the “critical” and “post-critical” eras.

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AIA Middle East - Open Spaces. Design, Performance, and Sustainability

When: Tuesday 25 March 2025 @ 12:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 20:00 (UAE time)
Where: ONLINE

Speaker

Khalid Shamlawi, Regional Specifications Manager MEIA – Powder Coatings at Jotun

Description

Organised with Epic Metals, this webinar "Open Spaces - Design, Performance, and Sustainability" will be led by John Heinly, Western Regional Manager of Epic Metals Corporation.

EPIC Metals steel roof and floor deck ceiling systems have been installed in many United States landmark buildings over the past 50 years. These award-winning systems are located in both high profile and modest buildings across the U.S., North America, and the world.

EPIC systems enables a designer to create unique, visually open public spaces with responsible materials and unmatched acoustics.