The knowledge behind gaining knowledge of metal architecture
Almost every architect is familiar with the requirements for continuing education to maintain professional standing in the profession. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is one of the leading movers and shakers of continuing education in the construction industry.
The basis for proof of ongoing education is the continuing education unit (CEU), which is a unit of credit equal to 10 hours of participation in an accredited program designed for professionals with certificates or licenses to practice various professions. The annual number of CEUs required varies by state and profession. Colleges, universities, or any association, company or organization that is willing and able to meet the standards established for a particular industry may be accredited to award official CEUs.
“CEU programs provide unbiased, science-based learning opportunities to increase architects’ knowledge to deliver high-performance and durable metal buildings for years to come,” says Doug Todd, market manager of commercial construction at Dow Building Solutions, Midland, Mich.
How an architect benefits
A basic CEU on metal identifies conditions where metal is appropriate for existing and new structures, and explores the characteristics, features and benefits of metal for architectural and structural design. Architects can quickly learn about the different kinds of metal systems and the important details of those systems. Many metal-focused CEUs available today go well beyond metal construction basics to cover specific topics such as retrofit, alternative energy, sustainability, energy savings and value engineering.
“Continuing education courses about metal construction, including cold-formed steel framing, can benefit architects wanting information about new installation systems, best construction practices, environmental benefits and available engineering services that assist with specification,” says Robert Warr, PE, LEED AP, director of engineering services at ClarkDietrich Engineering Services in Atlanta. “In today’s economy, it is important for architects to collect and disseminate new information about products and services that can be shared with general contractors. By regularly participating in CEUs that offer meaningful content, architects can increase the service they provide to clients and bring new ideas to the table when discussing projects.”
Architects can learn about very specific component parts that they can take back and use in their professional lives. “In metal roofing, it’s important to understand metal roof details around valleys, ridges, gables, eaves and peaks,” says Tony Newman, director of sales at Englert Inc., Perth Amboy, N.J. “Architects also get a good sense of the kinds of metals used and why, and the different kinds of coatings and their benefits, features and even their downsides.
“Special CEUs, like those on wind uplift, can familiarize architects with design conditions when using metal in high-wind environments including wind-uplift building codes and recommendations. CEUs on metal retrofit are valuable to architects and building owners faced with maintaining aging properties. Similarly, CEUs on sustainability and alternative energy are useful to architects and owners looking for ways to reduce energy costs over the long term.” Jeff Steiner, architect at JLG Architects in Grand Forks, N.D., believes the increased knowledge gained by CEUs leads to fewer problems and boosts architects’ confidence in their ability to do their job correctly.
“Metal siding that used to be seen as utilitarian has really become mainstream aesthetically. With the increasing use of metal, particularly its use in challenging forms and geometries, architects benefit greatly from the industry’s experience with proper installation detailing. Also, industry representatives are often helpful in illustrating pitfalls to avoid.”
CEUs teach current techniques
Architects benefit from CEUs by learning current techniques, technologies and regulations, and staying abreast of the current developments and the various procedures to have successful projects. “Architects benefit from continuing education because it brings them up to speed on the knowledge base of the materials,” says Dan Nicely, director of market development at Umicore Building Products USA Inc. in Raleigh, N.C. “Even though these materials are old and have been used for countless decades and in some cases centuries, there are changes that take place in availability, colors, textures and systems.”
These changes and new developments in the metal industry have a major impact on the longevity, construction costs, energy costs and maintenance costs of a new building or renovation. “Earning the credits keeps me up-to-date with new product options,” says Ted Haug, AIA, LEED AP, design principal at Legat Architects Inc. in Chicago. “With the wide variety of metal finishes, colors and applications available, it becomes necessary to participate in continuing education. Educated and informed architects have a better understanding of how to use metal panel products to their full potential.”
Brian P. Fredley, Associate AIA and president of BPF Design Inc. in Daytona Beach, Fla., agrees, saying: “The benefit is to understand the material and products that are currently available, and how these materials are used and applied to our projects. Understanding the details, cost efficiencies and other aspects of metal allows us to design more innovative buildings. We personally like courses in pre-engineered metal buildings, roof systems and components. We also have benefited from envelope or metal skin seminars that display all the latest products for roofs and wall sheathing as well as fasteners.”
How the industry benefits
The entire metal architecture industry benefits from having CEU-accredited architects. “To continue to grow the use of metal building products over alternative materials, we must educate architects on the materials available, proper use of materials and innovative solutions that are available,” says Rick Brow, director of marketing at CENTRIA, Moon Township, Pa. “Creative continuing education programs on metal materials can inspire architects to use more metal materials in their designs and help fulfill the industry’s desire to grow the use of metal materials.”
A better educated metal industry means better metal designs and installations. Better metal designs are the best way to promote metal systems. “The metal architecture industry benefits from having CEU-credited architects by having advocates for their product being employed in new project and renovation designs that in turn become an economic partnership for continued commerce,” says Fredley.
Daisy Lilley, marketing manager at Fabral, Lancaster, Pa., insists that architects up-to-date with the latest technical and specification information can ensure their designs meet the highest performance standards and aid in awareness of metal architecture. “Offering continuing education classes adds tremendous credibility to the metal industry,” she says. “In a sense, they validate metal, performance and design-wise, as a viable product for architects to consider. The metal industry employs many industry leading individuals and by offering high-quality education classes we communicate the professionalism of the metal industry and showcase the industry itself.”
Useful and popular classes
Metal architecture-based CEU classes range from the “Basics of Metal Roofing” to “Energy Efficiency Through the Use of Metal Roofing and Wall Systems.” They are very popular and useful based on the audiences’ experience.
Lilley says classes such as “Integrated Solar Roofing” and “Energy Efficiency Through the Use of Metal Roofing and Wall Systems” CEUs are very popular now because they both address topics that are “top-of-mind” for many designers. Additionally, the “Energy Efficiency Through the Use of Metal Roofing and Wall Systems” CEU specifically addresses the benefits of phase-change materials integrated with metal building envelope systems, something Lilley says is of real interest to architects.
A new and interesting CEU topic focusing on the emergence of the IgCC-the International Green Construction Code and its impact on green construction practices here and abroad-is in demand. Also, a topic that continues to be very popular with architects is sustainable design. “The sustainable design credits are more and more critical as architects and manufacturers become more green and more sustainable to the environment and the buildings they are putting together,” Nicely says.
Jim Bush, vice president of sales at ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., agrees, saying: “A hot button is sustainable tracks that address sustainability in construction. How metal can be incorporated into sustainable design, from solar technologies to air barriers, to creating more energy-efficient buildings. Most architects I have met encourage these types of programs. They welcome the opportunity for exposure to multiple products, I have seen a rise in energy-efficiency tracks. Whether or not their buildings are implanting those technologies, everybody loves to learn about those technologies.”
Health, safety and welfare (HSW) CEUs in architecture are very popular and relevant. Their course content consists of anything that relates to the structural integrity or soundness of a building or building site. Health aspects of architecture have salutary effects among users of buildings or sites and address environmental concerns. Safety aspects of architecture intend to limit or prevent accidental injury or death among users of the buildings or sites. Welfare aspects of architecture engender demonstrable positive emotional responses among, or enable equal access by, users of buildings or sites.
Huag says he is always interested in courses that allow him to investigate new aesthetic possibilities for metal projects. “I have frequently applied the knowledge gained in courses related to finishes and profiles to my own projects,” he says. Brow says he has found that architects love to see design-oriented CEU programs. “We have found that architects, in general, want programs that can qualify for both HSW and sustainability design credits.” Architects not only benefit from current technologies and procedures, but many feel business principles pertaining to metal architecture could be helpful.
“CEUs could be of benefit if they actually taught professionals better business practices, prepared young professionals to take on more responsibility, taught how to manage larger, more complex commissions, dealt with ever-changing business environments and laws, prepared them to react properly and professionally to a challenge when they arises, and taught them how to teach others to grow and be better mentors,” says Tony Cosentino, project design coordinator at Perini Building Co., Henderson, Nev.
AIA is top teacher
Manufacturer-sponsored and AIA-approved CEUs are the most common way to learn about metal industry developments and the niche metal markets of concern to architects. The AIA Continuing Education System (also known as AIA/CES) is a thriving, multifaceted, lifelong professional development program and the largest source of education specifically targeted to the design and building industry. This program was developed by the AIA to help members meet their state mandatory continuing education (MCE) requirements and to help them fulfill their AIA continuing education requirement for membership renewal. Most state licensing boards with MCE requirements recognize AIA/CES as the primary source of continuing education for their licensed architects.
“In addition, AIA/CES tracks continuing education courses taken by members and records them on their AIA transcripts as a service and as a benefit of AIA membership,” says Richard L. Hayes, Ph.D., CAE, AIA and director of knowledge resources at Washington, D.C.-based AIA, “AIA/CES enables architects to keep current, master new knowledge and skills, plan for the future, and responsibly meet the role society entrusts to a professional architect.
The program also allows members to fulfill a requirement for AIA membership and meet any state mandatory continuing education requirements. In this role, the program has the potential to be a primary force in the advancement of our profession.”
The AIA has developed a network of more than 2,000 educational providers made up of AIA chapters, affiliate organizations, firms, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations and government agencies. A search for courses by topic area and by provider in the AIA may reveal a course specific to a particular need via an online course directory. This system allows architects to determine in what areas they need to become better educated.
“AIA members and other architects licensed in states with [MCE] requirements for license renewal are required to complete a minimum number of hours of HSW-related training,” Hayes says. “AIA members are required to take 12 learning unit (LU) hours of continuing education per year in approved HSW topics.”
In-person versus online
With online continuing education, you can gain CEUs from anywhere in the world while you are sitting in your own home. With in-person “live” education, you get spontaneous interaction and instantaneous responses to questions. Which mode of education delivery is best? It depends on who you talk to. “Online seminars seem to be the preferred choice; it has the obvious advantage of convenience,” says Steiner. “No doubt this trend will continue.”
Dow Building Solutions has recently introduced webinars and will continue to support this type of continuous education with sessions planned on metal buildings. “Our experience with webinars has been overwhelmingly favorable,” Todd says. “With live presenters officiating, attendees can easily log in, watch the training session, download any supporting documentations such as CAD details or specifications, and ask any questions during the live session. An additional feature is it permits on-demand webinars where participants can log in later or even re-watch a webinar.”
But as an architect, Fredley prefers live education. “It is more meaningful and memorable,” he says. “To be able to listen to someone who has experience in the field is far more personal and informative than online. Nothing substitutes being able to use all of your senses to gain information in person.” Brow agrees, saying, “The ability to interact with a presenter is missing with most online education. Immediate questions cannot be addressed.”
ATAS is not doing any online CEUs and the primary reason, according to Bush, is “getting people out in front of the architectural community to present the programs in a professional manner, where we then in turn also become a resource or a consultant to those architects when they do pose questions. So it is a two-fold initiative, we are providing a service to the architectural community and it also allows our field representatives to create some face-to-face relationships to respond to questions face-to-face. Our AIA continuing education is typically lunch-and-learn type programs. Typically our field product representative conducts these face-to-face at an architect’s office, where they may bring in, if it’s a firm of 100 architects, 20 to 50 of them participating in the topic you are presenting.” Lilley feels both vehicles are great for learning.
“The online classes offer the architect freedom to complete when it is most convenient and without need for travel or taking time out of the office. The live education classes allow for another level of understanding as they have direct access to an expert who can answer questions and clarify topics. Plus, interaction with the rest of the class can be engaging and helpful to the learning process.”
Warr also sees advantages to both forms of learning. “A benefit of online training is it gives the architect more flexibility. If something comes up and a course needs to be paused, then the participant can easily return to the place they left off. Live training provides a great opportunity to interact with other professionals and continue the discussion after the presentation is complete. Most architects know which methods of learning work best for them and their schedule, so it is important to identify courses that fall into those strengths.”
Sidebar:Learn the new AIA CEU rules
AIA members can no longer self-report health, safety and welfare
(HSW) courses for credit. Members must complete HSW credits by taking qualifying courses from registered AIA/CES providers and these providers must report HSW courses for members to receive HSW credits.
These courses may be taken through traditional, face-to-face classroom learning, or virtual learning. Providers will be responsible for reporting HSW credits to be posted to member transcripts. Members can continue to self-report a general education course as it applies to the architectural profession for learning unit (LU) credit.
Qualifying topics will help AIA members improve the performance of their practice. In addition, members may self-report Professional Community or self-designed activities involving research or analysis. The new education requirement allows for six learning unit credits per year. While some courses do not qualify for HSW and sustainable credits, these learning unit courses are equally as important to the architectural profession.
When submitting a self-reported activity, you must include the name of the course, four learning objectives or an in-depth description, the number of learning units, and the contact information for the administrator of the course you attended.