Effectively document construction progress while avoiding key mistakes
Best Practices
ROI of High-Performance Design
June 11, 2021
Buildings designed with high-performance elements reduce negative impacts on the environment and improve the health and well-being of occupants. Maximize your…
Best Practices
Architect’s Guide to Building Performance
November 28, 2023
Energy modeling early and often is the best way to improve building performance. The Architect’s Guide to Building Performance helps architects better integrate…
Best Practices
ROI: Healthier, more productive occupants
November 28, 2023
Our indoor environments have a direct impact on our health and wellness. High-performance design elements, such as air quality, thermal comfort, and daylighting…
Best Practices
Starting Your Own Firm
November 30, 2023
Three AIA members share their experiences starting their own firms and transitioning from employee to employer. Although each person’s career path is unique…
Best Practices
Spreading construction specifications firm knowledge
June 5, 2023
Author: Deltek
An experienced design professional's wealth of knowledge is critical to well-coordinated construction specifications. Learn how to increase and…
Best Practices
Architecture as a value proposition
November 30, 2023
Contributed by Barry Lynch, AIA, CFM
Chapter 6.02
When selling your services to a potential client, it is important to sell the value of good architecture rather…
Best Practices
The Safety Assessment Program
November 29, 2023
The AIA Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Training teaches architects, engineers, building officials, and inspectors how to assess homes, buildings, and…
Best Practices
Assembly-based design advantages for better project delivery
November 29, 2023
Author: Deltek
Explore the three key advantages to assembly-based design—offering project team members a better line of sight into design intent and the…
Best Practices
Four ways architects can fight climate change
November 29, 2023
Time’s running out to slow down global warming. With climate change-related natural disasters increasing in size and frequency, the role architects play in…
Best Practices
The standard of care: How is it applied?
December 5, 2023
The function and application of the standard of care is a nuanced, complex, and multi-faceted issue that must be evaluated from different perspectives.
Best Practices
Managing quality in the design development phase
December 6, 2023
Contributed by Michael J. Lough, AIA, Principal, Integral Consulting
Chapter 12.03 Checklists
Access a design development checklist for managing quality in the…
Best Practices
Creating equitable communities: Construction administration
November 29, 2023
Upholding community principles through construction helps to ensure the community gets direct economic and workforce development benefits from the project.
Best Practices
Pathways to firm ownership & leadership
December 1, 2023
Explore architecture firm best practices on leadership succession and development to nurture and expand the skills of emerging professionals and young…
Best Practices
Harassment Prevention Resources
November 28, 2023
Explore resources to identify, respond, and prevent all forms of harassment in the workplace.
Best Practices
ROI: Codes, standards, & reporting on resilient design
November 28, 2023
Designing beyond building codes and standards provides significant resilience benefits to both building owners and occupants.
Design and health
Inclusive restrooms & locker rooms in K-12 schools
June 11, 2024
Contributed by Cheryl Jacobs, AIA, Greg Louviere, AIA, & Benjamin Fields, AIA
AIA Best Practices
Inclusive restroom & locker rooms offer a more human and…
Sustainability
Putting sustainability into practice
November 28, 2022
Author: Deltek
Explore five architecture firm best practices for implementing sustainable designs and specifications and staying on top of evolving…
Best Practices
Good vs. bad specs—why architects should care about the difference
July 10, 2019
Author: Deltek + Avitru
Bad, undetailed design specifications can lead to lost time and increased confusion while jeopardizing your design vision. AIA partner…
Best Practices
Five tips to power project collaboration
December 9, 2021
Author: Deltek
Collaboration is key to every construction project. Explore five tips to improve collaboration on a construction project team—architect, engineer…
