Design for Equitable Communities
Design solutions affect more than the client and current occupants. Good design positively impacts the future by helping communities thrive—socially, economically, and environmentally.
Learn more about the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Reproduced with permission of The American Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20006
Design for Equitable Communities
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Native Landscaping for Biodiversity
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Removal of invasive plants and support of native plantings are critically important for maintaining healthy ecosystems.
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ESG: 6 Things Building Professionals Need to Know
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Clients need AEC professionals to help them achieve environmental, social, and governance goals. Here’s how people are turning aspirations into strategies.
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Integrative Process: Pathways to Performance and Regeneration
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An integrative process can streamline workflows and drive higher performance. But if you do it well, it’s so much more.
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The Missing Embodied Carbon Link: Construction
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Some researchers say construction emissions could account for as much as 30% of a project’s embodied carbon. What can be done about it?
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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High Performance, High Design: The COTE Top Ten for 2021
News Analysis
The American Institute of Architects has announced its COTE Top Ten high-performance building winners for this year.
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Trauma-Informed Design: A New Social Equity Imperative
News Analysis
Trauma-informed design applies the principles of “trauma-informed care,” helping prevent re-traumatization while reducing stress for everyone. -
Racial Equity Impact Assessments and How They Work
News Analysis
Racial equity impact assessments are tools for analyzing community impacts of policies and projects, and can help teams center equity as an ongoing priority.
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Energy Impoverishment: What It Is and How to Fix It
News Analysis
A new Groundswell study looks at solutions to energy impoverishment, which low-income families face despite programs designed to help.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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The Missing Embodied Carbon Link: Construction
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Some researchers say construction emissions could account for as much as 30% of a project’s embodied carbon. What can be done about it?
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Keeping PFAS Forever Chemicals out of Building Products
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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to negative health and environmental impacts. Getting them out of our building products is going to require work.
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Keeping PFAS Forever Chemicals out of Building Products
Spotlight Report
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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part One: Embodied Carbon
Spotlight Report