K2103L: Planning for Optimum Gym Operations
Course level: Beginner
Class Description:
To select the ideal gym control system and strategically utilize electrical circuits for optimized operations and monetary savings, the facility owner, architect, contractor, and controls equipment manufacturer should collaborate early in the project. This will support the safe and efficient operations of equipment including basketball backboards, volleyball equipment, and divider curtains. The course reviews the safety protocols for operating gymnasium equipment and goes into details regarding the assorted control system options.
Course Objectives:
- Review the rules for safe operation of large gymnasium equipment.
- Analyze the advantages and applications of control systems from simple key switches to canned group control systems to high-end custom programmed systems.
- Assess the advantages of pre-planning by the facility owner, architect, contractor, and controls equipment manufacturer when designing a gymnasium controls system.
- Review gymnasium control systems case studies portraying the collaboration project team process and optimized end results.
- Reduce wiring costs through proper pre-planning.
AIA Topic and Category:
- EM: Electrical and Mechanical
- LS: Life Safety and Codes
- PM: Products and Materials
- AIA Category: 8. Project Planning & Design
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
How taught:
An audio-visual presentation with graphics, drawings, and pictures. After the audio-visual presentation, there will be a question and answer period for feedback and interaction.
HSW Justification Statement:
Equipment suspended overhead is extremely heavy. Specifying the correct control system allows operators to safely move and deploy equipment such as gym dividers, basketball goals, volleyball systems, and more. In large facilities, wireless systems allow the operator to move around the gym, operating multiple pieces of equipment while maintaining eye contact with it to ensure there are no people in the area. Systems can also be set up to raise equipment automatically if safety alarms are set off to allow safe and rapid exit.
K2104F: Taking Control: Planning for Optimum Gym Systems
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Selecting the right gym equipment control systems for optimized operations.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the rules for safe operation of large gymnasium equipment.
- Analyze the advantages and applications of control systems, from simple key switches to canned group control systems to high-end custom programmed control systems.
- Assess the advantages of preplanning by the facility owner, architect, contractor, and controls equipment manufacturer when designing a gymnasium control system.
- Discuss gymnasium control systems case studies that demonstrate the collaborative project team process and optimized end results.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
This course is approved as a Structured Course
Approved for structured learning
Approved for Core Learning
This course is approved as a Core Course
Course may qualify for Learning Hours with NWTAA
Course eligible for OAA Learning Hours
This course is approved as a core course
This course can be self-reported for Learning Units to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia
K2102M: Window Shade Fabric Selection: A Performance-Based Approach
Course level: Beginner
Class Description:
Selecting shade fabric based on performance.
Learning Objectives:
To provide attendees with a clear understanding of the following:
- The impact of fabric color and openness factor on shade performance.
- How to determine shading coefficient and what it means.
- Advances in shade fabric technology and performance.
- Different fabric types and their composition.
- The difference between light filtering and opaque (or room darkening) fabrics.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Window Shade Fabric Selection
- Subcategory: Products and Materials
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU
K2103E: Whole Building Approach to Interior Roller Shade Fabric Selections
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Selecting shade fabric based on performance.
Learning Objectives:
After taking this course, you should be able to:
- Evaluate the whole building impact of roller shade fabrics on thermal comfort, energy efficiency, productivity, aesthetics, and views.
- Identify the characteristics of fiberglass and polyester shades, including the different fabric weave patterns and view-through options.
- Adjust colors, openness factors, and weaves to optimize comfort, performance, and aesthetics for the customized needs of each project application.
- Discuss the benefits of a complex glazing, whole building approach that considers how a fabric performs with the glass as a total system and integrates with the building’s facade, surroundings, geographical location, and orientation.
- Review modeling tools and mock up best practices to optimize shade fabric designs.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2007V: Window Shades—Their Impact on Building Performance and Budget
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Daylighting has been shown to have positive impacts on building occupants’ health, wellness, mood, and productivity. However, it also introduces issues with glare and solar heat gain. Shades address these issues. By introducing motorization and automation, the impact of a building’s shading system is maximized while taking into account individual comfort needs in a no-touch environment. Supporting Performance and Maximizing ROI is also covered.
Learning Objectives:
To provide attendees with a clear understanding of the following:
- The positive and negative impacts of natural light in commercial buildings, and a comparison of various types of shading strategies.
- How interior shading can improve occupant welfare, productivity, and comfort.
- How design details impact shade budgets, and how to avoid expensive COs and unnecessary RFI/ASI work.
- Why motorized shades make sense as a standard solution vs. a luxury upgrade.
- How automation amplifies occupant comfort and supports sustainable building strategies in a no-touch environment.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2007H: Supporting Performance While Saving Energy (online only)
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Designing solar shades to cultivate occupant well-being and promote whole building function. This class is online-only, courtesy of Architectural Record.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss both the positive and negative impacts of natural light in commercial buildings, and compare various types of shading strategies.
- Explain how a building’s energy can be conserved through specification of solar shades and how motorized shades can contribute to sustainability goals.
- Describe how interior shading strategies can improve occupant welfare, productivity, and comfort.
- Plan and coordinate exterior and interior design details to maximize budget and increase occupant and building benefits.
- Defend how motorized shades provide a superior return on investment and amplify both occupant comfort and energy efficiency while preserving aesthetic dynamics.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2010D: Mitigating Glare and Solar Heat Gain with Exterior Shading Systems
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Fabric zip systems, venetian blinds, and rack arm systems are highly effective strategies for optimizing daylighting, occupant comfort, and energy savings.
Learning Objectives:
- Review key research establishing the health and wellness, occupant comfort and productivity, and energy savings benefits of daylighting.
- Explain how solar heat gain occurs, and why exterior shading systems are an appropriate and effective way to manage it.
- Identify the main variables that must be evaluated to select the optimal exterior shading system for a project to improve the health and well-being of occupants.
- Describe the advantages, limitations, and applications of exterior fabric zip systems, venetian blinds, and rack arm systems.
- Discuss how to integrate control systems into exterior shading devices to maximize solar control and the impact on occupant health and wellness.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Products and Materials / Project Planning & Design
- Subcategory: Exterior Shading Systems
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2012D: LED Technology and Support Structures
Course level: Beginner
Class Description:
Light Emitting Displays (LED) are quickly gaining ground in architectural AV. LED last longer than other technologies; is brighter; is modular in nature; and seamless. This course will introduce the learners to LED technology, and discuss the elements of a proper support structure.
In this course you will learn:
- The benefits of direct view LED.
- Considerations for placement of a display.
- The elements of creating the correct structure for each installation.
- Requirements of a structure to support a seamless installation.
- Considerations of the Americans with Disabilities Act on LED walls.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Products and Materials / Project Planning & Design
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2101P: LED Technology and Support Structures
Course level: Beginner
Class Description:
Light Emitting Displays (LED) are quickly gaining ground in architectural AV. LED last longer than other technologies; is brighter; is modular in nature; and seamless. This course will introduce the learners to LED technology, and discuss the elements of a proper support structure.
In this course you will learn:
- The benefits of direct view LED.
- Considerations for placement of a display.
- The elements of creating the correct structure for each installation.
- Requirements of a structure to support a seamless installation.
- Considerations of the Americans with Disabilities Act on LED walls.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Products and Materials / Project Planning & Design
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
K2010N: Managing Glare and Solar Heat Gain with Exterior Shading Systems
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Fabric zip systems, venetian blinds, and rack arm systems are highly effective strategies for optimizing daylighting, occupant comfort, and energy savings.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key aims of solar control, including the benefits to health and wellness, occupant comfort and productivity, and energy savings.
- Explain how solar heat gain occurs and why exterior shading systems are an appropriate and effective way to manage it.
- List the main variables which must be evaluated when selecting a shading strategy to improve health and well-being of occupants.
- Review the advantages, limitations, and applications of exterior fabric zip systems, venetian blinds, and rack arm systems.
- Understand the importance of automated control systems in the development of an effective shading strategy that has a positive impact on occupant health and wellness.
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Products and Materials / Project Planning & Design
- Subcategory: Exterior Shading Systems
Credits offered: 1 AIA LU | HSW
HSW Justification Statement: Daylighting has been shown to have positive impacts on building occupants’ health, wellness, mood, and productivity. However, it also introduces issues with glare and solar heat gain. Exterior shading systems are the best solution to maximize the impact of a building’s shading system while taking into account individual comfort needs. Specifying the correct system to achieve these goals depends on many factors.
Click here to download a flyer about this course.
DL202: Daylighting 201–A Simple Guide to Motorized Shades and Controls
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
Properly specifying window shades can maximize the benefits of natural light, conserve energy, and increase the comfort and productivity of building occupants. Shades can also contribute to LEED credits. This course outlines the basics of shade specification and introduces the concepts of motorization and automation.
Learning Objectives:
To provide attendees with a clear understanding of how the benefits of natural light can be maximized and energy conserved through the proper specification of motorized shades and controls.
- An explanation of how motorized shades provide a superior opportunity for energy savings and increased productivity compared to manual shades.
- Correctly specified shades can meet the needs of the individual and at the same time assist in optimizing total building efficiency. How can motorized shades balance these two factors more economically than manual shades?
- Case studies indicating productivity boost, energy conservation, and savings in utility costs through the use of the correct shade fabric and method of motorized control.
- When specifying motorized shades what are the most important considerations to be made?
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 LU
DL302: Daylighting 302–Managing Daylight with Automated Solar Control
Course level: Introductory
Class Description
There are many benefits to designing spaces with ample views and daylight, and also challenges. Motorized shading can help solve these issues. This course takes a deeper dive into types of motorization and building automation to help get the most out of a daylighting plan.
Learning Objectives:
- Be able to discuss the benefits of natural light on the health and well-being of building occupants, and how it can be maximized and controlled to enhance personal comfort
- Be able to explain how improvements in health and well-being through the proper specification of automated shades will impact productivity
- Be able to discuss the importance of openness and color when selecting a fabric, and their impact on the health and wellness of occupants
- Detail how motorized shades can contribute to green building programs
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 LU | HSW
GBCI Course 910000011: 1 CE Credit
IDCEC: 1 CEU
HSW Justification Statement: Natural daylight and views improve occupant comfort and well-being. However, issues with glare and heat gain can reverse those gains and make people less comfortable. Through the correct specification of a shading system, those problems can be mitigated while the benefits are enhanced. Using motorization and automation increases the efficiency of the shading system and automatically provides improved comfort and well-being.
PS301: Updated Science of Projection Screens
Course level: Intermediate
Class Description:
There are many variables to consider in selecting or specifying a projection screen. In previous years, the same white projection screen material would be specified in nearly all situations. Today’s screen technology has created solutions to address issues in each individual projection environment. PS301 provides an understanding of the issues affecting projected light, and solutions for dealing with them.
Learning Objectives:
Provide attendees with a clear understanding of:
- Factors that must be considered in selecting or specifying a projection screen for a specific project
- How ambient light impacts projection and how to solve it
- The different types of projection screens
- ANSI/INFOCOMM 3M-2011 PISCR standard
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: 1 LU
HSW Justification Statement: Specification of the wrong projection screen reduces performance of the system. A washed out image creates eye strain, while a screen that is too large or too bright will negatively impact those with light sensitivity. The correct projection system, including projection screen, allows for comfortable viewing, and allows viewers to better understand and the information being projected.
GE201: Specifying the Correct Gymnasium Eqiupment for Athletic Facilities
Course level: Introductory
Class Description:
To provide a clear understanding of the various factors that must be considered in selecting or specifying basketball equipment for a specific facility. The course discusses the criteria for the selection the correct backstop series, style, and accessories, as well as the standards that should be considered when selecting suppliers of this type of equipment.
Learning Objectives:
Provide attendees with a clear understanding of:
- Factors that must be considered in selecting or specifying basketball backstops and other gymnasium equipment for a specific project
- How to select the correct basketball backstops and other equipment for a specific facility based on that facility’s structural design, intended use, and the Court and Equipment Rules of the applicable governing body
- The importance of planning gym equipment in concert with other building specialties
- How to select acceptable manufacturers to include in your specification
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: AIA 1 LU
HSW Justification Statement: Selecting the correct gym equipment creates a safe space for improving health through exercise.
GE502: Safety in the Gym: Specifying Equipment to Protect Users and Spectators
Course level: Intermediate
Class Description:
With bigger and faster athletes than ever before, the need for player and spectator safety in gymnasiums has intensified. This course identifies the various components and stakeholders inside a gymnasium, defines standards and features to ensure safety, explains the specification and installation of gymnasium equipment, and describes green certifications for gymnasium equipment.
Learning Objectives:
After this class, you should be able to:
- Discuss the need for player and spectator safety in gymnasiums
- List the various components and stakeholders inside a gymnasium and how they impact safety
- Define the standards and features to consider to ensure player and spectator safety
- Discuss the specification and safe installation of gymnasium equipment
AIA Topic and Category:
- Topic: Project Development and Documentation
- Subcategory: Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Credits offered: AIA 1 LU | HSW
HSW Justification Statement: Athletic equipment suspended in a gym is very heavy. Improperly specified or installed equipment has the potential to fall, injuring those below. It is imperative that the correct equipment and proper safety features be specified to protect players and spectators.