Continuing Education

The ancient concept of nature as healing got lost in the medical strides of the 20th century. Today, backed by extensive research, healthcare providers realize anew the importance of nature in reducing patient stress and improving health outcomes. This course teaches participants the principles of designing healing gardens, including a history of the role of nature in healing, research findings showing the curative aspects of nature, design features for healing gardens that improve mental, physical and social well-being, and the role of performance fabric for shade structures and seating in healing gardens.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the important role performance fabrics play in creating shade and seating in healing gardens as mounting evidence shows how contact with nature can improve healthcare outcomes.

Recall the inception of healing gardens and the studies that led to their creation

List benefits of a healing garden to patients, families, healthcare workers, and the environment

Describe the goals of a successful healing garden and some of the garden elements that support these goals

Summarize the considerations for designing shade and seating for a healing garden

Identify the fabric selection considerations for both shade and seating elements

You Can Earn:

1 AIA/CES Learning Unit (LU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)
1 IDCEC Continuing Education Unit (CEU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)
1.0 LA CES Professional Development Hour

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The Future of Shade Design CEU educates architects about the role of performance fabrics in creating new and innovative shade designs that inform the surrounding architecture and landscape, while also contributing to human comfort outside and inside buildings and improved energy performance of buildings.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss innovations and futuristic objectives for using shade structures constructed with fabric in commercial architecture.

Explain how shade structures made of fabric can add both appealing design and functionality to building structures.

Define the health benefits of shade structures for personal health and UV protection.

Examine how the use of textiles in shade structures can positively impact thermal performance and energy efficiency.

List LEED^® credits to which awnings and solar shade can contribute directly.

You Can Earn:

1 AIA/CES Learning Unit (LU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)
1 GBCI CE Hour for LEED Credential Maintenance
1 IDCEC Continuing Education Unit (CEU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)

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Today's high-quality performance fabric is soft, inviting and available in a wide array of colors, texture and patterns befitting any interior décor style, but has the proven durability and colorfastness to withstand harsh outdoor environments. This course provides an analysis of the manufacturing processes, testing and relevant sustainability considerations and discusses the many possibilities for designing exceptional luxury and lifestyle spaces with performance fabric.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the qualities that contribute to fabric performance and recognize in which applications each is critical.

Describe the manufacturing process and the different types of fiber, weaves, coloration methods and finishing used.

Restate the common testing methods used in the performance fabric industry.

List some of the sustainable initiatives in performance fabric manufacturing.

Explore how performance fabric can be used in luxury and lifestyle design.

You Can Earn:

1 AIA/CES Learning Unit (LU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)
1 IDCEC Continuing Education Unit (CEU)/Health Safety Welfare (HSW)

Take the Course