Here's what you get:

• Field Notes
• Nuts & Bolts
• Highlights
• Workshops & Gatherings
• What We're Up To
• Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry.

Let's dive in.

For a solo designer or small firm, code development can often feel like something happening in a distant boardroom—until a new requirement hits your local permitting desk. That is exactly why AIBD’s newly secured voting representation on the ICC Admin Code Development Committee is a game-changer for independent residential design practices.

Source: AIBD

The latest Census Bureau data reveals a continued cooling in residential construction, with single-family housing starts dropping 4.6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 859,000. For a small design practice, a dip in national starts doesn’t spell doom—it signals a pivotal shift. When speculative production slows, clients pivot toward custom remodeling and bespoke design solutions to maximize their existing properties rather than building new.

Source: US Census Bureau

Based on the shared APBSORCIReport2026-final.pdf (specifically the Executive Summary covering the United States and Canada), residential builders face critical operational vulnerabilities that open the door for a residential design firm to position itself as an indispensable partner.

Builders are under immense pressure to keep projects moving smoothly from design to groundbreaking without blowing their budgets.

When your plans make the builder look good to the homeowner, you become their go-to designer.

Source: Buildertrend

While statewide standardizations make designing backyard units and small infill subdivisions easier on paper, financing hurdles for lot splits mean you'll need to help clients structure their projects carefully from day one.

Source: HousingWire: The Builder's Daily Logo

For micro-businesses and solo operators, the biggest hurdle isn't just finding qualified help—it's adjusting your pricing models to protect your profitability when clients balk at rate hikes.

Curious how your fee structure and hiring strategy stack up against national averages? Read the full article to see what top-performing boutique firms are doing differently.

Source: Business of Home

Raymond West, Ray West Designs (TN), Professional Member

Matthew Diehl (TX), Professional Member

Steven M. Saylor, Saylor Design Studio LLC (CA), Professional Member

Charles K. Volz, Castlerock Designer Homes (TX), Professional Member

Walter Smith, CPBD, One Five Design LLC (AZ), Professional Member

Muhammad Nabeel Shakeel, CPBD, #52-114, Cornerstone Construction and Design, Lincoln, RI (10/19)

Certification demonstrates a professional's mastery of industry-specific experience and knowledge.

November 4 - Board of Directors - everyone welcome!

November 6 - AIBD Office Hour (Virtual) - 11:00 am ET - 60 minutes (or so) of open discussion and collaboration (Members Only)

November 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) quarterly meeting

Just Added! November 18 - Western North Carolina Chapter (Virtual) - 10:30 am ET - Get Your Designs Published on a Budget by Modern Rustic Homes

RSVP Now! February 2, 2027 - AIBD's Viva Las Pizza Party (In Person) - Las Vegas, NV - 5:30 to 8:00 pm

October 27 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (45 min) - An ADU for U: Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition

October 29 - From Site Measurements to CAD in Seconds: A More Efficient Workflow with InnoDraw (1.0 P3 CE)

to November 3 - Members Helping Members - 2:00 pm ET - Making Designer Docs More Client-Friendly (1.0 P1 CE)

to November 12 - 3:00 pm ET - Hiring Your First Employee: What You Need to Know (1.0 P1 CE) - Sponsored by Griffin Resources, LLC​

November 13 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Creating Where People Live (1.0 Elective CE)

Just Added! November 17 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET - Selecting the Right Glass

Just Added! December 8 - Members Helping Members - 2:00 pm ET - Design-Build: Chief Architect & Project Management Mode for Remodelers

AEC Daily - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

AIBD 2027 Annual Conference - Confirmed: July 28-31, 2027 - Williamsburg, VA

Green Home Institute - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

International Builders Show - February 2-4, 2027 - Registration is open.

NADRA Summit - March 3-5 at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. Cape Coral, FL

SelectSIPs Expo and Annual Meeting 2027 - March 8-9, 2027 - Phoenix, AZ - Registration is Open!​

SoftPlan - Virtual & On-Demand Training​

Traditional Building Conference - November 3-4, 2026 - Charleston, SC. Registration is Still Open​

With the venue officially locked in for the AIBD Annual Conference at The Williamsburg Lodge, we’re breaking down why this historic Virginia gathering is a high-ROI play for solo practitioners and micro-studios. Discover how stepping out of the daily production grind to tap into cutting-edge building science, code updates, and peer networking can actually supercharge your studio's efficiency and profitability for the year ahead.

Bookmark the link and follow the updates.