The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design.
AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance.
AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.
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Is the "open concept" closing its doors? [Monday Minute]
Published 10 days ago • 5 min read
May 4, 2026, Edition
#CreatingWherePeopleLive
This weekly newsletter
is created by and for those designing homes in North America.
Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.
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.
Email servers may truncate this newsletter because it is too long. Read the complete Monday Minute at AIBD.org/mondayminute.
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Field Notes
What a day in Castle Rock! AIBD Connect Colorado
If you’ve ever had a client who couldn't visualize a 2D plan or wanted to ditch foam insulation without losing performance, you missed a masterclass in modern residential design.
From Michael Brightman’s high-speed SketchUp workflows to Amy Meyers’ full-scale floor plan walkthroughs, the day was packed with tools that save time and money.
Hosted By: AIBD, Colorado Chapters
Have an idea for a local connection in your area? We’d love to hear from you.
Two- to four-unit housing starts reached 19,000 units last year—the strongest performance since before the Great Recession—though they still represent only 5% of the total multifamily market.
The 2025 edition of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) has officially arrived, marking the first major update in several years. As the only ANSI-approved residential green rating system, this update is more than just a footnote—it’s a roadmap for the next generation of high-performance design.
As residential designers, we’ve spent years knocking down walls to create that seamless flow clients craved. But according to the latest trends for 2026, the pendulum is swinging back toward "Broken Floor Plans."
US housing starts jump to highest level since late 2024, but warning signs mount
While U.S. housing starts hit a 1.5 million annual pace in March—the highest since late 2024—the foundation for the coming months looks a bit shaky. Between sagging builder confidence and a sharp drop in permits, the current "boom" might be more of a temporary surge than a long-term trend.
While most of the industry was distracted by new AI chatbots, Autodesk quietly dropped a foundational shift in Revit 2027 that actually matters for your workflow.
The inclusion of a built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server might sound like technical jargon, but it’s the first time a major BIM platform has opened its doors for external AI agents (like Claude or ChatGPT) to talk directly to your model.
Congratulations to those celebrating the anniversary of their membership this month.
A special congratulations to...
Larry D. Adams CPBD - Retired | Retired | AZ | for celebrating 40 years.
Wayne Evan Visbeen CPBD | Professional | MI |, Donald McLeod Peterson CPBD | Retired | TX |, and Charles Walter West | Professional | WV | for celebrating 20 years.
Charles A. Bado CPBD | Associate | MA | and Jason Pederson | Professional | CO | for celebrating 10 years
and...
Matthew L. Edwards | Professional | TX | and Eleni Befekadu | Professional | TX | for reaching the five-year mark! 🎉🎊
Congratulations to those celebrating the anniversary of their certification this month.
A special congratulations to... Len Van Staalduinen CPBD #34-148 | NC | for celebrating 30 years!
and...
Eleni Befekadu CPBD | # 44-797 | TX |, Christopher Hanson CPBD | # 15-111 | IN |, Matthew L. Edwards CPBD | # 44-798 | TX |, and David K. West CPBD | # 36-133 | OH |, are all celebrating 5 years!
🎊🎉
Thank you for your expertise, commitment, and passion for enriching our field and setting a high standard for those who follow in your footsteps.
Murus high-performance building enclosures simplify designing sustainable, energy-efficient, and net-zero residential and light commercial buildings. For more information, call 570-549-2100 or visit www.murus.com.
Workshops & Gatherings
AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils
Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.
May 6 - Board of Directors (Virtual) 4:00 pm ET - Connect with your board members and share your insights.
June 5 - AIBD Office Hour (Virtual) - 11:00 am ET - 60 minutes (or so) of open discussion and collaboration (Members Only)
June 5 - Denver Metro Chapter (In Person) - 10:00 am MT - Walk Your Plans, 8000 S. Lincoln Street, Suite #3, Littleton, CO 80122
May 20 -Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) - 3:30 pm ET - Capturing usable space beneath structural slabs
THIS WEEK, May 8 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Designing for Lifestyle Trends: Home offices, multigenerational living, and wellness-focused spaces. (1.0 P3 CE)
Traditional Building Conference - June 16-17, 2026 - Cape May, NJ - Register now
What We're Up to
The Backbone of Excellence: Join the Certification Council
July 29, 2026 Annual Meeting
Operating an industry-wide certification program is a massive undertaking. To align with international standards, it requires more than just an exam—it demands significant financial investment and specialized man-hours to manage, audit, and promote the integrity of our credentials.
The American Institute of Building Design relies on volunteers to power the committees that keep our certification engine running. We are now seeking leaders to step into the role of Council Members.
The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design.
AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance.
AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.
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May 11, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive This weekly newsletter is created by and for those designing homes in North America. Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals. 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. Email servers may truncate this newsletter because...
