Here's what you get:

• Field Notes
• Nuts & Bolts
• Highlights
• Workshops & Gatherings
• What We're Up To
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Let's dive in.

Despite a cooling housing market, residential building material costs aren't dropping as quickly as you might expect. While some essentials like softwood lumber and concrete are providing much-needed relief, other categories—specifically metal products—are seeing massive year-over-year surges.

Which materials are finally stabilizing, and which are still skyrocketing? How a 4.6% jump in energy costs is rippling through the supply chain, and a look at current framing lumber prices and future trends.

Source: NAHB

Discover why bringing down building costs might not be the "silver bullet" for affordability and see which cities have the widest gap between price and reality.

New research from UChicago Booth reveals a startling shift: the historical link between construction costs and home prices has officially broken down.

Source: The University of Chicago

Why are contractors pivoting to renovations, and what does the "structural advantage" of the remodeling sector mean for the 2026 housing market?

The gap between building a new home and fixing up an old one has never been wider. While U.S. home builder sentiment just took another hit in January, the remodeling sector is seeing a massive surge in optimism.

Source: Scotsman Guide

From legislators forming coalitions to builders leading grassroots efforts, real progress is being made, and efforts and successes offer a roadmap for others to follow.

Frustrated by the slow pace of construction, builders, local officials, and buyers alike agree that we do not have enough housing supply to meet demand.

Source: ProBuilder

The creators of SimCity wanted to create a realistic city-building game. The absurdities of America's parking policies made that impossible.

That's how many Millennials were first introduced to urban planning, complete with municipal budgets, zoning ordinances, and utilities. But there’s one aspect of city planning the creators were forced to fudge.

Source: The Urban Condition

Exceptional homes are about more than just aesthetics. Great architecture emerges from a deep understanding of space, light, and how people live. Your client's home should reflect their personality while working in harmony with their lifestyle. Here are our seven principles to help you facilitate good design.

Source: Matthew Montague Architects

Chris Wells, California Modular Houses, Inc. (CA), Professional Member

January 19 - Central Colorado Chapter (in person) - Walter S White Home Tour - 12:30 pm MT - Colorado Springs, Colorado

January 21 - Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) - 3:30 pm ET

February 4 - Board of Directors (Virtual) 4:00 pm ET - Members First - Connect with your board members and share your insights.

February 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (Virtual) 11:00 am ET.

February 17 - AIBD Pizza Party (In Person) - 5:30 pm ET - Orlando, Florida - Please RSVP

May 1 - AIBD Connect - Colorado - Castle Rock, CO.

January 20 - High-Performance Homes Team - The underlying principles of multi-layered, ventilated walls. - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

January 27 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET - SoftPlan: What's New in Version 2026 | Part 1s (1.0 P3 CE)

February 13 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Cost-Effective Build and Design Ideas (1.0 P3 -CE)

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

AirVent Attic Ventilation: Ask the Expert™ Seminar Schedule - In-person events - Schedule & Registration​

Chief Architect Virtual Training- January 7-16, 2025

AIBD Annual Conference - July 29-August 1, 2026 - Reserve your hotel room​

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

SoftPlan - Virtual training dates​

SBCA - Components Craft - February 24-25, 2026 - Austin, TX. - Information​

Traditional Building Conference - March 24-25, 2026 - Salem, MA - Registration Is Now Open​

Starting January 1, 2026, the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) will implement a $45 recertification fee for Certified Professional Building Designers (CPBDs) with suspended certifications.

Suspensions occur when certification maintenance isn’t completed within 60 days of the expiration date.

For questions about this fee, contact Certification Director Rusty Hudnet.