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.

Last week, workers finally secured the ~15-foot upper arm of a cross on the top of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, a church that began construction in 1882.

And think of the church’s original architect, Antoni Gaudí, who died in 1926 when less than 25% of the church was done.

Source: Popular Science

“It’s a term that’s gone quite viral at the moment, but it’s not a new phenomenon,” Ruth Thomas, chief compensation strategist at Payscale, tells Fortune. “Peanut butter pay increases tend to come into play when you are in an environment of economic volatility and low wage inflation. The last time we really saw this was post the Great Recession, after the financial crisis in 2008 [and] 2009.”

Source: CNBC

While many companies are scaling back on the luxurious office perks employees once enjoyed, one benefit seems to be not only sticking around but thriving: free lunch.

Pretty much everyone loves free food, with research finding it a preferred perk among employees, especially as workers return to the office.

Source: The Hustle

As the population ages, the demand for homes that balance aesthetic appeal with lifelong functionality is skyrocketing.

This article highlights a massive, underserved market shift: the move away from "hospital-style" accessibility toward invisible, high-end aging-in-place design.

Source: The Daily Upside

With over a decade of experience as a BIM specialist, this video shares a clear roadmap for aspiring architectural drafters. Learn essential skills, from understanding drafting standards to mastering CAD basics, and get the tips you need to build a successful career.

Source: TD Vision U

Caleb Hughes, Creekstone Architecture (TX), Professional Member

This week's movers and shakers:

Congrats! Eugene Giles (TX) for recruiting a Professional member and joining the Compass Club! 🎉🥳

A special congratulations to...

• AIBD President, Ted Hake, FAIBD, CPBD Professional (OH), and David A. Ewald, Professional (NJ), for celebrating 30 years!
• Vinover Siegars, Professional (MD), for celebrating 10 years.
• Michael Mundy, Professional (KY), and Travis Z. Serra, Professional (RI), for reaching the five-year mark! 🎉🎊

Phillip Doak, CPBD #16-115, Oskaloosa (IA) (2/25)

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

March 4 - Tri-State OKI Chapter (Virtual) 10:00 am ET.

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

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

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

March 13 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Creative Burnout: How to stay inspired when projects feel repetitive.
(1.0 P3 -CE)

March 17 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

March 24 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET - SketchUp 2026 New Features and Tutorials (1.0 P3 CE)

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

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

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

CEDIA Expo 2026 - September 1-4, 2026 - Denver, CO - Registration opens soon!​

Chief Architect Virtual Training - March 11–20, 2026 - Sign Up for $995 $497.50

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

SoftPlan - Virtual training - February 24 – 27: SoftList, March 10 – 13: Roof​

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

AIBD Office Hour is a free, members‑only virtual meetup where designers can drop in, ask questions, and share practical solutions with peers. Bring a project challenge, a business issue, or simply listen in and offer your perspective. No slides, no script—just members helping members in real time.