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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Labor Trends & The Gold Price Roller Coaster [Monday Minute]
Published about 4 hours ago • 4 min read
April 6, 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
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Field Notes
The U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs in March, and average hourly earnings are up 3.5% year over year.
With construction employment growing, now's a great time to reconnect with your preferred contractors. They might have the bandwidth to take on your new March/April design starts.
Also, with labor costs up 3.5%, focus on value engineering. Show clients how you can minimize on-site labor to keep project totals down.
The price of gold is on a roller coaster. Gilders are along for the ride
From daily price quotes to clients pivoting to "metal leaf" alternatives, the gilding trade is currently the design world’s most intense economic barometer.
To protect your project budgets, experts now recommend locking in material pricing immediately—even for projects months away.
Instead of a flat fee increase, provide a detailed breakdown of service components. This allows clients to see the "why" behind the numbers and gives them the agency to adjust the scope of work rather than walking away entirely.
From navigating 42-inch-deep footings beneath a custom paver patio to the precision of welding 4-inch C-channel joists, this article is a masterclass in blending structural metalwork with classic residential finishes.
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.
Traditional Building Conference - June 16-17, 2026 - Cape May, NJ - Registration opens soon
What We're Up to
AIBD board takes a position to oppose the U.S. Copyright Office proposed fee schedule
The U.S. Copyright Office has proposed a new fee schedule to fund IT upgrades and cover rising costs. Although these are valid goals, the new structure eliminates the "Single Application" filing option.
This change disproportionately affects the residential design profession, as many of our members are sole proprietors. For them, this represents a nearly 90% increase in the cost of basic intellectual property protection.
Read about this decision and the committee reports.
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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