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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ARDA Call for Entries closes in one month [Monday Minute]
Published 1 day ago • 4 min read
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
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Field Notes
ARDA Call for Entries closes in one month
All residential industry professionals are eligible to enter individual or collaborative projects. Entries previously submitted to ARDA are still eligible, provided they haven’t yet won recognition in the same category. Entries may be entered in multiple categories (e.g., Custom Homes and Green Design), and all completed projects are eligible regardless of completion date.
Why interior design might be your biggest growth lever in 2026
If you’re looking to diversify your revenue streams—from procurement commissions to high-value consultation packages—this is the roadmap you need to scale your practice in the coming year.
Profitability in 2026 isn't just about the build; it’s about mastering diversified revenue streams like project management fees and material procurement commissions to boost ROI with low overhead.
Home exterior trends: Warm, timeless designs shaping 2026
This Home Exterior Trends guide breaks down why we are seeing a massive pivot away from stark grays and toward "sunbaked" hues and mixed-material cladding. If you're still specifying monochromatic siding packages, you might be designing homes that will look dated before the landscaping even fills in.
Which housing markets have the most—and least—mortgage distress right now?
As residential design professionals, we know that housing market health is a primary driver for new projects and renovations. While the market has been shielded by years of pandemic-era interventions, the landscape is shifting.
Inspiration: An outdoor conversation pit that will get People Talking
Most high-performance homes trade aesthetic flair for thermal envelopes, but this Passive House Forest Retreat in British Columbia proves you can have both.
The project features a stunning outdoor conversation pit tucked under a massive overhang supported by "off-kilter" columns—a masterclass in balancing technical rigor with sculptural drama.
Architectural Storytelling with Photography Resource Guide
Your project is finished, the lighting is perfect... are you reaching for your phone?
If you missed Roberta D'Andrea's masterclass on Architectural Storytelling with Photography last Thursday, don't worry. The full video will be available in the AIBD on-demand library soon. In the meantime, we have her essential Resource Guide to help you stop taking snapshots and start crafting compelling narratives.
A dodecagon requires careful layout to get the angles right.
If you’ve ever designed a faceted structure only to wonder how the framing crew will actually pull off those 30-degree corners, this deep dive is a must-read.
From engineering double PSL posts to managing a custom circular steel ridge, this article breaks down the complex geometry required to turn a high-concept design into a structural reality.
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 20 - Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) 3:30 pm ET - Capturing usable space beneath structural slabs
June 3 - 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
June 6 -North East Ohio Chapter (In Person) - 8:30 am ET - Baird Brothers, 7060 Crory Rd. Canfield, OH 44406
Traditional Building Conference - June 16-17, 2026 - Cape May, NJ - Register now
What We're Up to
NCBDC is seeking new Council Members
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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ARDA 2026 is accepting submissions, and we want to keep introducing you to the talented professionals who will be evaluating this year’s entries. Today, we’re excited to introduce Michael J. Battaglia — a residential designer whose career spans nearly five decades and whose obsession with accuracy and well-coordinated construction documents sets the bar for excellence in the field. Michael began his career in 1975 working as a Staff Designer for a residential building company. It was there,...
