ARDA Call for Entries Extended One Week [Monday MINUTE]


May 25, 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
  • Workshops & Gatherings
  • What We're Up To
  • Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry.

Let's dive in.

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Field Notes

ARDA Call for Entries Extended One Week

Register now, then enter on or before June 16, 2026

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.

Source: AIBD

MONTHLY NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, APRIL 2026

Is the single-family housing market taking a breather or just shifting gears? According to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest data for April 2026, the numbers show a fascinating tug-of-war between builder confidence and actual boots on the ground.

While multi-family projects are boosting overall construction numbers, single-family housing starts dropped by 9.0% from March. This suggests a temporary cooling or a supply bottleneck in the sector.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Register for the 2026 AIBD Annual Conference

The American Institute of Building Design's central gathering for building designers, industry professionals, and partners, offering a platform for advocacy, certification, education, networking, and recognition within the field.

  • July 29 - August 1
  • Cleveland, OH

Source: AIBD

NCARB Future Trends Report

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) just dropped its 2025 Future Trends Report, and it is a wake-up call for anyone in residential design. The report tackles everything from regulatory shifts to how technology and climate volatility are rewriting the standard of care. If you want to keep your firm ahead of the curve—and the codes—this is a must-read.

Source: NCARB (Downloadable PDF)

Innovative Materials and Technologies in Architecture and Interior Design

True luxury is no longer just about aesthetics; it’s about performance, place, and resilience. From the world’s largest certified passive house in Utah to fire-resistant shou sugi ban cladding in California, high-end clients are prioritizing hyper-local craftsmanship and climate-resilient architecture over mass production.

Source: Sotheby's

Nuts & Bolts

The Client Value Template

A one-pager to help frame, articulate, and stress-test your value proposition

Tired of competing on price? It’s time to change the conversation. When we pitch our services based on the number of drawings or hours spent, we commoditize our expertise.

This report is designed to help you frame, articulate, and stress-test your value proposition so you can confidently command the fees you deserve.

Source: Teamwork.com

(Downloadable PDF)

Please support our sponsor:

Our smooth, quiet, and dependable door and window automation systems are preferred by leading architects, designers, builders, and installers globally.

For more information, call 480-500-5468 today or visit https://www.summitautomation.com/AIBD

Workshops & Gatherings

AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.

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

June 17 - Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) 3:30 pm ET

July 29 - AIBD Compass Club Party - 7:00 pm ET - Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

July 30 - AIBD Annual Membership Meeting - Metropolitan at the 9, Cleveland, OH

AIBD Webinars

May 26 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (30 min) - Structural Engineer vs Architect - Design Meeting (0.5 P3 CE)

June 12 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - European Residential Design Trends America Is Missing (1.0 P3 CE)

June 16 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET Whole Building Design and the WBDG® (1.0 P4 CE)

Please support our sponsor:

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

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

AIBD Annual Conference - July 29-August 1, 2026 - The website is live

CEDIA Expo 2026 - September 1-4, 2026 - Denver, CO - Registration is now open!

Chief Architect - Virtual & On-Demand Training

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

SoftPlan - Virtual & On-Demand Training

Traditional Building Conference - June 16-17, 2026 - Cape May, NJ - Register now

What We're Up to

AIBD Chapter Meeting Replays: Capturing usable space beneath structural slabs

AIBD, Eastern Shore Chapter, May 20, 2026 Presentation

Drew Betz, director of sales and marketing, educates us on Nitterhouse Concrete's "NiCore" hollow-core concrete planks, which can be used in place of poured concrete floors. This allows maximum use of space beneath garage or porch slabs in an economical fashion, with long spans available to provide for large open spaces below. We'll also discuss other methods for creating usable space beneath slabs and the pros and cons of doing so.

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.

Have a triumphant week.


Thank you to our AIBD Corporate Partners. Their generous support champions our profession, and we encourage you to support them in return. Atlas Roofing, Chief Architect, Cogram, GreenHome Institute, JDS Consulting, MiTek, National Association of Home Builders, RL Mace Universal Design Institute, Shelter, and SoftPlan Systems,


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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

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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