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• 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.

We mourn the passing of long-time leader, mentor, and visionary, Edsel Breland, FAIBD.

Throughout his distinguished career, Edsel left an indelible mark on the residential design community. Beyond his commitment to craft and uncompromising standards of excellence, he was one of the early pioneers of "stock" or "pre-drawn" house plan marketing—a groundbreaking approach that brought professional design to a nationwide audience.

We extend our deepest condolences to Edsel’s family, friends, and loved ones. His contributions to our organization and the residential design profession will not be forgotten.

Source: Our Mississippi members

Think new construction is the only path to high-value design commissions? Think again.

In a striking analysis of U.S. housing data, economic analyst Joseph Politano reveals a historic shift: Americans are now spending more money annually on home improvements and additions—over $430 billion—than on building new single-family homes. With the average American house reaching a record age of 37 years and homeowners locked into lower mortgage rates, adapting existing structures has officially overtaken building from scratch.

Source: The Argument

Despite 15 consecutive months of depressed builder confidence, US lumber prices have hit a 4-year high.

Expect continued volatility and upward pressure on framing and material estimates when specifying wood products. Keep budget buffers flexible and stay proactive with clients on cost expectations before plans hit engineering.

Source: WoodCentral

The construction industry continues to gain traction. Stable homebuilding momentum—paired with steady average hourly earnings ($37.62)—signals ongoing demand for residential design services and structural planning.

Source: US Department of Labor

Ever feel like mainstream architectural theory traded deep, human-centered spatial wisdom for flashy, sculptural novelty? In his latest piece for Common Edge, Dr. Michael W. Mehaffy critiques how modernism and Deconstructivism misapplied complexity science—treating it as mere visual spectacle rather than a framework for human habitat.

Source: Common \ Edge

Ever feel like mainstream architectural theory traded deep, human-centered spatial wisdom for flashy, sculptural novelty? In his latest piece for Common Edge, Dr. Michael W. Mehaffy critiques how modernism and Deconstructivism misapplied complexity science—treating it as mere visual spectacle rather than a framework for human habitat.

Source: Common \ Edge

After ten installments, the series is now complete, and SIPA’s latest blog breaks down each document. Developed by SIPA’s manufacturing members and paired with video instruction from Al Cobb of SIPschool, it distills decades of field experience into a practical reference for anyone building, specifying, or subcontracting on a SIP project.

Pay close attention to BP-5: SIP Shop Drawings. Architectural plans don’t build panels—shop drawings do. Reviewing manufacturer-converted CNC fabrication drawings before sign-off is your best defense against costly fixes and structural issues.

Source: SIPA

Rick Gibbs, Scale and Sketch, LLC (AL), Corporate Member

Molly Rothenberg, CPBD #41-120, Peartree Homes, Charleston, SC (7/8)

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

September 2 - Board of Directors - everyone welcome!

September 4 - AIBD Office Hour (Virtual) - 11:00 am ET - 60 minutes (or so) of open discussion and collaboration (Members Only)

Registration Open: September 24 - AIBD Colorado Connect - 9 am to 4 pm - Douglas County Libraries, 100 S. Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO, 80104

November 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) quarterly meeting

August 14 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Collaborating with Interior Designers (1.0 P3 CE)

August 18 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET - Passive Survivability (1.0 P4 CE)

August 25 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (45 min) - Top Recommended Books on Sketching & Drawing for Designers (1.0 P3 CE)

NEW September 1 - Members Helping Members: A Wall Bracing Methodology for Residential Design, by Seda Collier

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

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

Chief Architect - Virtual & On-Demand Training

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

NEW NAHB Fall Leadership Meeting - October 6-8, 2026, Detroit, MI - Registration is open!​

NEW SelectSIPs Expo and Annual Meeting 2027 - March 8-9, 2027 - Phoenix, AZ - Registration is Open!​

SoftPlan - Virtual & On-Demand Training​

Traditional Building Conference - November 3-4, 2026 - Charleston, SC. Registration is Open​

We rely on volunteers to help drive our mission forward. Whether you’re a seasoned design professional or simply passionate about the industry, we’d love to have you on board. From participating in committees to mentoring the next generation of designers, there are plenty of ways to get involved and make a meaningful impact. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please reach out to learn more about current opportunities.

The meeting was held to update members and associates on organizational activities, financial status, future plans, introduce incoming officers and board members, and discuss key operational and committee reports for the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD).

​National Association of Home Builders​

​RL Mace Universal Design Institute

​Scale and Sketch, LLC​ ​

​Shelter​

​SoftPlan Systems​