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.

While single-family building permits ticked up 2.5% in July 2026, actual housing starts took a sharp 9.9% dive—exposing a growing disconnect between intent and breaking ground. For residential designers, this divergence signals that client demand and interest remain active on paper, but construction delays, financing friction, or supply chain bottlenecks are stalling projects before the shovels hit the dirt.

Source: HUD

Could domestic lumber costs finally get some relief? A new federal proposal aims to fully repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule, potentially opening up 44 million acres of federal forest land to responsible timber management and domestic harvesting.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

Great design isn’t always found in today’s glossy trade mags—sometimes, the best inspiration comes from the residences history forgot. Architect and curator Daniel Tudor Munteanu has built OfHouses, an incredible digital archive dedicated entirely to documenting forgotten, overlooked, and off-the-beaten-path residential architecture from around the globe.

Source: OfHouses

Layout issues in historic homes can often be solved by shifting access points—relocating a doorway through an adjacent secondary space (like a pantry) can reclaim major sightlines, preserve privacy, and unlock room for modern prep seating without blowing out the original footprint.

Source: Fine Homebuilding

Terrence Lavan, Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GA), Student

Jess Roach, University of Central Missouri (MI), Student

Marcus Wayne Smith (IL), Associate

This week's movers and shakers:

Thank you, Anthony Rowe, CPBD, for sending us a new Associate Member! You're only one more recruit away from earning Bronze Level CC membership! 🎉🥳

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)

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

February 2, 2027 - AIBD's Viva Las Pizza Party (In Person) - Las Vegas, NV - 5:30 to 9:00 pm - More info to come.

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

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

September 11 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Rising Stars. Meet AIBD's future. (1.0 Elective CE)

September 15 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET - Water Collection and Reuse Strategies (1.0 P4 CE)

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

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

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

International Builders Show - February 2-4, 2027 - Registration opens September 1.

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

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.

​National Association of Home Builders​

​RL Mace Universal Design Institute

​Scale and Sketch, LLC, Shelter​

​SoftPlan Systems​