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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

Why Designers Are Ditching Traditional Layouts for "Broken Floor Plans" [Monday Minute]

Published about 11 hours ago • 2 min read

October 27, 2025, Edition

Ignite your mind and improve the way you are #CreatingWherePeopleLive

This weekly newsletter

is created by and for those designing homes in North America.

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Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.

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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.

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Let's dive in.

Email servers may truncate this newsletter because it is too long. Read the complete Monday Minute at AIBD.org/mondayminute.

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Field Notes

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A New Home Building Assistant Wins Baylor AI Venture Challenge

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Houston junior Ava Truan and Danville, Calif., junior Christopher Ratana-Kelley, the founders of Zoneit.ai, which streamlines the permitting and design process, making it easier for you to break ground on a build.

Source: Baylor Lariat

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Creating the Perfect Appliance Package for Your Clients

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Successful appliance selection depends on understanding and balancing individual client needs, with flexibility for both classic essentials and cutting-edge features.

Source: KBBonline

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Rooftop Rain Harvesting Systems Are Trending

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Metal roofs are favored for rainwater collection due to their durability, efficiency, and lower risk of contaminant buildup compared to asphalt, slate, or tile roofs.

Source: DesignandBuildwithMetal

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Nuts & Bolts

Why Designers Are Ditching Traditional Layouts for "Broken Floor Plans"

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A "broken-concept" layout blends open- and closed-concept floor plans to create spaces that feel both connected and distinct, using partial walls, furniture placement, color, and subtle architectural elements to separate without isolating.

Source: HouseBeautiful

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Highlights

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Welcome New Members

And those returning

Joseph Walker, Student (MS)

Cogram - Alexander Von Boetticher, Corporate (CA)

Kara Desaro, Professional (AZ)

Tyson Munford, Professional (UT)

Don Stevenson, Professional (SC)

Pedro Lima, Educator (WI)

Shiloh Travis, Professional (TX)

Paul Kersey, Professional (GA)

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Thanks for Referring AIBD

This week's movers and shakers:

Thank you, ChatGPT, for leading Cogram to AIBD, its most recent Corporate industry partner! 🎉🥳

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Workshops & Gatherings

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AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

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

November 5 - Board of Directors (Virtual) 4:00 pm ET

November 16 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (Virtual) 11:00 am ET.

November 19 - Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) 3:30 pm ET.

AIBD Webinars

October 28 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET - Navigating Historic Renovations (1.0 P3 CE)

November 14 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Are stepped ceilings still a thing?

November 18 - High-Performance Homes Team - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

December 9 - QuickTie Products-High Wind and Seismic Tie Down System - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

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

Chief Architect's Residential Boot Camp - October 31, 2025.

Design+Build Cleveland - July 29-August 1, 2026

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

SoftPlan - Virtual training dates​

SBCA - Components Craft - February 24-25, 2026 - Austin, TX. - Information

Traditional Building Conference - March 24-25, 2026 - Salem, MA - Registration opens January 6

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What We're Up to

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ICC Committee Action Hearings

With a decisive 10-1 vote, the IRC Code Development Committee has recommended adopting the AIBD's definitions for Special Condition and Supplementary Documents. This recommendation follows the proposal's earlier approval for consideration in both the IBC and IEBC. The final step is a vote by all ICC members in May.

Questions or comments?

Have a triumphant week.

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Contact us at info@aibd.org, 800.366.2423, or 110 Front Street, Suite #300, Jupiter, FL 33477.

One more thing—we want to lead with transparency. AI was most likely used to complete this post in one way or another. Don't blame the technology if you find a mistake; in most cases, our emails are written by humans and AI-supported. Now and then, they are AI-generated and human-edited. Both humans and AI still make mistakes.

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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