How are you helping to create the new possible? The AU 2021 Call for Proposals opens soon, and we want to hear from you. It’s time to gather your ideas and think about the AU class that you could lead better than anyone. How are you contributing to the future of your industry? What lessons have you learned on your recent projects? What breakthroughs or thought leadership do you have to share? Call for Proposals will be open from March 30 through April 30. We invite the community to vote for their favorite proposals from March 30 through May 12, so submit your proposal early to get the most vot... READ MORE >

The lack of affordable housing in the United States is reaching crisis levels not only for the poor, but also for the middle class and upper-middle class. Over the past decade, both rents and home prices have risen while incomes have remained roughly flat. More than 18 million households spent more than half their income on housing in 2016. Almost half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent and nearly two-thirds of renters say they can’t afford to buy a home. The situation is often worst in areas experiencing rapid economic growth, such as the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Sout... READ MORE >

Embracing sustainable design was an important step for the AEC industry. Originally, it meant making design choices that reduced the negative impact of what we make and build. Net-zero buildings—structures that balance energy use with energy production over the asset lifecycle—are one example. Regenerative architecture goes a step further and aims to create buildings that give more than they take in terms of energy, water, and natural resources. The Living Building Challenge was started to bring attention to regenerative design approaches. A rigorous performance standard based on 20 different ... READ MORE >

Leaders in the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction are working to increase diversity and equity in their teams. While research shows that diverse and inclusive teams are linked to better outcomes in business, only 2% of licensed architects in the U.S. identify as Black, and only 17% are women. Further, as the industry responsible for designing and making our built world—from schools to skate parks, homes to hospitals, offices to airports—those in AEC have the added responsibility of considering the impact of their work on equity and inclusiveness in our broader society. At AU... READ MORE >

Until recently, if you wanted to know whether your product design would work as intended, you only had one option: make one and try it. If it didn’t perform as expected, it was back to the not-so-proverbial drawing board to revise and rework, then make another and try it again. Prototyping and testing was essential, but also expensive and time-consuming. Today, digital simulation tools are enabling new approaches in manufacturing. Whether you’re simulating gas or liquid flow with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), product performance with Finite Element Analysis (FEA), or commissioning an en... READ MORE >