Zonda - Resource Library

Housing represents one of the greatest challenges we face within the architectural profession and society as a whole. Innovative design is essential to the evolution of the multi-family housing market. Architects and designers are a major part of the solution—designing new and reimagining existing buildings in beautiful, sustainable, and cost-effective ways.

In this session, we discuss a range of projects that exemplify architectural ingenuity in affordable housing. One of the highlighted projects features modular sunscreen/rainscreen walls, an architectural solution which enhances both the projects' aesthetics and residents' sense of community.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Concrete is a rather ubiquitous, tested, proven, and versatile building material. It has been used for literally thousands of years to create long-lasting man-made structures of all types, including buildings. Architects in the past few centuries have found it to be an appealing choice to express dynamic and vibrant designs in ways that other materials could not. The ability to structurally reinforce concrete and form it into custom, free-flowing shapes can give it an organize quality that is different from most other materials. This can produce more design freedom and the ability to incorporate unique and custom features into a building as part of the basic construction process.

It is not surprising then that new technologies, techniques, and design approaches have been developed that allow architects to think and design with concrete in ways that are even more creative, structurally efficient, sustainable, and cost efficient. It is also common to couple the technical knowledge of concrete with the ability to design in three dimensions using building information modeling or similar design software to create award-winning and stunning facilities. Some architects even attest that their careers have not only been made possible but flourished through this combination.

Layton Construction, a leading firm in the construction industry, has revolutionized its visualization workflows using NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation GPUs. These GPUs have empowered Layton Construction to produce high-resolution still images, animations, and 4D sequences that capture every detail of their construction projects with unprecedented realism and efficiency.

Layton Construction’s adoption of NVIDIA RTX™ technology has led to improved project outcomes and client satisfaction by delivering more realistic and reliable visualizations and responding swiftly to client demands.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Developing the next generation of leaders is essential for every architecture firm's long-term success and sustainability, whether you're a solo practitioner or amongst the largest firms in the world. Leadership development is not just about succession—it's a critical investment in building firm value, motivating employees, increasing retention, and ensuring profitability. Firms that embed leadership training into their culture earn the trust and loyalty of their employees and clients while positioning themselves as industry leaders.

This webinar provides practical, scalable strategies to create a leadership pipeline tailored to firms of all sizes. Building on the principles of succession planning, this session demonstrates how leadership development drives innovation, strengthens business resilience, and secures your firm’s future.

Learn about the architecture of the future through examples from today. How will architects and designers think about crafting the spaces of the future?

In this discussion, ARCHITECT editor-in-chief Paul Makovsky and the expert panel examine case studies and forward-looking ideas that delve into what's coming for residential design.

Time-honored material offers a bold new expression of architectural excellence. Read why slate is an ideal cladding solution for numerous applications. In an industry and design environment where so many materials ask architects, contractors and owners to make difficult sustainability, performance and aesthetic decisions, consider how the simplicity and elegance of a reimagined building material presents a way forward with minimal compromise.

Forget what you think you know about basements — builders and contractors are giving these underground spaces a long overdue upgrade, transforming into valuable real estate that aligns with the needs of modern homeowners. We'll explore key strategies for designing and constructing basements that maximize space and provide a balance of functionality, comfort, and aesthetics.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Upon completion of Acucraft’s continuing education course, you will acquire a comprehensive grasp of specifying a custom fireplace, covering topics such as styles and locations for fireplaces, various types of burners, media, and accessories. You will also learn the crucial aspects of selecting an appropriate manufacturer with the right capabilities, understanding safety and testing procedures, and addressing potential challenges. The course will conclude with a detailed exploration of how to specify a custom fireplace, encompassing all necessary details, drawings, submittals, and requirements to guarantee the success of your fireplace project.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. This course explores how using concrete masonry units (CMU) in the built environment provides an integrated approach to climate-responsive design by simultaneously addressing three critical sustainability strategies: resilience, operational energy use, and embodied carbon reduction. Participants will examine how CMU construction offers inherent solutions to modern building challenges, from natural disasters and extreme weather events to energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction. The course demonstrates that CMU structures perform beyond code requirements without additional measures, providing durable, cost-effective buildings that support community resilience while contributing to low embodied carbon goals.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Is your architecture firm operating at peak efficiency, or are you constantly putting out fires? Many firms struggle with inconsistent business development, project bottlenecks, financial uncertainty, and disorganized operations—often without realizing the root cause is a lack of business maturity.

In this webinar, gain a clear understanding of where your firm stands today and, more importantly, the specific steps you can take to level up your business processes, improve efficiency, and drive sustainable profitability. We explore practical, real-world strategies for moving from reactive to proactive firm management, ensuring you’re not just delivering great designs, but also running a thriving, resilient business. Whether you’re a principal, partner, or senior leader in an architecture firm, this session will equip you with the actionable insights needed to build a more predictable, scalable, and profitable practice.