Designed for Learner Engagement
RDH’s multidisciplinary team of building science specialists and instructional designers developed Indoor Air Quality for Architects, a comprehensive six-part e-learning series tailored for architects and grounded in building science principles. The curriculum explores the critical relationship between IAQ and occupant health and safety, emphasizing how architects play a pivotal role in creating healthier indoor environments through thoughtful design decisions.
The six modules cover both fundamental and advanced topics, including IAQ Fundamentals for Architects, Ventilation and Filtration Strategies, Managing Indoor Contaminants, Moisture, Durability, and IAQ, Materials, Finishes, and Low-Emission Design, and Case Studies in Healthy Building Design. Together, they provide strategies to minimize contaminants, optimize ventilation and enclosure performance, specify low-emission materials, and manage moisture to improve both IAQ and building durability.
To maximize learner engagement and retention, the modules incorporate interactive elements such as knowledge checks, quizzes, and animations that break down complex concepts into digestible segments. Interview-style podcasts featuring RDH’s building science specialists add practical insights, while detailed storyboards map the course structure and content, ensuring alignment with NCARB’s standards and quality expectations throughout development.
Flexible Delivery and Impact
Our team worked closely with NCARB to define standards and settings for hosting and distributing the modules through their learning management system. This setup allows learners to revisit content, track quiz results, submit feedback, and receive automatic certification for continuing education credits. The six modules are now accessible to a wide audience through NCARB’s Continuum Education program. Designed for flexibility, the modules can be taken individually or as a series, with each offering one Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) continuing education learning unit accredited by the American Institute of Architects.
Since launching in 2023, these six IAQ modules have been well-received, with approximately 85% of course participants recommending them to their peers in 2025. The program remains a flexible and effective resource for architects seeking to fulfill their continuing education requirements while deepening their expertise in designing healthy, sustainable buildings.
