Residential Design’s Premier Annual Event
TheAmerican Institute of Building Design’s central gathering for building designers,
industry professionals, and partners, offering a platform for education,
networking, and recognition within the field
Featured Speakers
Agenda
Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Board, Council, & College Annual Meetings
- Archittectural Tour
- Compass Club Event
Friday, August 1, 2025
- Annual Membership Meeting
- Educatinal Sessions
- Lunch & Learn
- D+B Expo Happy Hour
Saturday, August 2, 2025
- Educatinal Sessions
- Lunch & Learn
- Gala Reception, Dinner, & Awards
Location
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Asheville, an IHG Hotel
Address: 1 Resort Dr, Asheville, NC 28806
Reservations: 844-330-0296
Room Rate: $165/night (+taxes & fees)
Our Industry Partners Attending
Schedule
Thursday, July 31, 2025
09:00AM-10:45AM EDT
National Council of Building Designer Certification
The Annual Meeting of the AIBD’s certification board.
Use this link to join virtually: meet.goto.com/AIBD/ncbdc (Registration is not required)
11:00AM-12:00PM EDT
College of Fellows
The Annual Meeting of the AIBD’s College of Fellows
Use this link to join virtually: meet.goto.com/AIBD/college (Registration is not required)
12:00PM-1:30PM EDT
Leadership Luncheon – In-Person Only
A working lunch – Those invited on-site include NCBDC, College of Fellows, and Board of Directors, plus those personally invited by the AIBD President.
2:00PM-4:00PM EDT
Board of Directors
The Annual Meeting of the AIBD’s Board of Directors
Use this link to join virtually: meet.goto.com/AIBD/board (Registration is not required)
5:00PM-7:30PM EDT
An Evening at The Biltmore (1.5 Elective CEs)
A guided private tour of the 19th-century mansion built by George Vanderbilt II, one of the most prominent examples of the Gilded Age.
Transportation will be provided. A limited number of tickets are available. Click Here to Purchase
7:00PM-10:00PM ED
The Annual Complass Club Event (aka The Kick-Off Party)
Gather with us at Visuals Rooftop Bar to sample regional flavors with local beer, wine, and culinary delights.
NO transportation will be provided, UNLESS you are on the Architectural Tour. Admission is included with a Conferencer and/or Tour ticket. Space is limited. Click Here to Purchase
Friday, August 1, 2025
09:00AM-10:30AM EDT
AIBD Annual Membership Meeting
Join us for a report on the current state of the organization. Meet our leadership team, learn about recent accomplishments, and explore our future goals. Your presence is valued as we share our journey and vision with you.
Use this link to join virtually: meet.goto.com/AIBD/annual-meeting (Registration is not required)
10:45AM-11:00AM EDT
Welcome Session
Introductions and announcements, plus 15 minutes of getting the lay of the land, so to speak.
Introduction to Hybrid Timber Frame Houses (1.0 P4 CE)
This seminar offers a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of designing hybrid timber frame structures. Participants will explore the structural fundamentals, engineering requirements, and hands-on techniques necessary to combine the elegance of traditional timber framing with conventional construction methods.
D+B café – Lunch-n-Learn
Lunch served on site.
The presentation begins at 12:30 pm EDT
Inspiring Awe: How to Add Magic to Your Design Presentations (2.0 P3 CE)
Bring your iPad and discover how to quickly sketch concepts and enhance them with digital painting that feels as natural and intuitive as traditional analog techniques. Learn how to make creative work addictive as you explore the power of layers and stencils, unlocking new ways to bring your ideas to life. Elevate your presentations with Morpholio Trace – Sketch CAD, the sponsor of this session, available as a free\* download for iPad and iPhone.
D+B Expo Happy Hour
Connect with fellow design professionals and take the opportunity to engage with and express gratitude to our event sponsors. Enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar as you network in a relaxed atmosphere with ample time to catch the shuttle and explore the vibrant entertainment scene in downtown Asheville.
Guests accompanying conference registrants are welcome to attend without the need for separate registration.
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Navigating Copyright Challenges (1.0 P1 CE)
For home designers, protecting their creative work and earning from it can be challenging, especially in areas under the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits, where enforcing copyrights is tougher. The Copyright Claims Board offers a more designer-friendly forum to safeguard your creations. Additionally, the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) provides another way to pursue infringers, even in regions where copyright enforcement is limited. Learn how these tools can help you protect your designs and potentially recover income from those who misuse your work.
10:30AM-12:00PM EDT
Designing for High-Performance: How We Deliver Healthy Buildings (1.5 P4 CE)
Presented by RODE Architects, Boston, MA.
- Kevin Deabler, principal and co-founder
- Mike DelleFave, Studio Director
D+B café – lunch-n-learn
Lunch served on site.
The presentation begins at 12:30 pm EDT
Course Introduction to Integrated Lighting Design
Description for the course: Lighting plays a key role in any room design, whether you’re considering how to showcase a piece of art or how to set a scene for an intimate dinner party – the ways in which lighting can affect the feel of the room are undoubtable. What many may not realize is how technology can enhance and even simplify a home’s lighting plan. Attendees will walk away from this course with an understanding of the variety of lighting design techniques that can be streamlined with the use of technology. Additionally, attendees will gain insight on how light quality is determined and how it plays into overall lighting design plans.
2:00PM-3:30PM EDT
Save time + draw more efficiently in SoftPlan/Chief/Revit-or Whatever (1.5 P3 CE)
Imagine starting a new project and opening your CAD software to find everything set up and ready to go. Many of us were taught how to assemble a set of construction drawings, as they are an extension of your business branding. But do you still begin each new project by copying an old file, deleting unnecessary elements, and redrawing the same components in a new layout? Stop! Professionals don’t rely on cut-and-paste tactics or piece together their most critical documents. That’s where templates come in. If you’re not using them, you could be wasting valuable, non-billable time. Join this session to learn from three experienced practitioners—one using Chief Architect, one using SoftPlan, and one using Revit. They’ll share how they’ve developed templates that deliver consistent, precise, and well-branded construction drawings with minimal effort, project after project. Start saving time and producing polished results every time!
Gala Reception (On Site Only)
Meet up with others in the Gala Reception Room and feel the excitement together as we prepare to announce the 2025 ARDA Winners.
Gala Dinner and Awards Presentations
Dinner begins at 6:45 pm EDT
Live Streaming Begins at 7:30 pm EDT.
AIBD’s biggest evening of the year! ARDA, Designer of the Year, Scholarships, New College inductees, and fun. A limited number of tickets are available. Click Here to Purchase