Lunch & Learn: Residential Design Meets Technology
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mission Audio Video, 1910 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
1 LU
Lunch Provided! No charge for members
About
This seminar provides an overview of incorporating popular technologies, such as smart thermostats, motorized shades, lighting control, and security systems. In this fast-paced course, you’ll learn the latest interior technology and how it shapes the experience of spaces you design. You will get inspiration for how you can expand the breadth of your practice by incorporating technology into your designs without needing to be a technology expert.
Learning Objectives

Understand smart technology evolution in the past 50 years
Learn what interior technology is and how design meets technology
Discover interior technology function and benefits relative to: Infrastructure, Lighting, Media, Integration, and User Interfaces
Explore top interior technology residential applications, common misconceptions, and design considerations

January Global Design Series
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Mission Audio Video, 1910 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Between Permission and Practice: Informality in the Built Environment
Exploring worldwide design trends through the local lens of Santa Barbara.
We are delighted to invite you to the fourth session of our “Global Design Series”, a continuous series of inspiring discussions.
This talk & discussion will be led by Augustin Peytchinov. To reserve a spot, please visit our Eventbrite.

Emerging Professionals Open House at Central Coast AV featuring Neel Lighting & Controls
2026-02-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Central Coast Audio Visual, 4193 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, 93013, United States
Join the Emerging Professionals at Central Coast AV!

– 1 LU pending
-Refreshments and food provided

Celebrate Central Coast AV’s newly-minted Ketra Showroom and mix with your Emerging Professionals peers while exploring the lighting technology designers and architects are buzzing about. See firsthand how Ketra’s human-centric, museum-quality light elevates interiors, artwork, and everyday living.

Food and drinks will be provided.

About Central Coast Audio Visuals

At Central Coast AV, we’re passionate about delivering technology solutions that go beyond expectations, transforming lives and creating unforgettable experiences.
Each member of our team brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, backed by specialized licenses and training. From design and installation to maintenance and support, you can trust that every aspect of your project is in the hands of skilled professionals who are committed to delivering the highest quality product and service on the market.
Count on us to design and deliver high-performance home and commercial solutions that are intuitive to use and reliably deliver the experiences you crave.
Featuring the Neel Lighting & Controls Ketra Airstream
“The Ketra Airstream is a mobile lighting laboratory commissioned by Neel Lighting & Controls, the Lutron Controls representative in California’s central valley and central coast. Realizing our sales territory was vast, with few opportunities for our customers to visit a brick-and-mortar Ketra Experience Center, it was obvious that our market would be better served by taking Ketra to the people.
Now, we have a meticulously designed and built Ketra Experience inside an iconic Airstream trailer that can roll wherever it is needed to show, tell and sell the Ketra Experience.” – Neel Lighting and Controls

2025 Design Awards Exhibition
2026-02-05 16:00 - 2026-02-27 19:00 | Faulkner Gallery, 40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
The American Institute of Architects, Santa Barbara, proudly presents the 2025 Design Awards Exhibition at the Faulkner Gallery.
Faulkner Gallery
40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara
Open to the public from February 5 through February 27, 2026, the exhibit showcases the most inspiring and innovative architectural work of the year. A public reception will be held on the first Thursday, February 5, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, providing an opportunity to meet the architects and learn about the methodology and creative process behind their projects.

Lunch & Learn: Talking with Clients about Electrification
2026-02-18 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Presented by Dave Intner, AIA, Program Manager for the Energy Code Ace
1 LU
Lunch Provided! No charge for members
In this 1-hour session, we will provide attendees with essential information to foster confidence in answering clients’ questions about the why and how of pursuing an all-electric home. We will compare the Energy Code requirements supporting electrification, as opposed to a mixed-fuel design, and which design features support the reliability and affordability of an all-electric home.
Learning Objectives:

Summarize key facts regarding heat pump technology — as well as other electric technologies — specific to their performance, affordability, and impact on California electric grid.

Compare the Energy Code requirements for electric and gas appliances.
Describe the differences between all-electric designs and mixed-fuel projects in terms Energy Code compliance and likely impact on construction and operation costs.
Identify sources of information and how to access them for guidance on incentive programs, tax credits, and rebates supporting the deployment of heat pumps, electric equipment upgrades, and energy-efficient appliances.

About the presenter:
Dave Intner, with Southern California Edison’s Building Electrification and Codes & Standards team, is a Licensed Architect, LEED AP, and Certified Energy Manager. A graduate of Cal Poly SLO, Dave provides education and outreach supporting Building Decarbonization and Energy Code Compliance Improvement. He leads several initiatives focusing on zero net carbon design and energy codes. Other roles at SCE have included managing the field engineering group and assisting architects and engineers with design and incentive support as a program specialist in the Savings by Design Program. Prior to SCE, Dave practiced architecture for 15 years on buildings of just about every type, including custom residential, affordable housing, university buildings, and cultural facilities. A LEED Accredited Professional for over 20 years, Dave also guided several early projects through the full LEED certification process. Dave is the current Vice Chair of the AIA California Climate Action Committee, is a board member of CABEC (the California Building Energy Consultants), a past board member of USGBC California and has served on the LEED Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (EA-TAG).

March Women in Architecture Conversation Series
2026-03-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Brownstein, 1020 State Street, Santa Barbara, 91731, United States
1 LU Pending
We hope you’ll join us for our monthly Women in Architecture gathering. This month, we will be hearing from Haley Kolosieke, AICP, a Land Use Planner at Brownstein.
Since 1968, Brownstein has been more than a law firm – they have been a partner in building stronger communities, working hand-in-hand with local leaders to create solutions that matter. From expanding workforce and affordable housing to streamlining infrastructure and water projects, and through their recent work on the Agricultural Enterprise Ordinance, Brownstein remains committed to shaping a vibrant and thriving future for Santa Barbara for generations to come.
Haley launched her career in Santa Barbara in 2017 and looks forwards to sharing her professional journey, along with insights from some of her most rewarding land use projects. At Brownstein, she specializes in land use due diligence reports and entitlements, including conditional use permits, coastal development permits, cannabis licensing, and lot line adjustments and lot splits. She currently serves as the Santa Barbara Subsection Director for the American Planning Association Central Coast Section, she is a long-time board member of the Association of Environmental Professionals Channel Counties Section, and previously served as a team co-leader for AIA’s State Street Design Charrette in 2020.

AIA Women in Architecture (WIA) is dedicated to fostering relationships among women in the design industry, supporting career growth, and increasing the visibility of women in architecture. Our group includes a diverse range of architects and allied professionals – from firm owners to recent graduates – working together to make a positive impact in our profession and community.

Lunch & Learn: Solar + Batteries with Brighten Solar Co.
2026-03-17 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
1 LU
Lunch Provided! No charge for members
About
As solar and battery storage become standard in high-performance residential design, architects are increasingly called upon to integrate these systems from the earliest stages of a project. This presentation covers how early solar coordination preserves architectural intent, improves performance, and avoids costly retrofits — including roof design strategies, battery placement, whole-home backup architecture, and California Title 24 requirements.
Learning Objectives

Understand how early solar and storage integration influences roof design, electrical planning, and architectural detailing.
Learn what’s new in home battery technology and whole-home backup architecture, including how equipment placement and clearance requirements affect exterior design.
Gain a working understanding of California Title 24 solar requirements for new residential construction and their design implications.

AIASB March General Meeting
2026-03-18 17:30 - 20:00 | CEC Environmental Hub, 1219 State St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, United States
1 LU Pending
Dinner and Drinks Provided

About
Join us for an exciting and relaxed evening at our upcoming general meeting. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the chapter, this is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow architecture and design professionals.
This meeting will focus on a panel discussing “Santa Barbara’s Future: Leadership Perspectives on Progress and Opportunity” with Santa Barbara City Administrators.
Panelists
Kelly McAdoo
City Administrator
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA
Anthony Valdez
Deputy City Administrator
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA

Emerging Professionals Open House at Bildsten Architecture and Planning
2026-03-26 17:30 - 19:30 | Bildsten Architecture and Planning, 30 W Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
1 LU Pending
Refreshments and food provided
Join AIASB Emerging Professionals for a tour of Bildsten Architecture’s Studio Downtown!
Step inside the studio of Bildsten Architecture and Planning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their work, process, and passion for shaping sustainable communities along California’s Central Coast. This is a unique opportunity to see how a collaborative, mission-driven firm navigates local regulations, sustainability goals, and client needs—while creating architecture that enriches the broader community.
About Bildsten Architecture and Planning
From initial concept through construction, the firm designs complete environments that enrich the communities they serve. Their collaborative process emphasizes constant improvement, deep experience within complex local regulatory systems, and an unwavering commitment to listening carefully to clients’ goals, needs, and budgets. Throughout every phase, the team remains engaged and passionate about delivering meaningful design solutions.
With a strong belief in building sustainable communities, Bildsten Architecture and Planning advocates for vibrant, walkable neighborhoods that integrate housing, workplaces, schools, shops, and recreation. Their commitment extends beyond projects—actively participating in professional and community organizations to support thoughtful growth and lasting positive impact.
Reserve your spot!

Lunch & Learn: Illuminating Design
2026-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 | AIA Santa Barbara, 229 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
Presented by Ellie Doherty from dmf lighting
1 LU
Lunch Provided! No charge for members

Crafting atmosphere through lighting with dmf Luxury.

About
Thought and care is put into the design of a home, and lighting’s role should be to help realize that vision and cultivate an experience. In this course, we will understand how lighting affects materiality, finishes, and design details in a luxury residence. We will review the basic elements of lighting design and how they are used. Focus is placed on how lighting can be tailored to clients’ lifestyles and on learning about the different tools used to achieve design intent through lighting solutions. This course will review the different types of fixtures, their use, and what determines a fixture’s quality.
Learning Objectives

Identify the fundamental elements of residential lighting design and explain how appropriate lighting selection and placement support occupant health, visual comfort, and overall well-being in luxury homes.
Evaluate how lighting interacts with materiality, finishes, and architectural details to enhance safety, usability, and long-term performance of residential interiors.
Analyze different residential lighting fixture types and quality indicators to determine suitable solutions that balance design intent with safety, durability, and client lifestyle needs.
Apply lighting design strategies and tools to develop residential lighting solutions that support safe circulation, task performance, and adaptable living environments while maintaining design integrity.
