In the world of architecture and design, Lunch and Learns have become a delicious tradition—serving up slices of continuing education alongside sandwiches and specs. While they’re a valuable tool for earning AIA credits and staying sharp on codes and products, let’s be honest: the food often takes center stage.
🧠 Learn Something New. Earn Something Too.
Lunch and Learns offer bite-sized knowledge with full-sized benefits. You get:
- AIA Continuing Education Credits — 1 LU/HSW per session
- Updates on products and materials, emerging trends, and code requirements
- Solutions to design dilemmas straight from the source
Won Door’s lineup of CEU-eligible sessions is a great example. Our presentations meet the AIA/CES criteria for Quality Level 1 and cover fire-rated door systems and code compliance. Each course delivers 60 minutes of info-packed learning, complete with Q&A time.
📚 Courses Offered by Won-Door:
|
Course # |
Title |
Focus |
|
WDHEALTHCARE24 |
Horizontal Sliding Fire Doors: Healthcare Solutions |
Healthcare Solutions |
|
WDMULTIFAM24 |
Sliding Fire and Security Doors: Multi-Family Residential & High Rise |
Multi-Family Solutions |
|
0WDFG23 |
Sliding Doors in a Means of Egress |
Design + Code |
|
WD07OP23 |
Opening Protective Requirements in Fire & Smoke Walls |
Code Essentials |
|
NFPA3000WD28 |
NFPA 3000: Fundamental Concepts for Architects |
Safety & Preparedness |
|
FIREEGRESS23 |
Sliding Doors in a Means of Egress (On-Demand Video Course) |
Design + Code |
And yes—HSW credits require that at least 75% of content addresses building occupants’ health, safety, or welfare. That’s not just smart—it’s code.
🍽️ The Real MVP: The Lunch
Here’s where things get fun. Every Lunch and Learn host knows food logistics are part art, part chaos:
- Sweet tea or unsweet? 🧃
- Platters or boxed meals?
- Hot entrée or cold deli?
- What if the food doesn’t show up? (Cue: emergency pizza order! 🍕)
And don’t forget dietary needs:
- No dairy
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
- Allergies
🧑🏫 Stories from the Front Lines
Benjamin Snell, Won-Door Architectural Consultant for PA, NJ, Upstate NY & HI, shares his top Lunch and Learn moments:
Most-Asked Question? “How do you egress out of the door?” Egress confusion is a guaranteed topic—fire doors are fascinating, but code interpretation can be murky.
Most Surprising Incident? A presenter once had to pause mid-session when an attendee choked on lunch. Fortunately, someone knew the Heimlich maneuver, and everyone was okay. It was a dramatic reminder that safety goes far beyond your specs.
Most Difficult Topic? “When and where do you specify a movable fire wall?” It’s a nuanced conversation that varies by jurisdiction and project specifics. Getting this across clearly in under an hour? A challenge worthy of CEU credit itself.
😂 Humor Never Hurts
Why did the architect bring a ladder to the AIA Lunch and Learn?
Because they heard the presentation was going to be high-level.
If you’d like to explore design flexibility while meeting strict fire codes, visit wondoor.com to schedule your next AIA session. We offer in-person, virtual and on-demand training. And remember: whether it’s a lesson in safety or a lesson in sandwich logistics, there’s never a dull moment at a Lunch and Learn.
Guest Blogger: Brenda Bell, Business Development Associate, Horton Pedestrian Access Solutions
