Industry Updates
Architects Certification Page
Welcome to the CCWA architectural continuing education resource portal. Here you can find information about our AIA-CES program. To start, our programs will focus in the cities of New York, St. Louis and Chicago. Check back here to see which cities are added to our list!
Why we became AIA-CES providers
The CCWA, through its affiliation with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), has an ongoing architectural outreach process, where we maintain one-on-one communications with architects in dozens of cities throughout North America. Our field representatives hear from architects regularly about their need to understand the architectural woodworking industry, including the material selection and installation process in a more comprehensive manner. Architects are then asked how best to present this material during these one-on-one meetings.
About our program content
All content is developed by veteran custom woodworking instructors, each with an average of 20 years of field and classroom experience. All content is reviewed and approved by a 10-member Labor-Management Committee for the Custom Woodworking Industry, which represents some of the largest and most successful custom woodworking shops in North America. Finally, all content is reviewed and approved by master instructors at the Carpenters International Training Center, which works closely with educational consultants from the custom woodworking industry to review and refine all educational materials.
Program Title: Hardwood Veneers for Architects
Length: One Hour
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the organic and manufactured anatomy of veneers
- Understand the various styles and types of veneers, including various looks, characteristics, and durability
- Understand how veneers are made from various trees
- Understand how best to match the correct veneer choice for the individual project
Program Title: Wood Species for Architects
Length: One Hour
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role various wood species play in an interior and exterior building or design/build project, including their attributes, pros and cons of various styles how each will act in a variety of environments
- Understand the sustainability factors that affect the building and construction industry
- Understand cuts and grades of hardwood, and common species for building projects
- Learn to identify the proper selection of wood species according to the desired result of the client
- Understand the role proper specification of wood species plays in completing a successful project
How we ensure quality instruction
The parameters as set forth by the AIA were studied prior to creating these programs, and we surveyed other skill crafts already certified by the AIA to understand how to leverage best practices. The result is our paying careful attention to meet learning objectives and time requirements. As for instructor delivery, the CCWA instructors and training center coordinators benefit from the UBC’s $10 million annual “train the trainer” program based at the International Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, instructors are given comprehensive training on the proper methods of instructional delivery, based on industry needs. Delivering AIA/CES programs is a regular component of that training.
Meet the experts
Three of the CCWA’s best instructors will teach the programs, all of whom are graduates of the above-mentioned “Train the Trainer” course. These include:
- Giancarlo Rachielle, Labor Technical College Mill Cabinet Apprenticeship Coordinator/Instructor, from the New York City District Council of Carpenters. Mr. Rachielle is certified by the New York City Board of Education and was a veteran mill/cabinet specialist in the field prior to his becoming a key instructor at this school
- James Cooper, former Mill/Cabinet instructor at the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship School and current business representative for the Chicago mill/cabinet industry. Mr. Cooper is also a veteran of the field, but also works closely with architects on a regular basis, adding to his knowledge of what is needed in terms of continuing education programs
- Kevin Byrne and Terry O’Reilly, both senior instructors and certified mill/cabinet professionals at the St. Louis Carpenters’ District Council Apprenticeship School. Both Byrne and O’Reilly hold several specialty certification licenses for architectural mill/cabinetry and have extensive field experience.