What’s on...

Specifying Pedestal-Supported Paving Systems for External Applications

This CPD examines the role of adjustable pedestal systems in the design and construction of external paving applications, including terraces, balconies, podiums, rooftop spaces and hard landscaping areas.

Beginning with the function of pedestal-supported paving systems, the session explores how adjustable supports can be used to create level, accessible and well-drained paved surfaces over a range of substrates and site conditions. It covers key design considerations including substrate falls, height adjustment, paver support, spacer tabs, drainage paths, irregular layouts, concealed services, waterproofing membrane access and installation efficiency.

Participants will develop the knowledge to assess appropriate pedestal-supported paving applications, evaluate site-specific requirements, and apply specification principles that support safe, durable and maintainable external paved surfaces. The session also considers load support, surface stability, water management, maintenance access, material efficiency and long-term performance across commercial, residential and public realm paving projects.

Sustainability in Raised Access Floors: Enhancing Performance & Reducing Environmental Impact

This CPD examines the role of raised access floor systems in supporting sustainable, adaptable and lower embodied carbon building design.

Beginning with the history, types and performance standards of raised access floors, the session explores how these systems have evolved from technical infrastructure for cable management and ventilation into a flexible platform for modern commercial interiors. It covers key system components, load classifications, Australian standards, fire safety requirements and the practical considerations that guide specification.

The presentation then considers the role of raised access floors in sustainable design, including their contribution to energy efficiency, adaptive reuse, material circularity and green building certification pathways. A key focus is placed on embodied carbon, examining the industry shift away from relying on carbon offsetting and towards verified material transparency, Environmental Product Declarations, and measurable upfront carbon reduction.

Participants will develop the knowledge to assess raised access flooring systems against performance, sustainability and compliance requirements, and understand how specification decisions can support net-zero design goals. Real project case studies demonstrate how access flooring strategies can reduce carbon impact while maintaining flexibility, durability and long-term building performance.

The Last Mile: Managing Water Quality from Utility to Tap. Designing Building Systems that Protect Occupant Health in the Hybrid Era.

This session examines the Last Mile — the section of a building’s internal reticulation where water quality is no longer governed by the utility, but by architectural decisions.

As hybrid occupancy reshapes building behaviour, water systems designed for daily turnover now sit stagnant for extended periods — allowing disinfectant residuals to decay, temperatures to drift, and biofilm to establish within pipework.

Grounded in the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects, this session reframes drinking water as health infrastructure, exploring how design, hydraulic coordination, and maintenance-led specification influence water quality between the utility boundary and the point of use.

Permeable Pavement in Practice: Design Considerations for Sustainable Stormwater Management.

This CPD examines the role of permeable pavement systems in sustainable urban stormwater management. 
Beginning with the hydrological impact of urbanisation and the limitations of conventional drainage infrastructure, the session presents permeable pavement as a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) solution — covering the full design process from site assessment and system selection through to hydraulic and structural analysis, installation, and long-term performance. 

Participants will develop the knowledge to identify appropriate permeable pavement applications, evaluate system configurations for different site conditions, and apply design principles to stormwater management decisions in urban architectural projects. Real project case studies from Australian practice demonstrate system performance over time.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Product Potential, Benefits and Deployment

This session introduces Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) as a credible and increasingly necessary tool for architects working towards net zero. It covers the fundamentals: what BIPV is, how it compares to conventional rooftop solar, the types of PV technology available and the growing range of products now on the market. Attendees will leave with a solid grounding in how BIPV works and where it fits within a building's envelope.

Introduction to Disability Handrails 

This CPD session provides an introductory overview of disability handrails and their role in supporting safe, accessible and compliant built environments. It explores key handrail terminology, relevant requirements under AS 1428, the NCC/BCA and DDA, and practical considerations for specifying handrails across ramps, stairs, landings and public access environments. The session also examines material selection, kerbrail requirements, handrail terminations and key design details that help reduce compliance risk and support safer project outcomes. 

Caring for Country, Authentically: Co-designing Civic Furniture that Teaches, Connects & Endures. Designing outdoor environments that respect culture, include everyone, and endure in the public realm.

This CPD explores how outdoor furniture can move beyond functional infrastructure to become a meaningful medium for cultural connection, inclusion, and long-term civic value. As architects and specifiers face increasing pressure to deliver genuine social outcomes — not surface-level responses — the session reframes outdoor furniture as social and cultural infrastructure, not decorative assets. 
 
Anchored in Felton’s Caring for Country range and the work of Brett Parker (Billyara), this CPD places Indigenous storytelling at the centre of design thinking. Drawing inspiration from land, nature, and sustainable land management practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Brett’s work demonstrates how design can carry story, meaning, and education into everyday public environments. 

Through the integration of QR-enabled storytelling, each furniture element becomes a point of connection — extending oral storytelling into contemporary civic spaces and turning empty spaces into meeting places. 

Building on this foundation, the session examines how authentic co-design, accessibility beyond the building, and materiality fit for the public realm work together to support inclusive, durable, and future-ready civic environments. Using Felton’s Australian-made aluminium systems as a reference point, architects will explore how culturally respectful outcomes can be delivered without compromising compliance, maintenance realities, or long-term asset performance. 

Roof Plant Platforms: Compliance, Materials & Specification

This CPD examines the compliance, material and specification considerations involved in roof plant platform design.

The session explores how Australian Standards inform safe access, clearances, flooring, edge protection, structural loading and material selection. It also compares aluminium and steel platform systems, outlining key performance, installation and durability considerations.

Participants will develop the knowledge to identify compliant roof plant platform requirements, assess material and system options, and apply best-practice specification principles to support safe, durable and maintainable rooftop access solutions.