PH 120: The Architect’s Role in Passive Building

Name: PH 120: The Architect’s Role in Passive Building
Start: 2026-07-27T13:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-07-27T15:30:00-04:00
Location: Virtual Event

July 27 @ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Passive House 120: The Architect's Role in Passive Building on July 27th, 2026 from 1:30pm-3:30pm

About the Training
PH 120: The Architect’s Role in Passive Building is a course for practitioners who have completed PHMass’ PH101: An Introduction to Passive Building or have equivalent experience. Moving beyond foundational building science, this session focuses on the architect’s practical responsibility as the central coordinator of a performance-based design.

The course centers on the systemic interdependence required of passive building, illustrating how early decisions—such as building form—directly impact mechanical requirements and project viability. Participants will learn to navigate an integrated design process where architectural, engineering, and construction workflows co-evolve to meet Passive House standards. Key topics include airtightness requirements, cost optimization, energy budgets, and managing complex building transitions. We also examine the architect’s role in construction-phase quality control and the documentation shifts necessary to translate certification targets from the drawing set to the field. This training provides a framework for navigating the specific architectural challenges of successful Passive House delivery.

This webinar is eligible for 2 AIA LU / HSW and 1 Phius continuing education credits.

This is a live, in-person training led by Beth Campbell with Passive House Massachusetts. Training will take place in Downtown Boston. Exact location provided upon registration.

Beth Campbell, CPHB, CPHT, is the Education Program Director at Passive House Massachusetts with over 20 years of hands-on experience in residential passive building construction. Beth’s background as a high performance builder and project manager gives her a uniquely grounded understanding of real-world project challenges. She has a proven track record of delivering innovative net-zero and passive single-family and “missing middle” residential projects, and previously focused on improving panelized construction methods at Unity Homes/Bensonwood in New England. As a Phius Certified Builder course Instructor, a PHI Certified Tradesperson, and Chair of Passive House Rhode Island, Beth is deeply committed to empowering emerging high performance professionals by sharing practical, field-tested strategies to navigate challenges and achieve successful passive buildings.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the architect’s specific responsibilities as the central coordinator within the integrated design, engineering, and construction workflows required to meet Passive House performance standards.
2. Evaluate the systemic impact of early-stage design decisions, such as building massing, on a project’s energy budget, mechanical system requirements, and overall cost optimization.
3. Identify strategies for maintaining control-layer continuity across complex architectural transitions and high-risk building penetrations, including podiums, shafts, and utility interfaces.
4. Analyze the shifts in documentation and construction-phase oversight necessary to ensure that certification targets and prescriptive specifications are accurately translated from the drawing set to the field.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by July 6th, 2026

The Express Grant is designed to help businesses respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.

Course ID#: C-15027
Course Provider: Built Environment Plus
Course Cost: $175 per course per trainee

Express Grant Eligibility

Employers with 100 or fewer Massachusetts, W-2 employees are eligible to receive Express Program grants. Express Program grant applications must be submitted no fewer than 21 days before the training date. The following documentation is required to apply:

Signed Form W-9
Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, dated within 6 months from the date of application submission
Certificate of Compliance from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) that is not expired on the date of application submission

The contracting period of approved Express Grants begins 21 days after the grant application date and ends one year from this date. All training must be completed within the contract period to be eligible for reimbursement.

*Review the BE+ Workforce Training Grant webpage for additional eligibility requirements and other updates made by the Commonwealth Corporation.

Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

Full refunds are available only if written notice is provided 7 days prior to course start date. There will be no refund if less than one week’s notice is given.

Please note: Full refunds will be issued less the standard processing fee. In general, rescheduling is always preferred over refunds. Registration transfers are only allowed for rescheduling to a future training and cannot be transferred between individuals.

Don’t see a financial assistance option that meets your needs? Reach out to education@builtenvironmentplus.org to learn more about leveraging the opportunities available to you. Bulk discounts are available for 5 or more attendees at once.

BE+ is committed to providing accessible events. If you have a disability and require accommodation in order to fully participate, please indicate in your registration and we will reach out to you. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.