Building Innovation 2014 Conference & Expo Recap

Though weather delays and a slew of flight cancelations impeded arrivals at the beginning of the week, Building Innovation 2014—The National Institute of Building Sciences Second Annual Conference and Expo, was an overall success. Held January 6-10, 2014, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C., the event brought hundreds of building professionals together to focus on Advancing Life-Cycle Performance. With a final registration tally of 700-plus registrants; more than 120 speakers; 26 committee and council meetings; 22 exhibitors; 20 sponsors; 10 symposia; four keynote speakers; two workshops; two receptions; an educational session; a challenge; and a banquet, the week-long event was packed full of educational and networking opportunities. During the Conference, the Institute looked back on its 40 years of leadership and advocacy, and presented an informative agenda that highlighted its activities and programs for developing innovative solutions for the built environment. View a recap of the week’s events.

Institute Announces 2014 Executive Team, New Board Members

The 2014 National Institute of Building Sciences Board of Directors is now in place. The Executive Team includes James "Tim” Ryan as chair, Stephen Ayers as vice chair, John Kelly as secretary and Wally Bailey as treasurer. New members to the Board include Eric Lamb, Brian Larson and Jerry Shaheen. Charles W. Steger returns for a second term. Three members are retiring from the Board: Susan S. Klawans, Edward L. Soenke and RK Stewart, FAIA. Learn more about the 2014 Board of Directors.

Institute Honors 2013 Award Winners

Each year, the National Institute of Building Sciences recognizes individuals and organizations that have provided outstanding service to the Institute, the building community and the nation. The Institute honored its 2013 award winners at an Annual Reception and Awards Banquet held Wednesday, January 8, during Building Innovation 2014—The National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Conference & Expo. The 2013 recipients included Wagdy A.Y. Anis, FAIA; Martin Weiland, PE; and Jimmy W. Sealy, FAIA.

In the summer of 2013, the Awards Committee reviewed the 2013 submissions and selected winners from the nominees, based on how their work meets the mission, objectives and goals of the Institute. The Awards Committee will solicit nominations for the 2014 awards in late spring of 2014, with nominations due in July. Learn more about the 2013 winners.

TimHaahs Helps Create Green(er) Spaces and Places

Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc. (TimHaahs) recently worked with the City of Fort Lauderdale, the Green Parking Council and the International Parking Institute on an initiative to transform one of the city’s parking lots into a more sustainable asset and operation. This unique and collaborative program reviewed and adapted multiple rating systems and frameworks to create a “greener” lot at the City’s “Orchid Lot” serving the City’s courthouse. Timothy H. Haahs, PE, AIA, President/Chief Executive Officer of Timothy Haahs & Associates, is a member of the National Institute of Building Sciences Board of Directors. Read the release.

Save the Date — Building Innovation 2015

Join us again in 2015 as the National Institute of Building Sciences concentrates on Creating High-Performing Resilient Communities during Building Innovation 2015 — this third Annual Conference and Expo. Don't miss the chance to see the Institute in action and collaborate with building industry professionals. Plan to be there where Science meets Design™ for a compelling program featuring various symposia presented by the Institute’s councils and committees. During the week, the entire team of building professionals will find insights into the different aspects of resiliency and high performance. Credit-building educational sessions, idea-sharing networking events, stimulating technology demonstrations and inspiring award ceremonies are all on the Conference schedule. Sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities are available! Call 202-289-7800 or email nibs@nibs.org for more information.

SBIC Recognizes 2013 Beyond Green™ Award Winners

The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) recognized the 2013 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards winners at a luncheon held in their honor January 8, during Building Innovation 2014. The SBIC Jury selected six winners ranging across four categories. Each of the six award-winning projects, products, initiatives and innovations demonstrate leadership in advancing the production of high-performance buildings. Read the release. See photos of the winners.

Design Guidelines for the Visual Environment
Public Review Period Now Open

The Institute’s Low Vision Design Committee (LVDC) just finished crossing t’s and dotting i’s on the latest draft of Design Guidelines for the Visual Environment, now posted on the Institute’s website for a 60-day public review and comment period. This document is the first of its kind in the United States to offer assistance to design professionals and others in accommodating a growing segment of the population who live with the spectrum of vision disorders contributing to Low Vision. Through this process of public review, the committee expects to be able to refine the guidelines before its official public release for use by designers. Everyone is invited to make comments, suggestions, and edits to the draft; reviewers are also encouraged to provide supportive information, such as published data to assist the LVDC in validating the correctness of the data. Please visit the website, and submit your comments by mark-up of the draft or other written form to Stephanie Stubbs on or before April 4, 2014.

Save the Date — April 12-15, 2015
BEST4 Conference to Explore Performance Driven Architectural Design

Plans are well underway for the triennial Building Enclosure Science & Technology (BEST4) Conference, to be held April 13 -15, 2015, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, Kansas City, Mo. Hosted by the Kansas City Building Enclosure Council (BEC-Kansas City), BEST4, where Science meets Design™, is open to people working to create a better built environment. With more than 60 expert presenters already on board, the BEST4 Conference promises to advance industry understanding of performance-based design and present a forum for peer-to-peer discussion about full-building performance. BEST4 also will host a concurrent products expo offering one-on-one opportunities to discuss the most current building envelope products and services with some of the most knowledgeable products specialists on the continent. Download the Event Prospectus for information on sponsorships and exhibitor packages. To learn more about BEST4, visit the Conference website.

Congratulations on Longstanding Leadership

Institute President Henry L. Green (right) presents Steve Geusic with a plaque in recognition of his longstanding leadership on the WBDG Whole Building Design Guide Board of Direction and his support for Institute programs in general. Geusic, who is retiring from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), has represented NAVFAC on the WBDG Board for a number of years. His strong support for WBDG during that time has contributed significantly to the continued development and growth of WBDG into a worldwide resource for all aspects of building information.

FMOC Holds Successful Symposium at Building Innovation 2014

The Facility Maintenance and Operations Committee (FMOC) Symposium: Improving Life-Cycle Savings through Intelligent Building Data, held January 8 during Building Innovation 2014, featured excellent presentations and was well attended. Attendees became acquainted with activities that provide a solid foundation for communication and analysis. Speakers presented and then conversed in a moderated panel about three related areas in which FMOC members are engaged: OmniClass tables, equipment inventory standards and building sensor information exchange standards. FMOC Chair William Brodt moderated the discussion. Presenters included Greg Ceton, Director, Technical Services, CSI; Alan Edgar, Business Analyst, RSP I_Space; Robert A. Keady, Jr., CEM, FMP, Facility Manager, Author; and Chris Bogen, Computer Scientist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

NFMT Show: Where you want to be for FMOC, WBDG and COBie!

The National Facilities Management & Technology Show (NFMT), to be held March 4-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center, is a great place to learn the latest about facility management (FM) and operations and keep up with some related National Institute of Building Sciences activities, including the Facility Maintenance and Operations Committee (FMOC), Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBie) and WBDG Whole Building Design Guide. The FMOC meeting; 2 sessions on COBie; a session on the WBDG; and other FMOC related sessions will all take place at NFMT. And they are all FREE for Institute members and associates to attend. Find out more.

Don’t Miss FutureTech

Don’t miss Engineering News-Record’s FutureTech Conference, March 18-19th, in San Francisco. Learn more about 3D digital design and precision construction, the Internet of Things, smart infrastructure and how cutting edge-technologies—such as robotics, drones and augmented reality—will influence the workers of tomorrow. The National Institute of Building Sciences is a supporting sponsor of this event, which offers 6 American Institute of Architects (AIA) learning units (LUs). Institute members receive the “Discount Association Member Rate” of $345 for early bird (before February 14) and $445 (after February 14) to attend. Register now.