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Helping to Build a 2030 Vision in Quebec
 Institute President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, talks about the work of the Off-Site Construction Council during his presentation at the Vision 2030 Conference in Quebec.
National Institute of Building Sciences President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, headed north in February to present at a session during the Vision 2030 Colloque pour le Développement de L’Industrie Québécoise des Bâtiments Prefabriqués sur les Marchés Extériuers, held in Québec, Canada.
Sponsored by the Québec Wood Export Bureau; the Centre du Savoir sur Mesure at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; the Société Québécoise des Manufacturiers d’habitation (SQMH); the Québec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Exportation; the Québec Ministry of Forests, Fauna and Parks; the Québec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; and Natural Resources Canada, the conference served to engage the Canadian industry in an effort similar to the Institute’s Off-Site Construction Council (OSCC). During his presentation, entitled “Delivery of High-Performing Buildings in an Evolving Industry,” Green highlighted the activities of the OSCC (a speech very similar to the keynote presentation he gave at the inaugural Offsite Construction Expo, which the Institute co-hosted this past September in Washington, D.C.).
As a result of the discussions, the Canadian counterparts are seeking collaboration with OSCC to share information and best practices. Learn more about the Vision 2030 Colloque. Learn more about the OSCC.
Submit an Abstract for the October 2016 JNIBS Issue
The editors of the Journal of the National Institute of Building Sciences (JNIBS) are beginning the process of compiling articles for the October 2016 edition. The October issue will offer a special focus on hazard mitigation and risk assessment (HAZ), including building seismic safety. Additional feature stories will spotlight the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, the SAFETY Act, building enclosure design and building information modeling. Abstracts are due April 15, 2016. Submittals for the December 2016 issue also are welcome. Submit an abstract. Interested in advertising? View the 2016 JNIBS Media Kit.
Planning is Underway: Building Innovation 2017 Conference & Expo
The National Institute of Building Sciences is just nine months away from the fifth presentation of the industry's only all-inclusive Conference and Expo. Members of the entire building community will come together once again to connect, collaborate and create solutions that benefit the built environment. Building Innovation 2017 is set for January 9-13, 2017, at the 5-star Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. Plan to be there where Science meets Design® as the entire team of building professionals works together and gains insights while Collaborating for a High-Performing Future. Earn educational credits, network with industry experts and see the latest in industry advancements. Stay informed as the Conference program evolves. Sign up for updates at www.nibs.org/conference2017. To learn about sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities, email nibs@nibs.org.
Off-Site Construction Council Releases Results of Industry Survey
on Software Utilization
 The National Institute of Building Sciences Off-Site Construction Council (OSCC) conducted a survey in the summer of 2015 to identify the types, frequency of use and effectiveness of software platforms being utilized by the off-site construction sector. The Report of the Results of the 2015 Off-Site Construction Industry Survey of Software Usage, which OSCC released last week at World of Modular in San Diego, California, is now available for download.
A total of 22 participants, with more than half representing the architecture/engineering or general manager/general contractor disciplines, responded to the survey. All survey respondents used off-site construction elements in one or more projects over the past 12 months. While Autodesk provided the OSCC with funding to conduct the survey, respondents were not informed of such sponsorship. Though the response pool was small, the data still provided some helpful insights. Read the release.View the Report of the Results of the 2015 Off-Site Construction Industry Survey of Software Usage.
BSSC Presents Update on NEHRP Provisions, Project 17
During Second Annual Colloquium on March 8
Members of the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) played host to 56 participants during the second annual BSSC Colloquium on “Seismic Design Update 2016: An Interactive Exploration of the 2020 NEHRP Provisions and Project 17 Issues,” held Tuesday, March 8, 2016, in Burlingame, California. Participants gained an insiders’ view of what is intended for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) 2020 NEHRP Recommended Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, and for Project 17, Development of Next-Generation Seismic Design Maps, from public- and private-sector subject matter experts.
New to this year’s colloquium was a well-received two-hour workshop on “Public Input on Issues for the 2020 NEHRP Provisions.” David R. Bonneville, senior principal of Degenkolb Engineers and chair of the BSSC Provisions Update Committee (PUC), facilitated an open discussion for participants on topics and issues that should be considered by the PUC in the 2020 Provisions cycle.
The colloquium was preceded by the BSSC annual meeting and followed by meetings of the PUC and the Project 17 Committee. Presentations from the colloquium will be posted on the BSSC website in early April. Learn more about BSSC and the NEHRP Provisions.
April BSSC Webinar to Focus on Nonlinear Response-History Analysis
The National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) will host a webinar Thursday, April 28, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET, highlighting content in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program’s (NEHRP) 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions and ASCE/SEI 7-16, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.
Curt B. Haselton, PhD, PE, professor of civil engineering at the California State University, Chico, will present his research on Chapter 16: Nonlinear Response-History Analysis for the Design of New Buildings, followed by a question-and-answer session with the webinar audience. Architects who complete the seminar will be eligible to receive one health, safety and welfare (HSW) learning unit (LU) from the American Institute of Architects. Engineers are eligible to receive one professional development hour (PDH). Sign up now to attend.
April Cybersecurity Workshops Two Weeks Away
Sign Up to Learn How to Better Protect Building Control Systems
More and more building owners, including federal agencies, are using “smart” systems to improve the functionality of their facilities. These new systems can improve functionality and make it easier to maintain and operate the building. Yet, at the same time they can also expose the building to potential threats from hackers and others with malicious intent.
For the second year, the National Institute of Building Sciences is sponsoring introductory and advanced cybersecurity workshops to help owners, facility managers, maintenance engineers, physical security specialists, information assurance professionals, architects, engineers and contractors—essentially anyone involved with implementing cybersecurity in the facility life cycle—to learn the best practice techniques to better protect their facilities. One of the workshops specifically focuses on improving cybersecurity of Department of Defense (DoD) facilities, and is geared to help professionals involved with implementing cybersecurity in the facility life cycle to learn the best practice techniques to better protect DoD facilities. See the April dates.
Take a Virtual Tour of Mars City
Visit the Institute’s Booth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival
 Come visit the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) in Booth 1252 at the 4th USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., April 16-17, and take a virtual walk through Mars City. Tour the research facility, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, food production station, manufacturing area and even the Mars Rover garage, all by wearing three-dimensional (3D) oculus rift goggles and virtually walking through the Mars City building information model (BIM).
The exhibit, which is geared toward introducing middle school and high school students to the building sciences, is part of the Mars City Facility Operations (Ops) Challenge. NIBS teamed up with the Total Learning Research Institute (TLRI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop the Facility Ops Challenge, which puts students in charge of operating the Mars City base. The NIBS booth is just one of more than a dozen booths in the Festival’s Building Science Pavilion, all highlighting career opportunities in the building sciences.
Bring the kids and celebrate science with some of the biggest names in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The event is free of charge and includes hands-on science and engineering activities for people of all ages. Learn more.
Let’s Talk Building Engineering
Institute President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA (second from right) and Presidential Advisor Ryan M. Colker (second from left) meet with Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) President David Kitcatt (right) and CABE Chief Executive John Hooper on March 8 to discuss opportunities to collaborate in advancing building information modeling (BIM), the building workforce and codes and standards.
EPA Releases New Indoor Air Quality for Multifamily Housing
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released new, voluntary guidance: Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Multifamily Building Upgrades.
The new multifamily guidelines offer practical assessment protocols and recommended actions across 24 priority issue areas to help users manage the wide range of pollutants, such as secondhand smoke, that can migrate from unit to unit; improve ventilation; and control moisture that can lead to mold.
Also available for use with the new IAQ guidelines is a Multifamily Checklist Generator Tool. This Microsoft Excel-based tool allows users to generate a customized list of assessment protocols and recommended actions that apply to the selected upgrade project being pursued, whether a simple lighting upgrade, a whole-building upgrade or routine repairs and improvements. Get more information on IAQ in multifamily buildings.
Introducing the Building Sciences Career Center on WBDG
A Valuable Resource for the Next Generation
 Earlier this month, the National Institute of Building Sciences and its Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education Program rolled out a new Building Sciences Career Center on the WBDG Whole Building Design Guide® to help inspire high school students to become interested in a career in the building industry.
The National Institute of Building Sciences, Total Learning Research Institute (TLRI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began developing the Building Sciences Career Center to support the Mars City Facility Operations (Ops) Challenge, which serves to familiarize students with buildings, building systems and Mars. The Career Center highlights potential career opportunities in the building industry.
Both the Mars City Facility Ops Challenge and the Building Sciences Career Center will feature prominently at the National Institute of Building Sciences booth (#1252) during the USA Science and Engineering Festival, to be held April 16-17 in Washington, D.C. Read the release. Visit the Building Sciences Career Center. | 
