Dedicated Institute Counsel, John R. Keys, Jr., Dies at 67
John R. Keys, Jr., General Counsel to the National Institute of Building Sciences since 2004, who served as outside counsel prior to joining the Institute’s team, passed away unexpectedly on May 18. Present at every Institute Board of Directors meeting, John utilized his expertise in commercial litigation, intellectual property and arbitration to provide counsel on the Institute’s legal affairs. He was a retired partner with Winston and Strawn where he practiced for more than 30 years in their Washington, D.C. office before settling in Bend, Oregon, with his family.
“John has been an essential part of the Institute over his years here,” said Institute President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA. “We will miss his sharp legal mind and his guidance across our organization.”
In addition to his work for the Institute, John also served on the boards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, the Inspire USA Foundation and the High Desert Journal.
When not practicing law, John traveled around the world and exercised his talents for capturing amazing photographic images of wildlife and nature, amassing a large collection of photographs and photo journal essays. He grew up in Dayton, Ohio and received the first diploma issued by Archbishop Alter High School in 1966. He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating summa cum laude in 1970, and received his juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973. John will be greatly missed by the Institute staff and board members. His work for the Institute has been invaluable. Should you wish to honor him, the family asks that you do so through a donation to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation or his high school in Ohio.
Institute Supports White House Effort to Advance Resilience
and the Building Codes
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Ivy, FAIA, one of the building industry leaders to present during the White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes, welcomes attendees to a post-event luncheon held at AIA.
The White House convened the White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes on May 10 to bring increased attention to the important role of codes and standards in achieving a resilient nation. The National Institute of Building Sciences served as a liaison between the White House and the building industry leading up to the event. Institute Presidential Advisor Ryan M. Colker, J.D., moderated a panel of codes and standards developers.
The Institute is proud to have participated in the White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes. As the White House and members of the building industry bring increased attention to the important role of codes and standards in achieving resilience, the Institute will continue its efforts to advance resilience through a number of activities. View the list. Learn more about the Conference.
Institute Calls for Abstracts to Present at Building Innovation 2017
Share your Perspectives on Creating a High-Performance Future
The National Institute of Building Sciences is gearing up to deliver the fifth iteration of the industry’s only all-inclusive Conference where members of the entire building community come together to connect, collaborate and create solutions that benefit the built environment. Building Innovation 2017: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fifth Annual Conference and Expo will take place January 9-12, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C.
The goal for this Conference is to present a wide variety of perspectives as we focus on Collaborating for a High-Performing Future. With plans underway, we are reaching out to Institute council and committee members and inviting industry professionals to present during the four-day Conference. Industry leaders with valuable insights, case studies, best practices, lessons learned and/or remaining challenges are encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences with the broad audience of building industry stakeholders. Abstracts are due by June 15, 2016. View the abstract requirements.
Institute Board Signs Building Safety Month Proclamation
Each May, jurisdictions across the nation celebrate Building Safety Month to educate the public about solutions that improve the safety, sustainability and resiliency of buildings, infrastructure and communities. On May 12, during the National Institute of Building Sciences Board Meeting, in Washington, D.C., Institute Chairman Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP signed the Institute’s Building Safety Month proclamation. The Institute is a supporting sponsor of Building Safety Month and participated in several events throughout May in recognition of the month-long celebration. Read the proclamation.
LAST CHANCE! Submit an Abstract for the December JNIBS
The editors of the Journal of the National Institute of Building Sciences (JNIBS) are beginning the process of compiling articles for the December 2016 edition. The December issue will offer a special focus on building information modeling (BIM). Additional feature stories will spotlight building science education, the WBDG Whole Building Design Guide®, building enclosure design and more. Abstracts are due June 15, 2016. Submittals for the 2017 issues also are welcome. Submit an abstract. Interested in advertising? View the 2016 JNIBS Media Kit.
LVDC Members Enlighten America's Architects about Low Vision
Dennis Siemsen, OD, low vision optometrist with the Mayo Clinic’s Department of Ophthalmology (right) teaches a class of architects about the various types of low vision on May 20 at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention in Philadelphia, while lighting engineer Nancy Clanton, PE, president, Clanton & Associates, and Low Vision Design Committee (LVDC) Chair Edward Soenke, AIA, principal, The Design Partnership, wait their turns to address low-vision lighting design and architectural design, respectively. Despite the 7 AM class time, the LVDC members’ message was well received and appreciated by an audience of 110 architects. Learn more about the LVDC.
Resilience Building Coalition Releases Progress Report
Introduces Set of Resilience Principles
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and 38 other leaders of America’s design and construction industry released a report May 10 on progress made on the resilience front since the Resilience Building Coalition announced the Building Industry Statement on Resilience two years ago. The report includes results from a survey of signatories about how their work has been impacted by the Building Industry Statement on Resilience.
The Resilience Building Coalition also released a set of guiding principles to help the building industry adopt resilient design and policies. These include developing and advocating for codes and policies that advance resilience; developing “whole-systems resilient design” approaches for the built environment; and providing guidance, beyond the baseline life-safety codes, that recognizes the importance of fortifying property for individual and community resilience. Since the initial signing, the Coalition has added 19 new signatories. Read the release. View the Statement. See the Progress Report.
Free Registration to Attend Offsite Construction Expo Ends June 6
Join hundreds of offsite construction professionals, including professionals in the offsite construction industry, materials suppliers, consultants of all types of offsite construction processes and more, at the Second Annual Offsite Construction Expo, to be held September 21-22 in Washington, D.C. This event, which is hosted by the Modular Building Institute and co-hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences, is aimed at developers, architects, engineers, contractors, universities and government agencies. Qualified attendees who register by the June 6 deadline can attend for free. Register now.
Submit a presentation.
Exhibit at the event.
Institute Testifies about Using Incentives to Reduce Cost of Disasters
From left: MMC Chair Kevin Mickey, MMC Executive Director Phil Schneider and MMC Vice Chair Bryan Koon pause in the hearing room following testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
The way to achieve resilience in U.S. communities is through an approach that incorporates input, consensus, leadership and action from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from insurance and finance-related companies, lenders and foundations; forward-thinking communities and government agencies; and important decision makers, including homeowners, businesses and utilities. That is the message Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) Chairman Kevin Mickey gave during his testimony May 12 to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
The Subcommittee hearing on “Controlling the Rising Cost of Federal Responses to Disaster” focused on exploring both the rising costs and the potential solutions for lowering such costs. Addressing potential solutions, Mickey talked about a white paper released by the MMC and the Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE) entitled Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization. The basic premise of the incentivization strategy is that stakeholders invest in mitigation because they understand the benefits they personally obtain, such as: homeowners getting lower insurance premiums and higher home values; communities reducing their risk and becoming more desirable places to live; and governments lowering spending and minimizing losses in future disasters. View the news release. Read Mickey’s written testimony. Watch the hearing.
Creating Safe and Secure School Facilities
Institute Program Director Roger Grant addresses an audience of architects at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Conference May 19 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He talked about ways to improve the safety and security of schools and how the Integrated Rapid Visual Screening (IRVS) for Safe Schools manual can help architects identify school-specific threats and corresponding levels of protection so they can incorporate them into their designs.
Next BSSC Webinar to Focus on 2015 NEHRP Design Examples
The National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) will host a free webinar, “2015 NEHRP Design Examples,” Tuesday, June 28, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET.
The third in a series of webinars sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that highlight the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program’s (NEHRP) 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for Buildings and Other Structures, this webinar will provide an overview of the NEHRP Recommended Provisions: Design Examples, which illustrate and explain the applications of the 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions; ASCE 7-16: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; and the material design standards referenced in both documents. Robert G. Pekelnicky, PE, a principal of Degenkolb Engineers in San Francisco, member of the BSSC Provisions Update Committee and chair of Project 17’s Acceptable Risk Work Group, will give the presentation. Register for the webinar.
Green Talks Resilience at International Concrete Sustainability Conference
National Institute of Building Sciences President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA talks about the importance of building resilient communities during his May 17 presentation at the International Concrete Sustainability Conference in Washington, D.C.
Celebrate High Performance Building Week June 13-17
High-performance buildings play a central role in solving some of the nation’s most pressing challenges. Each year, members of the High Performance Building Coalition, including the National Institute of Building Sciences, work with Members of Congress during High Performance Building Week to expand awareness of the importance of high-performance buildings. This year the theme for High Performance Building Week is Challenges and Solutions for Improving Resiliency, Workforce Development, Energy and Water Efficiency.
A number of activities in Washington, D.C. are scheduled for the week, including a reception and several Congressional briefings, including one on the Consultative Council’s 2015 Moving Forward Report, which contains policy recommendations to Congress. View the schedule of events.
Johnson Receives ASTM International Performance of Buildings Committee Top Award
ASTM International’s Committee on Performance of Buildings (E06) presented its top annual award, the Award of Merit, to Paul G. Johnson of SmithGroupJJR, Inc. for his honorable leadership and personal dedication. The prestigious award, which includes the accompanying title of fellow, is ASTM’s highest recognition for individual contributions to developing standards.
Johnson is the principal of SmithGroupJJR, Inc., leader of the Building Technology Studio of the company and leader of Construction Administration for the Detroit office. In addition to ASTM, Johnson is a member of the International Code Council, the National Institute of Building Sciences and the National Roofing Contractors Association, and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American Institute of Architects, where he is a fellow. Read ASTM’s release.
Steering Committee Hosts Webinar to Highlight Changes
in NCS Version 6
A record 386 industry professionals attended the free May 5 webinar to learn about the latest edition of the nation’s computer aided design (CAD) standard, the United States National CAD Standard® (NCS) Version 6 (V6). During the webinar, entitled, “Introduction to the NCS V6,” members of the buildingSMART alliance® NCS V6 Steering Committee reviewed the latest changes to the standard, including the introduction of a new NCS building information modeling (BIM) implementation module, the revamping of the Symbols library and inclusion of new survey/civil content, before taking questions from attendees. Questions ranged from why a BIM module was added to whether the NCS Steering Committee is committed to representing the needs of the survey/civil engineering community.
The NCS V6 Steering Committee presenters included: Ed Lowe, CAD Coordinator, Burgess & Niple, Inc.; Michael Fate, BIM Director, tk1sc; Johnny Fortune, BIM Director, Bullock Tice Associates; Jennifer DiBona, CAD Consultant and Trainer, That CAD Girl; Stephen Spangler, Mechanical Engineer, USACE CAD/BIM Technology Center; and Jason Sturniolo, Associate and BIM/CAD manager, RRMM Architects. Download the presentation. |