AIA Chief Executive Officer Keynotes National Institute of Building Sciences Conference Day Two

Announces Launch of AIA-NIBS Venture: The Building Research Information Knowledgebase

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 10, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Day 3 of Building Innovation 2013—The National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Conference and Expo, activities continued with the Integrated Resilient Design Symposium, FEDCon® 2013, the second day of educational sessions at the buildingSMART alliance Conference and the kickoff of a new project with the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

The Integrated Resilient Design Symposium—Evaluating Risk, Improving Performance, provided attendees with an update on the latest tools available to help community safety officials and building owners assess the risks to buildings from blast, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) threats and natural hazards, while incorporating high-performance attributes into building design. The Institute is assisting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in developing and testing several cutting-edge resiliency tools, including: the Integrated Rapid Visual Screening (IRVS), the Urban Blast Tool (UBT) and the Owners Performance Requirements Tool (OPR).

Cutting-edge research was a major point addressed by Robert A. Ivy, FAIA, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the AIA, during his keynote luncheon presentation. Ivy revealed a new venture on which the two Institutes are partnering. The Building Research Information Knowledgebase (BRIK) is an interactive portal that will provide building professionals with free online access to peer-reviewed research projects and case studies in all facets of the built environment, from pre-design through occupancy and reuse.

Ivy recently met with architects in New York following Super Storm Sandy, who were compiling data about how buildings had performed during and after the event. “There were white papers being written and nowhere to put them,” Ivy said. “It [BRIK] gets to our need to be able to quantify…to share the stories of our life events…The building up of research is ultimately going to help us.”

At FEDCon® 2013—The Annual Market Outlook on Federal Construction, representatives from eight different federal agencies presented their building and infrastructure budgets, construction forecasts and regulatory updates for the year. In its 20th year, this event is a mainstay for planning for firms that work with the federal government, the world’s largest facility owner and procurer of design and construction services.

The buildingSMART alliance Conference—Integrating BIM: Moving the Industry Forward, continued with educational sessions focused on the various standards efforts and strategies, both in the United States and internationally, that are underway to advance the industry. Presentations ranged from the latest National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US) content to government and private sector initiatives.

Other scheduled activities during the day included meetings of the Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE), Facility Maintenance and Operations Committee (FMOC), Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), and Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) Board of Direction. Tonight the Institute will host its Annual Awards Reception and Banquet.

Day Four of the conference will continue with the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) Symposium—Fostering Innovation to Go Beyond Green™, the Low Vision Design Committee (LVDC) Symposium—Creating Supportive Environments for Persons with Low Vision, sponsored by The Hulda B. & Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation, and the Innovative Technology Demonstrations including COBie, SPie and other information exchanges. Also scheduled is the SBIC Beyond Green™ Awards Luncheon.

Learn more about the new BRIK initiative. To see a full list of conference activities, visit www.nibs.org/conference.