About – National Institute of Building Sciences

About NIBS

Our Story

We were created by act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation’s authoritative source of findings and recommendations that impact and improve the built environment for the American people.  At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation’s future.

From shaping industry standards to guiding digital transformation, we empower building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. We convene experts across sectors to develop solutions that ensure construction, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness keep pace with evolving challenges. Through initiatives such as the Digital Technology Council (DTC) and the Facility Management & Operations Council (FMOC), NIBS is at the forefront of advancing best practices. We help develop and refine standards, including NBIMS, NCS, and ANSI/ASHRAE/NIBS SPC 224, to support industry-wide adoption of data-centric approaches and emerging technologies.  We are stewards of the Whole Building Design Guide and the SF Tool, and we keep these comprehensive resources, which guide public buildings and infrastructure, freely available to the public.

Building American Innovation isn’t just our tagline—it’s our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don’t just build structures, we build solutions.

OUR MISSION: TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY ADVANCING BUILDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

Meet the Board

NIBS is directed by a 21-member Board of Directors. Fifteen members are elected, and six members are appointed by the President of the United States, subject to the approval by the U.S. Senate.

WHAT OUR MEMBER HAVE TO SAY

It has been an interesting journey. I started with NIBS, as I was interested in the work of the BIM Council. I wanted to keep up with the current practices and trajectories of BIM and where it was envisioned to go. It is rewarding and inspiring to be involved in the industry transformation at this scale.

BSI is a leading global standards, certification, and testing body with its head office in London. In 2021, BSI established an exciting partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences. Our relationship started with a strategic goal to implement and standardize building information modelling (BIM) in the U.S. The partnership enables and strengthens collaboration between the U.S. and UK, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and best practice to promote the use of standards across the BE sector. We value our partnership with NIBS and look forward to more collaboration and thought leadership going forward.

NIBS is the most comprehensive organization for the built environment, and I have experienced amazing events that push the industry forward in very meaningful and actionable ways. The depth of the experience and reach of the community that envelops the entire ecosystem for this industry is unmatched. I care deeply about the construction industry. If you are looking for knowledge and innovation that motivates, while understanding business risks in a very practical way, become a member of NIBS.

Strengthening the resilience of our built environment is a team sport. NIBS plays a critical role in advancing resilience by bringing together stakeholders from a variety of industries – including finance, insurance, real estate, and academia – to facilitate critical conversations, foster innovation, and generate solutions to thorny challenges.

As an active construction code professional for the past 25 years, I find NIBS uniquely positioned to provide the built environment an invaluable resource. The work performed provides unseen benefits across the country … what an honor it is to serve and be a part of a group of individuals who selflessly work to improve codes and standards to ensure a better tomorrow.

Industry Recognition

Explore our Councils

NIBS operates eight volunteer bodies, including seven councils and the WBDG workgroup. Each group retains a special focus and is governed by a voluntary board with nationally recognized leaders in appropriate disciplines. Our councils and workgroup include: