Aligning Resilience Goals in the Built Environment: How Risk Management Processes & Standards Incentivize Resilience
2025-07-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Given the increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards and the dire predictions of climate scientists, it is imperative to redouble efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to reduce the catastrophic risks of a worsening climate and sea level rise. Likewise, it is important to proactively address natural hazards caused by geological processes, such as earthquakes.
However, there always are competing priorities within capital and operational budgets for buildings and infrastructure, making it challenging to appropriately allocate funding to mitigate potential future risks. For investors, lenders, insurers, and property managers, it is increasingly important to assess climate and natural hazard risks and vulnerabilities, and to prioritize, plan, and implement resilience measures to guard against future losses.
This interactive panel session will introduce the emerging practice of climate and natural hazard risk assessment. We will learn about some of the tools and methods currently being used to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities, while improving the resilience and performance of new and existing buildings.
Panelists will explore how the standards and information gathered during commercial real estate (CRE) finance and development can drive resilience investment. This will include an introduction to the new ASTM E3429 Standard Guide for Property Resilience Assessment and its application in CRE transactions, as well as a guide for resilience-focused capital improvement planning. Panelists also will share an overview of new resilience requirements included in frameworks and new voluntary standards, such as the USGBC’s LEED version 5 rating system, the application of U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC), and the FORTIFIED program standards by IBHS, all currently being used in CRE finance and development.

Learning Objectives

Assess how hazards are impacting buildings and infrastructure
Understand how regulatory and industry trends are affecting commercial real estate
Review the primary risk management processes and standards for hazards
Consider how these processes and standards can be used to reduce risks and create value in commercial real estate

Coastal Resilience Planning and Adaptation for Waterfront Facilities
2025-07-31 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
In 2023 and 2024 a two-part workshop on Resilience of Naval Waterfront Facilities in a Changing Climate was held, co-sponsored by the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAV-EXWC) and the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of ASCE. Part I of the workshop focused on developing non-stationary extreme wind speeds, sea level rise, and flooding loads on waterfront facilities, while Part II of the workshop exclusively involved life-cycle assessment, performance-based resilience planning and adaptation design to help protect public safety and to enrich the life quality in coastal communities including military installations. Resilience-based decision-making ensures community stakeholders have quantifiable information to select the most effective and efficient mitigations and/or adaptation strategies. Such quantification requires community-level models of physical infrastructure such as buildings, roadways, and water/power networks to be fully coupled with social and economic models by using computational tools and platforms, such as the Interdependent Networked Community Resilience Modeling Environment (IN-CORE). The impact of coastal multi-hazards is assessed in terms of infrastructure damage and service loss (e.g., disruption of goods flow through port and intermodal transportation). The potential to leverage robust community modeling, often referred to as digital twins, to assess the coupling between short- and long-term impacts is also highlighted.
This webinar intends to present the lessons learned from the workshop, based on the group discussions of over one hundred coastal resilience leaders and professionals from government agencies, industry, and academia. A discussion will focus on implementation of innovative methodologies and techniques on updating the structural design loads on waterfront facilities for non-stationary extreme wind speeds, sea level rise, and flooding hazards; developing performance-based and site-specific resilience planning and adaptation for coastal operation continuity; and promoting computational tools and platforms, such as IN-CORE.

Learning Objectives

Review available datasets and tools on establishing the relationship between extreme events and performance of coastal structures and infrastructure systems;
Establish the basic concept of extreme event effects (e.g. winds, floods, and tsunamis) on structural design codes and standards;
Inform best practices of life-cycle adaptation and a risk-based decision-making process to decision-makers for coastal resilience planning strategies; and
Promote interdependent community and infrastructure system models that are available for use in engineering practices (e.g., IN-CORE) and the training necessary for civil engineers and government planners who may use these models.

Harnessing the Power of Cool Exterior Walls to Enhance Heat Resilience
2025-08-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Extreme heat causes more deaths in the United States than any other natural disaster.
Discussions around the role of buildings in heat mitigation and resilience often focus on air-conditioning, and while A/C can be lifesaving, it also increases peak cooling demand, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste heat released back into the environment. Further, regions with historically cooler climates and low percentages of air-conditioned homes are now experiencing longer, more frequent, and more intense heat waves, leaving residents without A/C at risk of heat illness and death.
Incorporating passive cooling strategies in new construction and building retrofits is critically important to improve heat resilience in buildings without access to A/C and to reduce A/C demand in conditioned spaces.
Like cool roofs, which are required for most buildings in California and for commercial buildings in several other U.S. cities and states, cool exterior walls efficiently reflect solar radiation back into the atmosphere instead of transferring it as heat into buildings. For a single building, this helps reduce solar heat gain, indoor temperatures, and A/C use, while increasing resilience to extreme heat, particularly in buildings with little insulation or that do not have or are unable to operate A/C. On a larger scale, this helps raise the community’s albedo, lower outdoor temperatures, mitigate heat impacts, reduce peak cooling demand, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
This presentation will describe the impacts of cool exterior walls on buildings and communities and the radiative properties of solar reflectance and thermal emittance, which determine the coolness of a wall surface. It also will provide examples of potential HVAC energy cost savings resulting from cool exterior wall use in different U.S. climates and equip attendees with the ability to estimate building-specific savings using a publicly available tool developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Additionally, the presentation will summarize wall radiative property provisions in codes, standards, and programs, including the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE Standard 90.1, and LEED v4.1, and provide a tutorial for how to find and interpret independently verified radiative property data for exterior wall materials.

Learning Objectives

Explain how cool exterior walls can reduce a building’s solar heat gain and lower temperatures of buildings and surrounding communities.
Describe the surface radiative properties solar reflectance and thermal emittance, which influence the coolness of building exteriors.
Estimate building-specific cool exterior wall HVAC energy cost savings using Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Cool Surface Savings Explorer and local electricity cost data.
Compare the radiative properties of exterior wall materials and understand which materials will meet project requirements using a third-party database of rated products.

2025 Vitruvian Honors & Awards Ceremony
2025-09-18 15:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl, New York, 10012, United States
The Facade Tectonics Institute’s Vitruvian Honors & Awards program celebrates excellence and innovation in the field of facade design and delivery. This program honors outstanding projects, project teams, and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to facade design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and lifecycle performance. These achievements exemplify FTI’s mission to advance the art, science, and technology of designing, planning, and constructing high-performance building facades for the benefit of both people and the planet.
FTI’s 2025 Vitruvian Lecture & Awards Committee has curated thirteen distinct categories that align with The Institute’s vision and mission, celebrating innovation, collaboration, and achievement within the AECO industry.

Smart Home and Furnishings 2025
2025-09-24 - 2025-09-26 | Rosemont, IL, Rosemont, IL, United States
Smart Home and Furnishings Conference and Exhibition is the premier event dedicated to showcasing the latest advancements in smart home technology. From groundbreaking products and expert presentations to interactive demos and invaluable networking opportunities, this event is designed to inspire and connect everyone passionate about enhancing modern living through smart solutions. Discover the trends, tools, and technologies that are shaping the way we interact with our homes. Join MIE Group in bridging global markets, connecting the brightest minds and most innovative companies from the United States, MENA, and GCC. Together, we will explore smart living solutions that are shaping the homes of tomorrow.

BEC-N Symposium on Building Science and Enclosure Technology
2025-09-25 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
The Chicago Building Enclosure Council has been chosen as the host of the 2025 National BEC Symposium. This year’s event will be held at the Chicago Architecture Center. Please visit the event website for more information.

Healthy and Efficient Buildings: Policy Frameworks, Standards, and Tools for Improving Indoor Air Quality
2025-10-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Healthy buildings are critical for resilient communities. With advances in science, policy, and technology, buildings can now promote occupant well-being while enhancing energy performance. This session will examine emerging policy frameworks, standards, and tools designed to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and foster healthier environments across sectors.
Leading experts will present the scientific and economic case for healthy buildings—linking enhanced ventilation and IAQ to reduced disease transmission, improved cognitive function, higher productivity, and better quality of life for vulnerable populations. The session will explore current ventilation standards that integrate disease risk management, as well as practical strategies for implementation by building professionals.
While momentum for energy efficiency is growing, parallel federal support for healthy buildings remains limited. This discussion will outline a forward-looking policy roadmap for advancing IAQ at the state and federal levels—including opportunities through the U.S. Department of Energy, EPA, CDC, and GSA. Participants will learn how low-cost sensors and performance-based IAQ targets can be integrated into existing infrastructure to sustain healthier indoor environments with a case study from the commercial sector.
Learning Objectives

Understand the impact of improved ventilation and indoor air quality on building occupants, both for health and productivity
Identify tools and guidelines that building managers and engineers can use to improve the health of building occupants and reduce risk
Understand state and federal policies that drive healthier buildings, along with policy gaps
Learn about simple targets for indoor air quality and an implementation framework for building managers, using building performance air quality standards

Greater Detroit Building Enclosure Council Annual Symposium
2025-10-21 07:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Livonia, MI, Livonia, Michigan

Extreme Heat 101 & the Policy Landscape
2025-10-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Extreme heat is the most lethal weather hazard in the United States and has an economic burden of over +$160 billion a year. This introductory webinar will explore the growing threat of extreme heat and the evolving policy responses across all levels of government. Participants will hear directly from local, state, and federal officials about their roles, responsibilities, and strategies to mitigate heat risks and build resilience.
For all AECO professionals and legislators, this session will equip you with foundational knowledge and insights to engage meaningfully in the heat resilience movement.
Learning Objectives:

Understand the Basics: Define extreme heat and explore its causes, health impacts, and social implications, especially in the context of climate resilience.
Navigate the Policy Landscape: Identify key policies, frameworks, and initiatives addressing extreme heat at the local, state, and federal levels.
Clarify Government Roles: Learn how different levels of government coordinate and respond to extreme heat.
Explore Opportunities for Action: Discover ways individuals, organizations, and communities can support and influence heat resilience efforts through advocacy, planning, and partnerships.

ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Every four years, America’s civil engineers provide a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s 18 major infrastructure categories in ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Using a simple A to F school report card format, the Report Card examines current infrastructure conditions and needs, assigning grades and making recommendations to raise them.
Learning objectives:

Overall performance and status of the nation’s infrastructure
Leading issues which affect the U.S. infrastructure network and main barriers to addressing these
Solutions to address longstanding infrastructure needs and promote improvements
How the report can help to inform key infrastructure stakeholders including Congress and federal agencies as well as private, and non-profit organizations

What Should Drive the Sustainability Bus, IEQ or Energy?
2025-11-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Sponsored By:

Efficiency programs seem to ignore the fact that the only reason why society uses energy in buildings is to condition people and generate domestic hot water. One would then think that all design ought to begin with the physiological and psychological needs of the occupants. However, in the real world most energy efficiency programs focus exclusively on enclosures and equipment and have superficial Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) requirements. The hope is that the assembled systems will deliver the desired indoor climate with the modeled energy. The flaws in this approach are demonstrated in the poor results from thousands of post occupancy evaluations.
During this session, participants will learn the human sciences behind thermal comfort and air quality and how energy and exergy efficiency is the natural outcome from engineering the indoor environment using human factor design tools.
Learning Objectives:

Avoiding discomfort within the built environment is what drives energy use.
Occupants don’t care about energy models, they care about how they feel.
The body’s respiratory systems and how they are impacted by the quality of air.
The body’s thermoregulatory systems and how they are impacted by the architecture, enclosure and interior systems as the primary control points before mechanicals.

A Cooling Conundrum: Setting the Stage for Resilient Cooling
2025-12-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Every region in the U.S. is experiencing record-breaking heat. More households now require home cooling solutions to maintain safe and liveable indoor temperatures. While air conditioning (AC) can offer immediate relief, the rapid scaling of AC has created new vulnerabilities: rising energy bills are straining people’s wallets, while surging electricity demand mounts pressure on an aging power grid increasingly prone to blackouts.
What Americans need to be prepared for more extreme temperatures is a resilient cooling approach. Resilient cooling works across three interdependent systems — buildings, communities, and the electric grid — to affordably maintain safe indoor temperatures during extreme heat events and reduce power outage risks.
This webinar will overview resilient cooling, implicated technology systems and the policies needed to affordably cool people and communities under extreme heat conditions. Participants will hear directly from experts about dimensions of access and affordability, public health, workforce development, and grid reliability.
Learning Objectives

Understand the Basics: Define extreme heat and the vulnerabilities created by the rapid scaling of air conditioning and mechanical cooling systems.
Clarify the Landscape of Need: Explore the essential imperatives to rethink the way we cool as heat waves increase in duration.
Explore Strategies for Action: Discover the concept of resilient cooling as a strategy to address existing cooling needs, while ensuring affordability, health, sustainability, grid resilience, and workforce development.
Clarify Stakeholder Roles: Learn how different levels of government and non-governmental organizations coordinate and play a role in advancing resilient cooling for both households and communities.

Understanding the Challenges of Preventing Construction Site Fires
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Sponsored By:

Construction sites present a unique set of fire safety challenges due to their dynamic nature, temporary infrastructure, and evolving occupancy. The session will delve into real-world case studies, regulatory frameworks, and emerging technologies that influence fire prevention efforts. This panel discussion convenes leading experts from the construction industry, fire service, code enforcement, and government agencies to explore the persistent issue of construction site fires. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies associated with fire incidents during the building phase.
Learning Objectives

Identify the risk & hazards associated with construction sites.
Examine the codes & standards that govern buildings under construction.
Analyze how new technologies can help keep construction sites fire safe.
Explore enforcement strategies to safeguard construction.

Clearing the Air: Advancing IAQ Policy for Healthier Communities
2025-12-16 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Indoor air quality (IAQ) has emerged as a critical public health and building performance issue, especially in the wake of rising temperatures, pandemics, and increasing urban density. This virtual session, hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), brings together a panel of leading subject matter experts to explore the evolving landscape of IAQ policy, standards, and implementation strategies across the built environment.
Attendees will gain insights into:

Federal and state-level IAQ regulations and emerging policy trends such as The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act
The role of codes, ventilation standards, and energy efficiency mandates
Access to IAQ improvements for schools, housing, and workplaces
Pathways for women in the industry to promote innovation in IAQ policy

Whether you’re a policymaker, architect, engineer, facility manager, or public health advocate, this session will equip you with actionable knowledge to shape healthier indoor environments.

Building-System Strategies for Resilient Cooling
2026-02-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
The existing building stock in the United States was not designed to cope with current extreme temperatures. Much needs to be done to fix aging housing, from upgrading poor insulation to fixing ineffective air conditioning, while also designing new buildings for future temperatures, if warming trends continue.
This webinar will focus on building-system strategies to reduce the impacts of extreme heat on buildings, showcasing cooling solutions beyond conventional air conditioning. Participants will hear directly from experts on the policies that will enable greater proliferation of resilient cooling solutions that offer co-benefits for energy efficiency, reduced household energy burdens, and greater energy reliability.
Learning Objectives

Understand the Link Between Heat and Housing Affordability: Scope how housing infrastructure is unprepared for current temperatures, impacting consumers costs to adequately cool their indoor environments.
Explore Technology Solutions: Discover how resilient cooling technologies can offer co-benefits for energy efficiency and reduced household energy burdens, as well as resilience during power brownouts and blackouts.
Examine the Policy Landscape: Understand how existing federal, state and local policy levers and strategies can increase access and affordability of resilient cooling technologies, and discover real-world examples of implementation.

Community-System Strategies for Resilient Cooling
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Community infrastructure, such as thermal energy networks, district geothermal, urban forests, shade structures, and smart surfaces, can have a collectively lower upfront cost and lower community-wide energy consumption and the costs of cooling. For example, strategic deployment of cool roofs in Atlanta, mandated by ordinance, are expected to cool the city by 2.4°F in peak summer, deliver $310 million in direct energy savings, and generate $760 million in net financial benefits
This webinar will explore community-system technologies and strategies for resilient cooling and their benefits for community-wide energy reliability, grid resilience, and extreme heat preparedness. Participants will hear directly from experts on targeted solutions and the policy levers needed to scale up their broad adoption.
Learning Objectives

Explore Technology Solutions: Discover the range of solutions that can be implemented at a community-system level to lower temperatures outdoors and indoors.
Clarify the Co-Benefits for Mitigation: Learn how shared cooling infrastructure can provide community-wide energy reliability, grid resilience, and extreme heat preparedness.
Examine the Policy Landscape: Understand how existing federal, state and local policy levers and strategies can increase access and affordability of resilient cooling technologies and discover real-world examples of implementation.
Understanding Traditions of Community Cooling: Connect Traditional and forward-thinking community-level cooling solutions.

Grid-System Strategies for Resilient Cooling
2026-04-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
The U.S. electric grid is straining to keep up with rising demand for electricity, creating potential risks to communities’ cooling systems in the face of intensifying extreme heat. This challenge presents an opportunity for policymakers to proactively identify potential vulnerabilities in energy systems’ ability to sustain safe indoor temperatures.
This webinar will explore grid system technologies and strategies for resilient cooling. Participants will hear directly from experts on how they prepare the electric grid for increased energy demand and ensure its reliability during extreme heat events as well as the policies needed to scale up these interventions.
Learning Objectives

Understand Grid Vulnerabilities: Clarify the current state of grid systems in the U.S. and the needs for extreme heat preparedness. Define resilient cooling as a solution and what it looks like for communities and energy officials.
Examine solutions for Grid Resilience: Explore how grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management can prepare electric grid for increased energy demand and ensure its reliability during extreme heat events.
Clarify Roles for Utilities and Policymakers: Learn about the existing policy tools that utilities and policymakers have to advance grid resilience solutions that offer benefits for resilient cooling
Explore Opportunities for Action: Hear from energy and utility experts on real-world examples of policy implementation

Building Innovation 2026
2026-05-18 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Building Innovation attendees come to explore challenges, possibilities, the latest tools, groundbreaking strategies, and more.
