Students interested in attending Building Innovation 2017: The National Institute of Building Sciences Annual Conference & Expo, January 9-12, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C., already receive a discounted price on registration. However, there’s a chance to attend the Conference for FREE as a volunteer.

This is the perfect opportunity for students interested in building industry-related careers to expand their construction knowledge and interact with some of the industry’s leading experts.

For four impactful days, Building Innovation 2017 is set to deliver an engaging program that will focus on Collaborating for a High-Performing Future. Plan to be there where Science meets Design® when industry professionals involved in planning, designing, procuring, constructing, operating, maintaining and retiring physical facilities will come together to develop solutions for the built environment.

In addition to taking advantage of educational sessions, volunteers can hear from industry leaders during keynote addresses; network with industry colleagues during social events; view the latest in industry products and services on the Exhibit Hall floor; gain inspiration from industry pioneers honored during two award ceremonies and sit in on working Council and Committee meetings to witness the Institute in action.

Conference sessions include:

Day Two: Tuesday, January 10

• Designing for a Changing Climate
• Collaborating through Effective Teams
• Resilient, Energy-Efficient Communities
• Introducing the National BIM Guide for Owners
• Navigating the Future of the Industry through Research and Industrialization
• Preparing the High-Performance Workforce

Day Three: Wednesday, January 11

• Designing and Managing Facilities for Occupant Needs
• Collaborative Design for Health
• Creating World-Class, Resilient Medical Facilities
• Healthcare Facility Life-Cycle Planning and Financing

Day Four: Thursday, January 12

• Keys to Creating Resilient Communities
• Utilizing Information Technology for Better Building Performance
• Managing and Securing Facility Information and Systems
• Incentivizing High-Performance Buildings and Communities
• Setting the Foundation for Resilience through Building Codes
• Achieving High Performance through Innovation

Other opportunities to hear from industry leaders include the Tuesday Opening Keynote Breakfast; the Tuesday Exhibit Hall Walking Lunch where Exhibitors will present the latest industry technologies; the Wednesday Plenary Luncheon; the Thursday FEDCon® Keynote Breakfast; and the Thursday Beyond Green™ Awards Luncheon, where the 2016 recipients will present their award-winning projects. (Volunteers also are welcome to attend Day One: Monday to get a first-hand view of how the Institute works to improve the built environment and find ways to get involved in the process by attending leadership meetings.)

The Institute is looking for student volunteers to serve as room monitors, scan badges and assist with other duties as needed. For their three-day time commitment (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), volunteers receive a full conference registration, including lunches, and will be provided time to attend sessions and keynote addresses.

Due to the time constraints, international students requiring a VISA will not be considered.

Not a student, but still interested in volunteering? Submit an email. Decisions will be made on an individual basis.