TECHNOLOGY MEETS SUSTAINABILITY IN JOINT CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCES

publication date: May 8, 2008

Two of the hottest topics to hit the construction industry are joining forces at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center May 20 to 22. At the forefront, Ecobuild America AEC-ST hosts its semi-annual sustainability conference, which consistently draws a crowd of eco-savvy participants. Commingled with Ecobuild, the National BIM Conference will have owners, architects, contractors, subs and other key players discussing the latest developments on the building information modeling front. This joint conference—“Where Ecology Meets Technology”—is packed with exhibits, more than 100 educational sessions and plenty of opportunity to rub shoulders with the industry’s movers and shakers.

Ecobuild America
More than 130 exhibitors will be lined up to showcase their latest green and sustainable building products, technologies, developments and services, as well as IT solutions to help AEC professionals better design, specify and manage their projects. Special exhibit pavilions will feature energy-efficient mechanical systems, intelligent buildings, efficient windows, green insulation, solar and wind energy, green metal and a project by the Alliance to Save Energy.
The three-day conference also offers scores of technical sessions in 14 tracks that cover everything from sustainable building design, performance and engineering to utility efficiency, intelligent facilities management and rating systems.
D. Drew Bond, senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, will give insights to the DOE’s initiatives for sustainable development and growth in his keynote address on May 21.

National BIM Conference
As the sponsor of the National BIM Conference, the buildingSMART Alliance will provide a series of workshops and seminars to address a wide range of modeling topics. From an introduction to BIM for the novice to best practices and methodologies for the experienced user, conference planners promise to address more than just the needs of a niche portion of a building’s lifecycle. They will discuss the IT and construction needs from the planning and design stages through construction to maintenance and modifications. Conference speakers will address current questions, such as:
    •What does management need to know for implementation?
    •How can you ensure good ROI on your software investment?
    •Where can you find the best resources from software and standards to people and practices?
    •How can BIM expand and improve the services you offer your clients?
    •How can BIM help drive your green building and sustainability strategy?
At the heart of the conference, planners hope to provide answers about how information and electronic data are leveraged throughout the lifecycle of a facility and how information standards are defined and shared.
On May 22, Autodesk senior director Doug Eberhard will offer a keynote address regarding the future of BIM and sustainable design at the municipal level.

Though pre-registration has closed, on-site registration is available. For more information about the event and registration, visit www.ecobuildamerica.com.
Ecobuild America, LLC, is under the leadership of principals Richard C. Vendola, Jr., and George Borkovich. The Massachusetts-based organization manages and produces the semi-annual Ecobuild America AEC-ST program, which takes place in Anaheim, Calif., in the spring and Washington, D.C. in the fall.