This course will discuss considerations for the holistic design and construction of durable, long-lasting structures that are sustainable, safe and resilient. A building's primary goal is to protect the lives, lifestyles and livelihoods of its occupants. Precast concrete has numerous qualities that can help buildings perform efficiently and offer occupants and communities healthy, flexible and useful spaces that can be effectively utilized over many years. Attendees will have the chance to see and hear case studies of projects that used precast concrete for durability, resilience, and sustainability, and examine important qualities and attributes to consider when specifying the material.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the concepts of resilience and sustainability with a focus on holistic design and long-term, lifecycle performance.
2. Analyze how material choices made impact the safety and wellbeing of occupants over the life of the building and future design concepts.
3. Explore opportunities where sustainability, resilience, durability and efficiency intersect.
4. Identify how precast, prestressed concrete can contribute to designs that are sustainable, efficient, durable and resilient enough to protect the lives, livelihoods and lifestyles of occupants and communities.
5. Examine case studies of sustainable, resilient and safe projects that effectively utilized precast concrete to achieve their goals.

This conference will discuss the need for architects and engineers to plan for the expected and unexpected impacts of climate change while also collaboratively exploring the challenges, opportunities, solutions, and strategies of integrated design and construction to deliver low-carbon, hazard resilient, and adaptable buildings of the future.

Priorities in material selection have changed. From global environmental objectives to specific federal policy changes, the way we go about material selection and justifications must check several boxes. This presentation will outline how climate resilience, low-embodied carbon materials objectives, and LCCA intersect while also providing separate important data points in the evaluation of materials for each client project. The panelists’ significant experience on federal and private sector projects will provide valuable lessons learned to improve the sustainability impact and performance of all buildings.

Presentation Slides

NIBS NEHRP AND NWIRP CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)
National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP)
National Institute of Building Sciences

in cooperation with the
United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Nearly half of all Americans live and work in high seismic regions throughout the United States. These regions currently have $108 trillion of national building assets and the work of NEHRP must continue to mitigate risk from earthquakes.

Separately, windstorms are responsible for 60% of the nation’s total damage from natural disasters. Human and economic recovery from these events can take years, even decades. The negative impacts from windstorm damage will only increase as “Tornado Alley” creeps eastward, making future risk mitigation from the work of NWIRP just as crucial.

NEHRP and NWIRP rely upon the nation’s experts to conduct applied and basic research, share cutting-edge knowledge with community stakeholders, and take action to protect American lives and livelihoods through prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation practices. Both programs enable our nation’s security and prosperity.

 

 

The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), a Congressionally chartered building science organization, along with our partners, invite you to an important and time-sensitive briefing where we will:

• Share and celebrate some of the success stories that Congress, lead agencies, and the private sector have collaboratively achieved over the past 46 years. Speaker: John Hooper, a National Academy of Engineering member and leader in building code and standard development (see page 3 of Briefing Summary).
• Discuss the future of community resilience requirements. Speaker: Dr. Daniel Kaniewski, former Deputy Administrator for Resilience with FEMA and leader in emergency management, insurance, and policy (see pages 4-5 of Briefing Summary).
• Share and describe recommended Congressional priorities for advancing our nation’s safety, preparedness, and resilience. Speaker: Dr. Lucy Arendt, Chair of the NEHRP Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (see pages 6-7 of Briefing Summary).

Hon. Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, NAC, CCM, LEED AP
Interim CEO, NIBS
11^th Architect of Capitol

Supporting Organizations:
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Applied Technology Council (ATC)
BuildStrong America
California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW)
Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC)
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI)
International Code Council (ICC)
International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
Reinsurance Association of America (RAA)
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Seismological Society of America (SSA)
Steel Tube Institute (STI)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce