Building Science Symposium
Feb 16 | 9 AM - 5 PM ET
Back by popular demand, the Building Science Symposium returns as a pre-IBS 2026 event with fresh content and big ideas. This full-day experience, before the official start of the Builders' Show, is the only place you can dive deep into the science of high performance building with top high performance builders who are putting building science into practice every day.
From the moment you arrive until the day wraps up with a networking happy hour, it's an immersive day of learning, networking and connecting with suppliers who bring building science products and systems directly to you. It's more than a pre-show event, it's a conference within a conference, built around the building science topics that matter most to your business.
This is a pre-show event that requires a separate registration from your IBS registration.
Experience the only event that dives deep into building science — where learning, networking and innovation collide.
Key Learning Topics:
- Preconstruction planning
- Site drainage and water management
- Air barriers and thermal envelopes
- Smart material selection and methods
- High-performance HVAC systems
- Hot water efficiency
- Energy production and storage strategies
- Whole-home energy conservation
What is the Building Science Symposium?
The Building Science Symposium is a learning opportunity before the 2026 NAHB International Builders' Show. It brings together the top high performance builders for you to spend a full day immersing yourself in learning the hottest building science topics and content. The symposium has three main components: 1. Learning 2. Networking and making connections 3. Meeting suppliers and vendors of high performance products.
Who Attends?
Our Building Science Symposium is a gathering for builders, architects, engineers, tradespeople and anyone interested in better building.
What Will You Learn?
Hear about industry-leading ideas and strategies, from understanding standards and integrating performance components to providing durable, energy-efficient enclosures directly from the high performance builders who are applying these strategies to their projects every day.
See Building Science in Action
Get an in-depth look at the latest trends, materials and methods shaping the future of high performance home building at the Building Science Symposium, a pre-show event designed for forward-thinking professionals. Learn from leading experts as they break down cutting-edge building science principles and share practical applications you can put to work. Then, take what you’ve learned to the Construction Performance Zone during the Builders’ Show to see these techniques and products in action through live, hands-on demonstrations and real-world applications.
Travis Brungardt
Travis Brungardt is co-owner of Catalyst Construction in Prairie Village, Kansas specializing in building durable, responsible homes and additions throughout the Kansas City area. He is co-founder of the BS* and Beer building science discussion group in Kansas City and co-host of the BS* and Beer Show on Green Building Advisor where he hopes to help others learn in the same way so many others have helped him. Driven by a commitment to create a healthy, sustainably built environment for his children to raise their families, it is his belief that the mindset of the craftsman matters as much as any tool or material; that every builder should have a generations-long view of the work they do and the choices they make.
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