Experts from 33 Countries Convene in Syracuse for the 7th International Building Physics Conference

Experts on the science and engineering of buildings and urban environments will convene in Syracuse, NY September 23 to 26, for the 7th International Building Physics Conference (IBPC). More than 300 attendees from 33 countries will gather to present original research and findings, demonstrate and exhibit innovative green building technologies, and discuss future challenges and opportunities.

The theme of the conference is “Healthy, Intelligent, and Resilient Buildings and Urban Environments.” The conference program includes six keynote presentations, more than 250 podium and poster presentations, workshops, networking, and more.

The conference takes place every three years as part of the official international conference series of the International Association of Building Physics (IABP). The IBPC2018 is the first time the conference is being held in the United States; previously, the conference was held in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2000); Leuven, Belgium (2003); Montreal, Canada (2006); Istanbul, Turkey (2009); Kyoto, Japan (2012); and Torino, Italy (2015).

Syracuse was selected as the host city for the IBPC2018 based on Syracuse University’s exceptional research and teaching strengths in multiple areas, including energy and environmental systems, healthy and equitable communities, and innovation and entrepreneurship. The conference is jointly organized by the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the Syracuse University School of Architecture.

“IBPC2018 will be the first time this international conference is being held in the United States. It provides an opportunity for more North American delegates to participate in this important international event” says Jensen Zhang, Chairman of IBPC2018 and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University. “Syracuse University is honored to lead the program committee as the first American host for this transformative event in building physics. A multi-disciplinary team of 15 faculty members from four Syracuse University colleges and schools serve on the Technical Program Committee to lead the organization of the various topic areas ranging from nano-scale materials to building and city scale energy and environmental systems.”

“Syracuse is the ideal location for IBPC’s inaugural US location because Central New York’s industry cluster in environmental and energy systems has become an international leader with research strengths in high-performance building systems,” says Edward Bogucz, Executive Director of SyracuseCoE. “SyracuseCoE looks forward to welcoming colleagues from around the world who will share the latest advances in research and innovations for healthy and resilient buildings and urban environments.”

“Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is home to international leaders in research, development and demonstration of technologies that contribute to healthy, intelligent and resilient buildings,” says Teresa A. Dahlberg, Dean of the College. “IBPC2018 will bring together outstanding and accomplished thought leaders in indoor environmental quality and high-performance buildings, providing promising opportunities for future collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“Architecture is a practice in transition, and Syracuse Architecture is evolving with it,” says Michael Speaks, Dean of Syracuse Architecture. “IBPC2018 will address crucial issues in architectural practice. Our new faculty have a strong focus on the research and design of high- performance buildings, and there is tremendous opportunity for impactful international collaborations at this event.”

The conference, to be held September 23rd – 26th at the Marriott Downtown Syracuse (formerly the Hotel Syracuse), will cover a wide range of research topics cutting across multiple scales of built environmental systems ranging from nano-material applications, to microenvironments around occupants, to rooms and whole buildings, and neighborhood and urban scales. The goal of the conference is to advance the collective understanding of the nature and behavior of the cyber-physical systems in these different scales, how they interact, and what can be done to optimize their design and operation for healthy, intelligent and resilient buildings and urban environments.

IBPC2018 Session Topics include: