The AIA and the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council (BETEC) have forged a partnership intended to reinforce the design community’s leadership in the crucial area of building enclosures. The agreement, signed May 18 by AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, (right) and NIBS President David Harris, FAIA, will establish a network of building enclosure councils (BECs) in major cities across the U.S.

This agreement will:

• Provide a focus/forum at the local level for persons with an interest in building envelopes and the related building science
• Promote and encourage discussion, training, education, technology transfer, and the exchange of information about local and national issues and cases
• Initiate and promote cross-disciplinary and cross-responsibility dialogue, laterally among professions, and vertically among designers, consultants, educators, manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators, constructors, building operators, developers, insurance representatives, and other interested parties
• Facilitate improvements in relation to process, namely inspection, approvals, regulations, standards, and liability issues.

The new BECs will follow the model set by the Boston Society of Architects and will be similar to the network of BECs operating already in Canada. The intention is to network these councils across North America and with similar international groups through BETEC. The initial targeted cities for the new BECs are Washington, D.C.; New York City; Boston; Philadelphia; Dallas; Chicago; St. Louis; San Francisco; and Seattle. All interested in participating are encouraged to e-mail pcichowski@nibs.org. Please give your name and contact information.

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