Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

 
Mon 18 May Tue 19 May Wed 20 May Thu 21 May Fri 22 May
Fri22May
Boundary Waters Foyer
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Bemidji
Lake Harriet
Great Lakes Ballroom
Great Lakes Ballroom B
Cordia Energy Minneapolis
Boundary Waters CD
8:00am
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm
5:00pm
6:00pm
Breakfast
8:00am - 8:30am
Boundary Waters Foyer
Location: Boundary Waters Foyer
Networking Break
9:45am - 10:00am
Boundary Waters Foyer
Location: Boundary Waters Foyer
Networking Break sponsored by Arup
11:00am - 11:30am
Boundary Waters Foyer
Location: Boundary Waters Foyer
Technical Session 10: Grid Interactions and Load Management
10:00am - 11:00am
Lake Minnetonka
Han Li
Location: Lake Minnetonka
Session Chair: Han Li

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Technical Session 12: AI and Data-Driven Workflows for Building Energy Modeling
11:30am - 12:30pm
Lake Minnetonka
Nathan Kegel
Location: Lake Minnetonka
Session Chair: Nathan Kegel

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Presentation Session 9: California Energy Studies II: Modeling Tools and Workflows
10:00am - 11:00am
Lake Bemidji
Elyse Malherek
Location: Lake Bemidji
Session Chair: Elyse Malherek

Part of the state issues track and sponsored by the US Department of Energy.

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Presentation Session 10: Simulation-Driven Design: Optimization, Controls, and Automation
11:30am - 12:30pm
Lake Bemidji
Alpha Yacob Arsano
Location: Lake Bemidji
Session Chair: Alpha Yacob Arsano

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Technical Session 11: Urban-Scale Modeling and Microclimate Simulation
10:00am - 11:00am
Lake Harriet
Alexandra Rempel
Location: Lake Harriet
Session Chair: Alexandra Rempel

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Technical Session 13: Advanced Thermal Systems and Envelope Performance
11:30am - 12:30pm
Lake Harriet
Jelle Langmans, Gabriel Flechas
Location: Lake Harriet
Session Chair: Jelle Langmans
Session Chair: Gabriel Flechas

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Session Pitches
8:30am - 8:45am
Great Lakes Ballroom
Thomas Zakrzewski
Location: Great Lakes Ballroom
Session Chair: Thomas Zakrzewski

Preview the day's events with 30-second pitches by the presenters.

Plenary 3: Keynote by Rania Labib
8:45am - 9:45am
Great Lakes Ballroom
Aysegul Demir Dilsiz
Location: Great Lakes Ballroom
Session Chair: Aysegul Demir Dilsiz

Dr. Rania Labib is an Associate Professor of Architecture and the Director of the Artificial Intelligence for High-Performance Buildings Lab at Texas A&M University. With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of architecture, building performance, and emerging technologies, Dr. Labib specializes in building simulations, energy modeling, and the integration of AI methods into the built environment.

Dr. Rania Labib is an Associate Professor of Architecture and the Director of the Artificial Intelligence for High-Performance Buildings Lab at Prairie View A&M University, part of the Texas A&M University System. With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of architecture, building performance, and emerging technologies, Dr. Labib specializes in building simulations, energy modeling, and the integration of AI methods into the built environment.\nHer work focuses on leveraging advanced computational tools to enhance the design, operation, and optimization of high-performance buildings. She has secured over $1 million in research funding, including a recent $400K National Science Foundation grant to embed AI and data science into AEC education. Dr. Labib was honored with the “Most Promising Digital Solution” award for her AI-driven educational platform, AI EnergiGuide, at the 2024 World Summit on the Digital Built Environment. The award was jointly presented by the Republic of Estonia’s Ministry of Climate and the Finnish Association of Civil Engineers.\nDr. Labib holds a Ph.D. in Architecture with an emphasis in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University and is an active member of IBPSA, where she served as the Houston Chapter Lead from 2020 to 2022.
Seminar 12: Risk, Retrofit, Reward: A Strategic Game to Navigate Building Performance Standards
10:00am - 11:00am
Great Lakes Ballroom B
Alexander Mitchell
Location: Great Lakes Ballroom B
Session Chair: Alexander Mitchell

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Seminar 13: What’s Next For ASHRAE 90.1 Performance Rating Method (PRM)
11:30am - 12:30pm
Great Lakes Ballroom B
Allen Mei, Neal Kruis
Location: Great Lakes Ballroom B
Session Chair: Allen Mei
Session Chair: Neal Kruis

This session qualifies for AIA continuing education credits. Please confirm your attendance by completing the form here.

Tour 3: Cordia District Energy System Tour
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Cordia Energy Minneapolis
Rawad El Kontar
Location: Cordia Energy Minneapolis
Session Chair: Rawad El Kontar

Advance registration required. Please wear close-toed shoes; heels are not permitted.

Join us for an inside look at the Cordia Energy Minneapolis district energy system—one of the largest urban thermal energy networks in the United States. This tour will take participants through the central plant that supplies steam heating and chilled-water cooling to more than 100 buildings across downtown Minneapolis. Originally built to serve the IDS Center in the early 1970s, the system has grown into a critical piece of city infrastructure supporting offices, hospitals, sports arenas, and convention facilities throughout the downtown core.\nParticipants will see firsthand how large-scale boilers, chillers, and pumping systems produce and distribute thermal energy through miles of underground piping beneath the city streets. The tour will also highlight recent upgrades and sustainability initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and modernizing district energy for the future. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how centralized energy systems can enhance reliability, reduce building equipment needs, and play a key role in decarbonizing dense urban districts. The Cordia plant is a 16-minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
IBPSA-USA Leadership Meet-and-Greet
8:00am - 8:30am
Boundary Waters CD
Neal Kruis
Location: Boundary Waters CD
Session Chair: Neal Kruis

Meet IBPSA-USA board members, chapter leaders, and committee chairs over a light breakfast. Whether you're inspired by SimBuild, hoping to start a chapter in your own city, or just wondering how to stay involved, this informal networking event will help you get to know the leaders of our industry.