Buildings XVI Conference to Focus on Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes
The Buildings XVI Conference, organized by ASHRAE and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), will take place December 8–11, 2025, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Held every three years, the Buildings Conference Series is recognized as the premier international forum on building-envelope science, focusing on how envelope design and performance influence energy efficiency, durability, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and occupant comfort.
This year’s conference will highlight advances in materials science, modeling techniques, and construction practices that improve thermal resistance and moisture control while supporting decarbonization and resilience goals. “We’re emphasizing a whole-building perspective, examining how envelope systems interact with mechanical, lighting, and ventilation systems to deliver high-performance, low-energy buildings in all climates,” said André Desjarlais, Conference Chair.
The technical program will feature three main tracks designed to balance fundamental research with real-world applications: Principles, focusing on research and development in thermal and moisture performance; Practices, showcasing case studies, field applications, and innovative design strategies; and Residential Buildings, presenting insights that enhance performance, comfort, and resilience in homes.
Highlighted sessions include “Assessing Residential Deep Energy Retrofit Performance Based on Resilience to Future Weather Conditions,” “Smartphone Application for Visualizing Building Air Leakage,” “Impact of High-Rise Buildings on Wind-Driven Rain, Wind and Thermal Comfort,” and “Scalable Thermal and Resilience Strategies for the Manufactured Housing Sector.”
Two keynote sessions will provide global perspectives on the past, present, and future of building-envelope science. Sam Rashkin, Senior Researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will present “Charting a Path to Scaling Deep Energy Retrofits and How This Impacts Building Science Research.” Angela Sasic Kalagasidis, Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, will deliver “A 21-Year Retrospective and an Outlook on Hygrothermal Building Simulation Tools.”
Pre-conference workshops will offer attendees opportunities for deeper engagement with emerging research, analytical tools, and best practices. In-person registration is $700 for ASHRAE members and $750 for non-members, with additional options available.
For more information and to register for the Buildings XVI Conference, visit:
