Case Study #12: National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)

Description

Public/Private partnership established by Congress in 1974 through Housing and Community Development Act
Enabled findings on technical, building-related matters to be used to improve government, commerce and industry
Public Interest Mission: Improve building regulatory environment, infuse and enhance building process with technology and new and existing products, distribute reputable technical and regulatory information

Relevance to AHIC

Lessons Learned for Future AHIC

Explicitly incorporate the interests/concerns of various stakeholders (government reps, professions, industry, labor, and consumer interest) in organization design
Install mechanisms to assure maintenance and free exchange of information
1. Maintain an open forum to freely discuss issues and problems and address conflicts and misunderstandings
2. Seek consensus solutions to problems of mutual concern via open working sessions, attended by a mix of reps from regulatory agencies, legislators, and private sector
Build next steps off of established needs and areas of improvements, as agreed upon by stakeholders
1. Need for an authoritative voice to relieve burden of all those involved in building construction process
2. Need to take full advantage of technologies’ ability to improve living environment
Balanced political process and foresight
1. 21-member Board of Directors, maintained by a balanced election and appointment process
2. Acknowledged the intricacies of construction process by creating individual councils and standing committees to address broad-based and specialized building process issues
Avoid conflicts of interests by operating through a blend of public and private funding
1. Private sector contributions and membership dues
2. Contracts and grants with federal/state agencies
3. Sales of Institute publications