I2SL's Partner Organizations

buildingSMART alliance
National Institute of Building Sciences

buildingSMART alliance

I2SL has partnered with the buildingSMART alliance™, a nonprofit organization that operates within the Congressionally authorized National Institute of Building Sciences to help promote collaboration, technology, integrated practices, and open standards to improve all aspects of the facility and infrastructure lifecycle. I2SL and the buildingSMART alliance will work together to further open Building Information Modeling (BIM) standards by defining Model View Definitions and Information Delivery Manuals in accordance with the United States National BIM Standard (NBIMS). The products of these efforts are expected to provide guidance to software vendors desiring to implement open standards for BIM and will allow the professionals involved in the development and operation of a facility to share basic information about the facility so that information can be collected only once and used for multiple activities throughout the facility lifecycle.

EGNATON

EGNATON

EGNATON (Europäische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Labortechnologien, translated to mean Registered European Association for Sustainable Laboratory Technology) is a German nonprofit organization that aims to support the development of sustainable technologies for laboratory buildings by achieving an international exchange of best practice projects, ideas, and standards. EGNATON and I2SL are two distinct organizations that share similar goals. I2SL partnered with EGNATON in order to help expand the capabilities of both organizations.

The Green Education Council (GEC)

GEC is a stakeholder-led not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to speed the universal implementation of sustainability policies and practices across the education sector in Canada and to apply the resulting knowledge and experience in the community at large. Its scope includes, but is not limited to, financial management, facilities and operations, community behavior, transportation, food services, curriculum, and research. Council participants include universities, colleges, supplier firms, and other interested organizations.

I2SL and GEC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support each other's work.

Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement (HEEPI)

HEEPI is an international organization dedicated to improving the environmental performance of universities and colleges and has provided I2SL with promotion of the Labs21 program to a European audience. In addition to working with I2SL, HEEPI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA to continue to work together on furthering their mutual goals.

Sign up for HEEPI's S-Lab Newsletter to receive details on the group's activities with regard to sustainable laboratories.

International Facility Management Association (IFMA)

Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs, recognizes facility management certificate programs, and produces World Workplace, the world's largest facility management conference and exposition. IFMA is the world's largest and most widely recognized international association for professional facility managers, supporting more than 19,500 members in 78 countries.

I2SL and IFMA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate as partners in promoting facility management education, credentials, and research for sustainable laboratories and related high-technology facilities.

The MAITE Foundation

The MAITE Foundation

The MAITE Foundation is a Spanish organization that aims to be a resource for those seeking to build or operate laboratories more sustainably, based on the belief that sustainable laboratories permit the optimization of economic, social, and environmental resources. Given the similar goals of I2SL and the MAITE Foundation, a partnership was formed to help expand the capabilities of both organizations. I2SL Board members Phil Wirdzek and Gordon Sharp attended the MAITE Foundation's inaugural meeting in November 2010. Their participation was highlighted in the MAITE Foundation video beginning at 3 minutes, 25 seconds.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)

Public Works and Government Services Canada's (PWGSC) mandate is to be a common service agency for the Government of Canada's various departments, agencies, and boards. With a strong focus on quality services and sound financial stewardship, PWGSC ensures optimum value by enabling other government departments and agencies to provide their programs and services to Canadians. As the buyer and property manager for the Government of Canada, PWGSC plays a leading role in sustainable development and is committed to ensuring a cleaner environment for all Canadians.

I2SL is working with PWGSC in order to help expand the capabilities of both organizations. Learn more about PWGSC.

R&D Magazine

R&D Magazine

R&D Magazine provides the latest in research and development for the scientific community. R&D Magazine was instrumental in helping produce and execute the first annual Go Beyond Awards at the Labs21 2008 Annual Conference and continues to partner with I2SL to present the awards. In addition, R&D Magazine regularly works with I2SL to help promote the Labs21 Annual Conference.

U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)Department of the Interior

Inspired by the success of the Labs21 Student Design Competition in 2003-2004, I2SL, in partnership with the Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies (JICMS)*, whose partners include DOI, and in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), is working to develop and implement an International Sustainable Laboratory Student Design Competition. Students in the competition will develop plans for the proposed Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center (MREC) on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a project being done by the JICMS. The MREC will be a marine laboratory, education center, and museum collections complex. Architecture and engineering students from around the world will get the opportunity to provide new and innovative thinking on how to create the project in the most energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable fashion. Their perspectives are expected to help advance building innovations that cannot afford to be limited by accepted industry practices. DOI is helping to make the student design competition a reality by supporting I2SL's efforts through a federal grant. 

 

*JICMS Partners include Rutgers University, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, University of South Carolina, University of the Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service and Office of Insular Affairs.

Learn more about the project and competition:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Department of Energy

In 2006, I2SL entered into an agreement with EPA to be the official nonprofit cosponsor of the Labs21 Annual Conference and Workshops. I2SL has a renewed agreement with EPA through 2012 to coordinate the conference and workshops. The Labs21 program, cosponsored by EPA and DOE, is a voluntary partnership program dedicated to improving the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories and focuses on education and training of organizations and professionals in pursuing sustainable laboratory design and construction techniques. The Labs21 Annual Conference and Workshops provide an opportunity for training and information exchange on the best solutions for creating sustainable laboratories and other high-technology facilities.