Wellington to welcome building science experts in 2027

Aotearoa in Wellington, New Zealand will be the 2027 host of the International Building Physics Conference (IBPC). It will be the first time the conference has been held in the southern hemisphere. The IBPC brings together researchers, practitioners, educators and students from more than 40 countries. The event provides an opportunity to display new research, technologies and solutions for sustainability within the field of building physics. Hosted at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre in August 2027 by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), the conference will be supported by Tourism New Zealand and Business Events Wellington. Claire Falck, CEO of BRANZ, said: “The conference will bring hundreds of delegates to New Zealand to connect and advance new ideas to solve pressing issues in building – ultimately helping to develop more affordable, sustainable, resilient and healthy housing around the world.” She added that hosting the conference is a “testament to New Zealand’s well-established scientific reputation on the global stage.” Bjoern Spreitzer, general manager of business events at Tourism New Zealand, said: “Hosting the International Building Physics Conference not only brings hundreds of visitors to explore New Zealand during spring, one of our off-peak seasons; it will enhance our building sector and communities through the ideas exchanged at the event.” Dr Chris Litten, general manager of research at BRANZ, said conference attendees could expect a mix of presentations, interactive sessions, workshops and site visits – including a trip to BRANZ’s world-class research and testing facilities. “New Zealand has some unique characteristics, such as our climate and earthquake-prone geography, and many of these have influenced our building methods and materials. We have a lot of building science knowledge to share with the world,” he explained. Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira added: “It is fitting that this conference will take place at the brand-new Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. It has already won architecture and property awards for its design and sustainability credentials, making it an ideal venue for a conference focused on building best practice.”