Event Description

Vancouver, British Columbia, offers an inspiring setting for the BCxA Annual Conference, where natural beauty, progressive design, and sustainability leadership intersect. Set between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is known for its commitment to high-performance buildings, green infrastructure, and climate-forward policies. Attendees will experience a vibrant, walkable downtown, world-class dining, and easy access to iconic outdoor destinations, all while engaging with a region at the forefront of commissioning, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. Vancouver provides not just a destination, but a living case study aligned with the future of the built environment.

This year’s theme underscores a fundamental truth: effective commissioning is inherently collaborative. From owners and design teams to contractors, operators, and commissioning providers, project success depends on aligned goals, clear communication, and shared accountability. “It Takes All of Us” highlights the collective expertise required to deliver high-performing buildings. By strengthening partnerships and breaking down silos, the commissioning process becomes more efficient, resilient, and impactful, ultimately driving better outcomes for projects, occupants, and the built environment.

Pre-Conference Workshop -

Beyond the Boiler Room: High-Performance Building Operations Through Ownership, Collaboration, and Commissioning

This workshop goes beyond traditional HVAC training by helping building operators understand not only how systems work but also why their work matters. Designed as a high-impact supplement to existing operational training programs, this interactive half-day session connects daily building operations to occupant comfort, energy performance, sustainability goals, and long-term building success. Through real-world examples, system-based operational strategies, and practical commissioning insights, attendees will learn how to recognize performance issues, understand design intent, and contribute to ongoing optimization efforts within their buildings. Most importantly, the workshop is designed to inspire operators to see themselves not simply as mechanics or responders, but as essential building performance leaders who play a direct role in creating healthier, more efficient, and more resilient facilities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze how building HVAC systems operate as integrated systems and evaluate how operational decisions impact energy performance, occupant comfort, equipment reliability, and overall building efficiency.
2. Identify operational strategies and diagnostic approaches used to recognize common building performance deficiencies, system drift, and opportunities for optimization within existing facilities.
3. Explain the purpose and principles of commissioning, recommissioning, and existing building commissioning, including the building operator’s role in supporting continuous performance improvement throughout the facility lifecycle.
4. Apply collaborative, performance-focused operational practices that support communication, problem-solving, and strategic partnerships among operators, facility managers, engineers, and commissioning professionals to achieve organizational sustainability and operational goals.

Building Detective: Case Studies Illustrating How Applied EBCx Tools and Skills Solve HVAC Performance Challenges

This workshop will use a case study format to explore the technical aspects and EBCx skills and techniques associated with assessing building system issues and opportunities.

The case studies will be based on a mix of issues from several projects the instructor is currently involved in, along with issues represented in 3D models of buildings and systems the instructor has developed to provide a virtual training experience focused on common building system issues and opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will recognize that the System Concept and System Diagrams are crucial tools for assessing building system issues.
2. Attendees will recognize common HVAC fundamental relationships.
3. Attendees will be able to describe how common HVAC relationships can be used to assess and develop information regarding building system issues and processes.
4. Attendees will learn how to use psychrometric relationships and hourly weather data files to assess system load profiles and performance.
5. Attendees will learn how to use field test data, trend data, and weather data to assess system load profiles and performance.