Do I need to know how to code?
No. We encourage participants with all levels of coding experience. If you’re not a programmer, we’re sure you can bring other skills to share with a team.

Do I need to stay for 24 hours?
It’s up to you. We’ll keep the hacking room open and monitored for 24 hours, but your team can choose where you want to work and how long you want to work for.

What should I prepare before the event?
Think of a few project ideas you would like to work on. Take inspiration from your day-to-day operation, and think about what tools you wish existed in the industry.

What if I can’t make it to the beginning of the event?
If your schedule prevents you from showing up at the beginning of the event, let us know when you register, and we’ll match you with a team when you arrive.

Where will I sleep?
The hackathon will take place in the UMN School of Architecture. Hackers are welcome to book a hotel room for the night at the conference rate, or to stay elsewhere. Some dedicated hackers might sleep in the event room. 

Who won HackSimBuild ‘24?
Team HackYeah won the grand prize in 2024 for their Energy Locker project that predicts the annual energy cost for thermal energy storage systems. Read about all of the 2024 projects and see their presentations and source code.

What is it like to attend an IBPSA hackathon?
Ken Takahashi wrote about his experience at a previous HackSimBuild. You can read about it in his Ask a Modeler column.

Where can I get more information?
Reach out to us at hackathon@ibpsa.us with your questions.