Call for Submissions

We are pleased to announce the call for research paper abstract submissions. Extended abstracts are due on August 4, 2025. This page contains submission guidelines, abstract and paper templates, and key dates. SimBuild 2026 will include multiple presentation formats to encourage discussions and exchange of ideas as well as pre-conference events. A call for oral presentations and panel discussions will be made in January 2026.

The theme of SimBuild 2026 highlights IBPSA’s ongoing and future mission: Getting From Models to Reality by Bridging Simulation and Operational Performance. We seek papers demonstrating innovation in methods, workflows, and modeling tools for better building design, performance, and operation to meet aggressive targets for energy reduction, affordability, reliability, and resiliency.

Sample Topics include:

Resilience and Predictive Modeling for the Future

  • Generative AI
  • Machine Learning for Building Design
  • Modeling Data Centers
  • Modeling for Future Weather and Extreme Events
  • Urban and Community Scale Modeling

Smarter Operations: Intelligent Buildings in Practice

  • Commissioning, Diagnostics, and Control
  • Distributed Energy Resources
  • Equipment Efficiency
  • Grid Interactions and Load Management
  • Machine Learning for Building Operations
  • Passive and Hybrid Buildings

Advances in Simulation Tools and Techniques

  • Co-Simulation, Interoperability, and Building Information Modeling
  • Evolving Performance Indicators
  • Design Optimization
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning System Modeling
  • Uncertainty, Sensitivity Analysis, and Calibration
  • Verification and Validation

Simulation Case Studies and Workflows

  • Building Envelope Physics
  • CFD, Airflow, and Microclimate
  • Life-Cycle Modeling
  • Lighting and Daylighting
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Equipment
  • Passive and Hybrid Heating and Cooling

Human-Centered Design and Occupant Experience

  • Air Quality and Health Impacts
  • Modeling of Adaptation Strategies
  • Occupant Behavior
  • Thermal, Visual, and Acoustic Comfort

Policy, Compliance, and the Future of Energy Codes

  • Education and Training
  • Energy Affordability and Affordable Housing
  • Policy and Energy Codes

Submission Guidelines

Papers for SimBuild 2026 must be submitted through ConfTool. Each contribution will be evaluated through a double-blind peer review, scored and subsequently accepted for presentation. Based on reviewer feedback, the scientific committee may choose to accept papers for publication with an oral or poster presentation, offer a presentation without publication, or decline the submission. For papers with exceptional scores, the authors will be invited to submit an extended version to the Journal of Building Performance Simulation.

Authors are responsible for the originality and accuracy of their work. Papers that have previously been published elsewhere or are currently under consideration for other publications will not be considered. Plagiarism will be considered grounds for rejection. Text or images that have previously appeared elsewhere may only be included with permission of the original creators, and the source must be cited. Where authors use large language models (for example, ChatGPT) in their work, the authors are responsible for verifying the accuracy and relevance of all generated material, as well as ensuring that it conforms with all guidelines and policies.

At least one author of each accepted paper is expected to attend SimBuild 2026 to present the work. Our unique conference format offers networking opportunities and workshops to increase each paper’s impact, as well as training prior to the conference in scientific publishing and presentation techniques.

Authors of accepted contributions will be requested to provide a 30-second video abstract when submitting their final manuscripts.

Please observe the following guidelines when preparing your submission:

  • Use the templates provided below when preparing your manuscript or extended abstract.
  • The maximum length for manuscripts is 12 pages, including figures and references. Extended abstracts are limited to one page.
  • Do not include author names, affiliations, or acknowledgments in your draft for review.
  • Upload all contributions through ConfTool, including both a PDF version and an editable version (Word or LaTeX) of the manuscript. LaTeX files must be compilable and packed in a ZIP file, and all uploads must be less than 10MB in size.

If you encounter any technical issues, please contact us at SimBuild@ibpsa.us.

SUBMIT PAPER

Key Dates

Abstracts Due: August 4, 2025

Abstract Notification: September 14, 2025

Papers Due: October 27, 2025

1st Round Notification: January 12, 2026

The call for submissions for presentations will be published in September.

The presentation submissions will be due in January 2026.

Templates

Extended abstract template (word)
Extended abstract template (LaTeX)

Policies

Copyright

Authors are required to accept the following conditions during submission.

The author(s) and presenter(s) will automatically grant to IBPSA-USA a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable, sub-licensable, and transferable license to publish the abstract(s), paper(s), presentation(s), poster(s), and/or other media (the work) (with unmodified content) in any fashion (including but not limited to inclusion in the SimBuild 2026 printed and electronic proceedings, via electronic means such as the world wide web, and inclusion in future compilations of presentations, also including online-exploitation via electronic means in order to organize an e-conference, regardless of the accessibility through paying registration). This “nonexclusive” license means that the author(s) are not restricted as to future use of the material except that exclusive rights cannot be granted to another.

The author(s) and presenter(s) grant and assign to IBPSA-USA or its agent the nonexclusive rights to record the presentation at SimBuild 2026. These rights give IBPSA-USA the unlimited license to use, modify (format, not content), sell, and distribute the recorded presentation (including voice of the presenter(s)).

The author(s) and presenter(s) warrant that the work is original and that they are the author of the work. To the extent the work incorporates text passages, figures, data or other material from other authors, the author(s) and presenter(s) have obtained all necessary permissions to grant the license above.

The author(s) and presenter(s) acknowledge that acceptance of the work does not imply IBPSA-USA’s endorsement of or agreement with the ideas presented. It is understood that IBPSA-USA does not accept responsibility for any content within the work that may be found to be libelous, infringing on copyright or other intellectual property rights, invading individual privacy, or to be otherwise unlawful. Under no circumstances shall IBPSA-USA be liable for any damages resulting from use of information included in the presentation.

Finally, the author(s) and presenter(s) confirm that they have the power and authority to make and execute this agreement. For jointly authored works the signing author/presenter signs as authorized agent for the others.

 

Commercialism

IBPSA-USA’s publications and activities shall be free of commercial bias and shall not imply IBPSA-USA endorsement of any commercial interest.

Commercial recognition may be provided or implied when doing so is necessary to promote the arts and sciences of building performance simulation and the understanding of associated technology.

Commercial mentions may:

  • Promote understanding of technical content and awareness of available technology.
  • Identify the authors and their affiliations, or differentiate between products from different sources that are relevant to their work. 

Commercial mentions may not:

  • Be excessive, extraneous, or go beyond what is necessary to provide proper identification and differentiation.
  • Appear unprofessional or disrespectful, such as altering, distorting, or obscuring logos belonging to others.
  • Appear confusing, misleading, or deceptive, such as suggesting a false or unauthorized association or similarity.
  • Appear disparaging, defamatory, or derogatory, such as implying unsubstantiated inferiority, negativity, or criticism.
  • Make or imply unsubstantiated claims of superiority, advantage, or preference.