Take a guided tour of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis and see how municipal solid waste is converted into usable energy. The tour will showcase HERC’s essential role in the regional system, highlighting how it contributes to resource recovery, diverts waste from landfills, and provides dependable energy, underscoring its commitment to environmental stewardship and energy independence. The tour starts with a brief presentation that includes behind-the-scenes video clips, followed by a short walking tour that includes an up-close look (and smell) of trash produced in Hennepin County an external view of pollution control equipment and other plant features. Participants will then return to the visitor center to complete a waste prevention focused activity and take a pledge to reduce waste.

This optional add-on provides an inside look at the facility’s operations, environmental controls, and role in the region’s integrated waste and energy system. The tour emphasizes the facility’s advanced environmental control systems to minimize air emissions. Tour participants must be 14 years of age or older. HERC is a 30-minute walk or a 9-minute cab ride from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Join us for a guided tour of the McKnight Foundation headquarters in Minneapolis, a nationally recognized example of high-performance, sustainable design. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the building’s energy-efficient systems, including the adaptive re-use of a historic building with integrated thermal energy storage tanks.

This add-on experience will be a comprehensive exploration of the high-performance, sustainable design principles that have earned this facility national recognition. The headquarters serves as a live demonstration of exemplary green architecture and the implementation of a truly sustainable workplace model. The McKnight Foundation is a 40-minute walk or a 15-minute cab ride from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Not tired yet from the tours, pre-conference workshops, or HackSimBuild? Or tired but still want to get to know your fellow SimBuild 2026 attendees? Register for the Welcome Reception at the beautiful offices of Perkins & Will.

Light refreshments will be served, and there will be priceless opportunities to connect with peers before the main conference starts. Perkins & Will is inside the IDS Center. You can walk (10 minutes), take a cab (8 minutes) or public transportation (6 minutes) from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration at the Awards Banquet! It’s the perfect opportunity to honor the incredible achievements of your peers, including the recipients of IBPSA-USA awards, conference accolades, and the HackSimBuild winners. Come relax, socialize, and celebrate these accomplishments after a full day of engaging seminars and presentations! Registration includes a plated meal.

Join us for an evening of networking, drinks, and light bites! This is a great chance to connect with future professionals in a relaxed setting. Each attendee will receive a complimentary drink ticket. Finger food will be provided. If you are a SimBuild sponsor, please check the passes included in the sponsorship level.

All SimBuild attendees are invited to participate in an optional, no-cost, and highly engaging Skyway Scavenger Hunt! This is a fantastic opportunity to stretch your legs, connect with others, and explore the unique features of downtown Minneapolis in a fun and interactive way. You can work alone or in teams; it’s a low-stress activity. The hunt will end in a casual group dinner (at your own expense), so skip the hunt and go directly there around 8:30 PM, or be the first to arrive after you’ve completed all the challenges.

The hunt takes place in the city’s famous climate-controlled network of pedestrian bridges, known as the Skyway System. Participants will be given a list of clues and challenges designed to guide them through key landmarks, hidden gems, and interesting historical points within the Skyway, offering a fresh perspective on the city.

Be sure to register for this free event so we can inform you of the scavenger hunt details, start location and time, and dinner venue via email.

Join us for an inside look at the Cordia Energy Minneapolis district energy system—one of the largest urban thermal energy networks in the United States. This tour will take participants through the central plant that supplies steam heating and chilled-water cooling to more than 100 buildings across downtown Minneapolis. Originally built to serve the IDS Center in the early 1970s, the system has grown into a critical piece of city infrastructure supporting offices, hospitals, sports arenas, and convention facilities throughout the downtown core.

Participants will see firsthand how large-scale boilers, chillers, and pumping systems produce and distribute thermal energy through miles of underground piping beneath the city streets. The tour will also highlight recent upgrades and sustainability initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and modernizing district energy for the future. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how centralized energy systems can enhance reliability, reduce building equipment needs, and play a key role in decarbonizing dense urban districts. The Cordia plant is a 16-minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.