Workshops

Dive deeper into building performance with technical, application-driven workshop sessions.

Pre-Conference Workshops | May 19, 2026

SimBuild workshops provide hands-on training led by industry experts. Sessions are offered in half-day formats and require separate registration.

Ladybug Tools Workshop

Pollination Revit Plugin: Reliable Workflow for Exporting Revit Models as Energy Models in a Fraction of Time

MAY 19th, 2026:
Morning Session: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
OR
Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

COST: $400

Workshop Overview

In this workshop, we will explore the core features of the Pollination Revit plugin for extracting valid energy models directly from Revit.

By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to move from Revit to simulation-ready energy models efficiently — without redrawing analytical models from scratch.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Understand the overall workflow for editing and exporting models
  • Learn the differences between extruded and full-volume modes
  • Identify common issues in Revit models
  • Apply best practices to resolve modeling challenges
  • Distinguish which tasks belong in Revit versus the Model Editor or other BEM software

Workshop Content

We begin by reviewing common modeling issues found in Revit projects. From there, we’ll walk through practical workflows using:

  • The Pollination Revit plugin
  • The Pollination Model Editor

The workshop concludes with guidance on:

  • Working with linked Revit models
  • Exporting to third-party tools such as Ladybug Tools, IES VE, eQuest, TRACE, OpenStudio, DesignBuilder, and IDA-ICE
  • A preview of upcoming features

Who Should Attend

This workshop is designed for:

  • Building performance analysts
  • Energy modelers
  • Engineers

Attendees should have a basic understanding of energy modeling and be looking to streamline the process of producing and simulating energy models from Revit.

Software Requirements

  • Participants must bring:
  • A Windows computer
  • Revit 2021–2026 installed
  • The latest version of the Pollination Revit plugin

All attendees will be provided with access to a Pollination Revit plugin license during the workshop.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari – Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari is a co-founder of Ladybug Tools LLC.

During the last several years, Mostapha has been supervising the development of Pollination Revit and Rhino plugins.

BEMP Training

Building Energy Modeling: From Design Practice to Certification (For Design Professionals and BEMP Candidates)

COST: $600 (members) | $750 (non-members)

Workshop Overview

This interactive workshop bridges the gap between practical building energy modeling (BEM) and professional certification preparation.

Participants will explore essential topics for real-world energy modeling projects while aligning with the knowledge areas tested in the ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) certification exam.

What You’ll Gain

This workshop is designed to:

Build a Strong Foundation

  • Provide an integrated overview of building energy modeling
  • Cover design, analysis, and verification techniques

Reinforce Core Concepts

  • HVAC systems
  • Lighting systems
  • Internal and process loads
  • Energy performance modeling

Introduce Advanced Professional Topics

  • Analysis methodologies
  • Project scheduling and budget considerations
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Control strategies

Apply Knowledge Through Practice

  • Interactive exercises
  • Real-world case studies
  • Practical strategies for exam preparation and professional application

Encourage Peer Learning

  • Knowledge sharing among practitioners
  • Collaborative problem-solving with fellow BEMP candidates

INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Amanda Bogner, PE BEMP
Amanda Bogner is Vice President at Catalyst Partners, a registered mechanical engineer, and a certified ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP). With a passion for high-performance buildings and data-driven decision-making, Amanda has spent her career helping clients optimize energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and navigate complex energy and sustainability standards.

Since founding ENERGY STUDIO in 2010, she has provided energy analysis services for over 500 projects across 38 states and continues to lead innovative solutions driving sustainability at scale as part of Catalyst Partners.

Amanda also serves on the Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors, advancing clean energy and net-zero initiatives. She is a 2024–2026 ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and an experienced educator and speaker, having presented at ASHRAE, AIA, SCUP, and the National Net Zero Energy Forum

Annie Koch, PE
Annie is a senior engineer at Catalyst Partners and specializes in technical assessments of high-performance and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings. She provides guidance on energy and daylight modeling, cost-benefit analysis, passive design strategies, and sustainable systems, and has authored whitepapers and co-written a ZNE Guidebook.

Annie has contributed to an award-winning Consumers Energy’s Zero Net Energy Pilot program at a previous firm. She is an accomplished speaker and educator and has presented at Greenbuild, ACEEE, AESP, and other prominent conferences.

Her work helps advance practical solutions for decarbonization and sustainable building design. 

IES Workshop

Mastering Passive Design with IESVE

COST: $100

Workshop Overview

Mastering Passive Design with IESVE is an intensive half-day workshop that demonstrates how IESVE can be used to support passive design strategies from concept through early design.

Topics include geometry creation, massing and shading studies, climate-responsive design, and solar analysis. Participants will also learn how parametric analysis can be used to compare design options and optimize building performance.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Coming soon

Physibel Workshop

3D Thermal Bridge Modelling for Code Compliance

COST: $100

Workshop Overview

This half-day workshop teaches participants how to perform code-compliant 3D thermal bridge modeling.

The session combines code fundamentals with hands-on simulation using professional software tools.

Code & Standards Overview

We begin with a review of current international thermal bridging codes, with a particular focus on U.S. standards.

Participants will explore:

  • How thermal bridge effects are expressed
  • The relationship between different performance metrics
  • Code requirements relevant to U.S. compliance

Hands-On Modeling with SOLIDO

Participants will work directly with the Physibel SOLIDO software package to model common 3D thermal bridges.

During this session, you will:

  • Import provided geometries (STL format)
  • Create a computational mesh
  • Run a thermal simulation
  • Interpret simulation outputs

Calculating Compliance Metrics

Using calculated heat flow results, participants will learn how to determine key derived properties, including:

  • Equivalent thermal transmittance (U-value)
  • Linear thermal transmittance (ψ-value)
  • Point thermal transmittance (χ-value)

These calculations will be used to generate a report compliant with U.S. standards.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Dr. Jelle Langmans has been a Partner at Physibel since 2018.

Physibel is a company specializing in software tools for thermal façade modelling.

Dr. Langmangs holds a PhD in civil engineering (Building Physics) from KU Leuven and is the author of 10 peer-reviewed journal publications on Heat, Air, and Moisture transport in building envelopes.