Members of the National Institute of Building Sciences develop and implement technical and procedural improvements and interact with other nationally recognized colleagues through the Institute's councils, committees and programs. Innovative solutions developed through the Institute's projects and programs work to provide beneficial guidance for all those who plan, design, produce, construct, use, operate, maintain and retire physical buildings and facilities.

Join the Institute and become part of the solution. Members have the opportunity to come together with the nation's experts and identify and resolve issues facing the built environment. Participation assures that your voice is heard, your issues are brought to the forefront, and that resolutions are beneficial to all members of the built environment.

Individual members and representatives of organizational members are entitled to participate on the projects, councils and committees that interest them.

Membership Type & Dues

Individuals are eligible to become either public interest or industry sector members. Sustaining and contributing organizations may designate up to five individuals to be Institute members. The membership classifications are defined as follows:

Institute Member-Public Interest

Open to any individual employed by, or otherwise affiliated with government, consumer organizations, non-profit research and educational organizations, or the media; and architects, professional engineers or other design professionals who are not employees of nor have a financial interest in corporate organizations that produce, sell, distribute or install building products or materials; and retirees (from public interest or industry sector).
Annual Dues: $75 – Join at this level

Institute Member-Industry

Open to any individual not qualifying for membership in the "public interest sector" and including persons employed by or otherwise associated with construction, labor organizations, home builders, building or construction contractors; producers, distributors or manufacturers of building products; trade and professional associations; organizations engaged in real estate, finance or research and testing of building products; and code and standards organizations.
Annual Dues: $150 – Join at this level

Institute Member-Student

Open to any individual enrolled as a full-time student in an institution of higher learning. Proof of enrollment is required for this membership. Student members are eligible to participate on any open Institute council and/or committee.
Annual Dues: $25 – Join at this level

Institute Sustaining Organization

Open to any corporation, trade or professional association, government agency, non-profit organization, individual or others desiring to provide additional support for and participation with the Institute to achieve the goals and objectives established by U.S. Congress (Public-Law 93-383). Sustaining organizations may designate up to five individuals from their organization to be Institute Members.
Annual Dues: $1,000 – Join at this level

Institute Contributing Organization

Organizations making an exceptional membership commitment to the Institute are afforded the same rights and privileges as sustaining organizations and such other rights and privileges as authorized by the Board of Directors.
Annual Dues: $5,000 – Join at this level

Alliance Sponsor Organization

Open to any corporation, trade or professional association, government agency, non-profit organization, individual or others desiring to provide additional support for and participation with the Institute's buildingSMART alliance and sponsor the efforts to develop national standards for BIM and other data standards. Alliance Sponsor Organizations may name up to 10 individuals from their organization to be Institute Members. Alliance Sponsor Organization Members are eligible for a seat on the buildingSMART alliance Board of Direction, recognition on the Alliance web site, preference for articles submitted to the Journal of Building Information Modeling (JBIM), a role in the decision making for the future of the Alliance, a seat on the planning committee for the National BIM Standard - United States.
Annual Dues: $10,000 – Sponsor at this level

Bronze Sponsor Organization

Open to any corporation, trade or professional association, government agency, non-profit organization, individual or others desiring to provide additional support for and participation with the Institute's buildingSMART alliance and sponsor the efforts to develop national standards for BIM and other data standards. Bronze Sponsor Organizations may name up to 12 individuals from their organization to be Institute Members. Bronze Sponsors are eligible for a seat on the buildingSMART alliance Board of Direction, recognition on the Alliance web site, preference for articles submitted to the Journal of Building Information Modeling (JBIM), a role in the decision making for the future of the Alliance, a seat on the planning committee for the National BIM Standard - United States, the opportunity to compete for project grants, and the ability to designate up to fifty percent of their sponsorship to the buildingSMART International.
Annual Dues: $25,000 – Sponsor at this level

Silver Sponsor Organization

Open to any corporation, trade or professional association, government agency, non-profit organization, individual or others desiring to provide additional support for and participation with the Institute's buildingSMART alliance and sponsor the efforts to develop national standards for BIM and other data standards.Silver Sponsor Organizations may name up to 15 individuals from their organization to be Institute Members.Silver Sponsors are eligible for a seat on the buildingSMART alliance Board of Direction, recognition on the Alliance web site, preference for articles submitted to the Journal of Building Information Modeling (JBIM), a role in the decision making for the future of the Alliance, a seat on the planning committee for the National BIM Standard - United States, the opportunity to compete for project grants,the ability to designate up to fifty percent of their sponsorship to the buildingSMART International, and priority presentations of organizations case studies on Alliance and International web site.
Annual Dues: $50,000 – Sponsor at this level

Interest Groups

The Institute classifies members in one of the following twelve groups in order to ensure an appropriate representation of the various interests of the building community in the makeup of NIBS' project committees. Below is a list of those groups based on a Member's primary trade, occupational or business affiliation.

• Consumer and General Interest: Consumers, users, academia, media, and public interest groups.
• Architects: Architects and related professionals in private practice.
• Engineers: Engineers and related professionals in private practice.
• Federal Government: Officials and representatives of federal government agencies.
• State and Local Government: Officials and representatives of state and local government including code officials.
• Building Construction: Building construction contractors, subcontractors and utilities.
• Labor Organizations: Building trade unions.
• Housing: Builders, developers and housing producers.
• Building Materials and Products: Producers, manufactures and distributors of materials and products used in the building process.
• Standards: Standards writing or producing organizations.
• Real Estate, Finance or Insurance: Realtors, owners, financial and insurance organizations.