September 2026 High-Profile Focus: Up-Front 9

Medford, MA— More than 300 green building leaders, architects, engineers, contractors, innovators, and other industry professionals gathered at Tufts University’ s Joyce Cummings Center on Aug. 6 for the 2026 BE + Building Tech Forum, where 45 rapid-fire presentations offered a look at technologies and strategies moving from ideas into practical application across the built environment.

Hosted by Built Environment Plus( BE +), the forum covered innovations ranging from energy efficiency and electrification to materials, building performance, and decarbonization. One of the central themes of the evening focused on one of the industry’ s biggest challenges: how to improve the buildings that are already here.

Benjamin Downing, CEO of MassCEC

BE + and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center( MassCEC) again collaborated on a dedicated track focused on existing building upgrades, interventions, and innovations, highlighting strategies for improving building performance and reducing emissions from existing buildings.

The presentations demonstrated how new technologies are being put into practice. Aeroseal’ s Tom Holmes shared a case study on restoring the central ventilation system at a 456- unit Manhattan co-op. By sealing duct leaks, adding self-balancing vent controls, and rebalancing rooftop fans, the project achieved a 94 % reduction in duct leakage and a 75 % reduction in total exhaust volume, resulting in more than $ 241,000 in verified annual utility savings and 208 tons of avoided CO 2 in the first four months.

Other presentations came from a wide range of architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, utilities, building scientists, and technology companies, reflecting the different approaches emerging across the industry to improve building performance, reduce energy use, and address carbon emissions.

Roselin Osser, assistant vice president of Built Ecology at WSP, presenting at the forum”

The five-minute lightning-talk format gave presenters an opportunity to introduce technologies and strategies quickly, while networking tables following the presentations allowed attendees to continue those conversations and learn more about how the ideas could be applied to projects.

Attendees listening to a five-minute pitch

From technologies aimed at making existing buildings more efficient to new approaches to materials, energy, and building systems, the forum offered a look at practical tools being developed and implemented as the industry works toward healthier, more resilient, and regenerative buildings.

The evening concluded with networking among presenters and attendees, bringing together professionals working across building science, sustainable design, construction, and technology throughout Massachusetts and beyond.

Across the Northeast, CM & B helps academic institutions navigate complex projects with confidence, from planning through completion.

But beyond construction, we build trust. We build partnerships that last decades. And above all, we build people.

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