1990
GE Living Environments
Researching ways to improve the most important product in our lives
While directing GE’s Living Environments Program, Michael Dickens and Mark Tilley have a revelation: Since a home is arguably the most important and costly product most people will ever purchase, why is there so little industry research focused on how to design and build better homes? They subsequently created a building innovation consortium backed by GE, USG Corporation, Masco Corporation, Ryland Homes, and Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates (now Stantec). Other partners in the project included AMP, Carrier, GE, Herman Miller, and Molex.
1991
IBACOS Is Founded
With the premise of the home as an integrated system, a new company is born
IBACOS’ first innovation: Create a company. In a historic building located at 300 Sixth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, Michael Dickens and Brad Oberg founded IBACOS and were later joined by Mark Tilley. For 20 years, the three continued to lead IBACOS forward: Tilley as CEO, Michael as CMO, and Brad as CTO. Sadly, Brad passed away in 2014.
1992
Genesis of Building America
IBACOS helps to create a new U.S. Department of Energy initiative
Michael Dickens and Brad Oberg and several partner companies travel to Washington, D.C. to campaign for the cause of integrated building systems R&D with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Shortly thereafter, IBACOS becomes the first Building America research partner, and today, IBACOS continues to play a role in the development and implementation of this consortia-based research program.
1993
First Experimental Homes Constructed
Driving sustainabilityand efficiency to the next level
IBACOS partnered with Ryland Homes on an initiative to begin to truly understand, demonstrate and measure the value of a high performance home. To achieve this, two homes of the same architectural design were constructed in Pittsburgh: one that was built to standard specifications, and one that met high performance standards. These were then monitored and compared over time, and this became the first builder demonstration program of the potential benefits of whole-house systems thinking.
1997
IBACOS Creates Spin-off: EQA Landmark Communities
Applying high performance home standards to whole communities
IBACOS creates spin-off, EQA Landmark Communities, with the mission of applying high-performance standards to entire developments and communities of homes. Kickoff project: Summerset at Frick Park, one of the first residential brownfield developments, located on the site of an old slag heap in Pittsburgh. Today, EQA is a leader in new community development in Western Pennsylvania involved in a series of successful new community brownfield re-developments across the Pittsburgh region.
2001
BuildIQ Is Founded
The first online education system for production homebuilders goes live
In response to a growing need for new solutions for builder organization education with a focus on building best practices, IBACOS founds BuildIQ in partnership with Scripps Network, the owner of HGTV.com. By 2006, BuildIQ counts 9 of the top 20 builders in the United States as clients. BuildIQ is currently undergoing a redevelopment to leverage the latest in visual media and adult learning strategies.
2003
NAHB’s The New American Home®
Eight years of cutting-edge technology and energy efficiency
IBACOS, Building America, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partner with National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) on the performance engineering of The New American Home, with an emphasis on a total home perspective. Through this program, a home has been built each year near the site of that year’s NAHB International Builders’ Show and showcases best practices in the areas of design, products, materials and construction technologies.
2008
The Best Practices Research Alliance® Is Founded
Facilitating “builders helping builders” to drive innovation in the housing industry
IBACOS founds the Best Practices Research Alliance (now the Housing Innovation Alliance) to foster innovation among leading homebuilders and manufacturers and promote widespread adoption of best practices. IBACOS continues to act as the managing partner of the Alliance, which has grown to more than 75 builders, 16 of which are in the Builder Top 20 and accounted for more than 200,000 housing starts in 2014. The Alliance also has 14 product/material manufacturer partners.
2010
Pittsburgh Energy Efficiency Lab Home Groundbreaking
Near net zero energy home served as research lab
Built by S&A Homes, the Lab Home was a collaborative venture among Building America, IBACOS and the Best Practices Research Alliance, and the builder. The Lab Home was the site of ongoing research by IBACOS for 7 years, and was a key asset used to identify industry solutions for better homes and to drive sustainability and efficiency to the next level. The home included a number of cutting-edge performance features that brought it close to net zero energy use.
2013
PERFORM® Is Launched
IBACOS’ comprehensive suite of knowledge, systems, tools and training for homebuilders
IBACOS has been offering services to homebuilders since its inception, but this year marked the debut of a comprehensive set of solutions under one brand. PERFORM enables builders to improve the critical performance area of construction quality where it matters most – in the field. The suite includes a searchable library of regionally-specific building assembly details, to construction Best Practices® training online, and a construction quality assessment system all backed by the leading residential building performance expertise of IBACOS. Together, this unique offering increases consistency, reduces risk, and retains profit that a builder might otherwise have lost due to poor construction quality.
2016
Middle East Home of Innovation™ Initiative
IBACOS partners in the Home of Innovation™ program
IBACOS participates in Home of Innovation™, a regional market engagement program in Saudi Arabia designed to help transform ideas into sustainable industry. Through this initiative, IBACOS plays a role as a strategic partner for bringing innovation to the Middle East.
2016
IBACOS Celebrates 25 Years
IBACOS' journey reaches 25-year milestone
It is with a spirit of gratitude and appreciation that we celebrate 25 years of innovation in housing. Our passion for this industry runs deep, and we are grateful to be a part of it. We are excited about the next 25 years. It’s clear that innovation is our industry’s future, and it’s a journey that we will continue to embrace with enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment.
2017
Housing Innovation Alliance Becomes Separate Entity
IBACOS launches Alliance as independent organization
The Alliance became is its own independent entity in a partnership between IBACOS, George Casey of Stockbridge Associates, and the team. The Alliance is comprised of participants from every aspect of the housing value chain and fosters collaborative insights that accelerate innovation that will change the housing industry moving forward. IBACOS remains an active sponsor of the Alliance and continues to support its growth and development.
