Risk and Resilience — Designing for a Changing World

In this one-hour recorded webinar, Rob Tanner, Johnson Controls Director of Marketing, Applied Equipment, is joined by Ralph DiNola, founder of Building Insights Group. Together they explore what risk and resilience for buildings means in practical terms; discuss emerging risks and evolving codes and standards; and describe steps building owners can take to support long-term preparedness and performance.

Episode highlights

BPS Fireside Chat Chapters

Chapter 1: Welcome and Purpose

• 0:00–4:33 | Rob Tanner introduces the fireside chat series, outlines its goals, and welcomes Ralph DiNola to discuss building risk, resilience and performance.

Chapter 2: Defining Resilience in Buildings

• 4:33–7:03 | Ralph defines resilience across three dimensions—natural hazard, energy and financial—establishing a broader, more practical understanding of the term.

Chapter 3: Real-World Impacts and Emerging Risks

• 7:03–10:49 | The discussion turns to the ways climate events, energy volatility and financial uncertainty are reshaping building owners’ priorities.

Chapter 4: HVAC and Systems as Resilience Strategies

• 10:49–14:35 | Ralph shares examples of practical HVAC upgrades that enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality and operational resilience.

Chapter 5: Proactive vs. Reactive Building Ownership

• 14:35–16:00 | Ralph contrasts reactive responses to disruption with proactive planning, emphasizing how performance standards enable phased, forward-looking improvements.

Chapter 6: Existing Buildings and Regional Risk Analysis

• 16:00–19:31 | The conversation focuses on the unique challenges of existing buildings and the importance of regional and local risk modeling.

Chapter 7: Performance-Based Codes and Flexibility

• 19:31–21:53 | Ralph explains how performance-based standards enable owners to meet outcomes without having to adopt one-size-fits-all solutions.

Chapter 8: Future-Proofing and Avoiding Stranded Assets

• 21:53–24:58 | The discussion centers on designing buildings to remain functional, valuable and adaptable over time rather than becoming obsolete.

Chapter 9: Standards, Certifications and Resilience Metrics

• 25:00–33:00 | Ralph reviews key frameworks such as LEED, WELL, Passive House, and GRESB, highlighting how they embed resilience into building assessment.

Chapter 10: Modeling, Validation and Net-Zero Performance

• 33:00–36:50 | The speakers discuss modeling tools, validation methods, and how low-energy and net-zero buildings perform during disruptions.

Chapter 11: Financial Value and Total Cost of Ownership

• 36:50–42:39 | Ralph ties resilience investments to asset value, explaining ROI, risk reduction and total cost of ownership from an owner’s perspective.

Chapter 12: Evolving Codes and Climate Reality

• 42:39–45:45 | The conversation examines gaps in current codes, especially around extreme heat, and the need for updated resilience requirements.

Chapter 13: Planning, Equipment Life Cycles and Strategy

• 45:45–53:05 | Ralph stresses the importance of proactive planning, capital roadmaps, and aligning equipment upgrades with long-term resilience goals.

Chapter 14: Staying Ahead and Industry Collaboration

• 53:05–56:13 | The discussion highlights how owners and practitioners can stay informed through participation, education and industry engagement.

Chapter 15: The Future of Building Resilience

• 56:13–58:11 | Ralph shares his optimism about innovation, policy evolution and the integration of resilience into mainstream building design.

Chapter 16: Closing Remarks and Next Steps

• 58:11–1:00:41 | Rob summarizes key takeaways, thanks participants, and previews the next session in the building performance standards series.