Why the FHB Summit Is an Industry Event You Don’t Want to Miss
The Fine Homebuilding Summit is finally back after a six-year hiatus — and it's going to be better than ever.
On September 29, 2019, I left my small northern Minnesota community and set out on a 20+ hour drive to Southbridge, Massachusetts. The route crossed the states of Wisconsin, wound though both upper and lower Michigan, included a crossing into Ontario, back into New York State before finally reaching my destination in Massachusetts. The objective was the Fine Homebuilding Summit of 2019.
As a reader of Fine Homebuilding Magazine since 1993, I jumped at the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the publication. Having the chance to see live presentations by some of the best and most influential experts in the industry, —Mike Guertin, Martin Holladay, Steve Baczek, Ben Bogie, Christine Williamson, Glen Mathewson, and many others was a rare opportunity, but as it turned out, the networking with like-minded people also attending the summit ended up being just as rewarding.
Away From the Hustle and Bustle
Southbridge, Mass., is far away from distractions, and the location was chosen by design. Without nearby activities or other recreational opportunities, the attendees were essentially locked together at the hotel/convention center for the entire event.
We all ate together, went to the presentations together, and spent most of the evenings making connections. It was at this event that I made several good industry friends, some of whom I regularly stay in touch with today.
The 2019 Summit featured four to five educational tracks that the attendee could choose from, all featuring 90-minute presentations followed by 30-minute breaks. A trade show was set up for vendors, which was heavily visited by attendees anytime there was a break.
Two of the attendees—and good friends I first met while attending the 2019 Summit—Travis Brungardt and Joe Cook were inspired by the event. In 2020, they launched the Midwest Building Science Symposium.
That first symposium was held in Kansas City and has since evolved into the Building Science Symposium Series that is, in part, sponsored by Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor. These symposiums are now conducted six times per year and move around the nation—and, recently, have taken a trip north to reach Canadian audiences.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit
The Fine Homebuilding Summit 2025 will again be held in Massachusetts, but this time on the campus of Endicott College, Boston North Shore campus near Beverly, Massachusetts, about a 30-mile drive from Logan International Airport.
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The two-day event’s education will be different than the 2019 Summit. This year, all the attendees will remain as a group, with only one track of education. Another slight shift will be the focus of the education. There will be more on craft and running a business, along with information on hot topics such as resiliency and affordability.
This is not to say that there won’t be some building science that sneaks in. After all, a few of the speakers—Allison Bailes, Ben Bogie, and Josh Salinger among others—have a great deal of background in building science. With that said, the primary intent of this year’s Summit is dedicated to the evolution of residential design, construction, and business practices.
Click here to register for the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit
A Change in Format
Another change to this year’s format, the presentations will be condensed, with each speaker delivering a 30-minute talk. As an example, the opening session includes:
- Josh Salinger: Resilience in Buildings and Building Resilience
- David Warfel: Next Level Lighting
- Emily Mottram: Why Attainable is More Realistic Than Affordable
The three presentations will then be followed by a 45-minute roundtable featuring the three presenters and moderated by Ben Bogie. This roundtable session will give the speakers the opportunity to expand on the discussions and for the audience to participate in the conversation.
GBA in the House
GBA contributors are well represented at the 2025 Summit. Allison Bailes regularly contributes content to GBA. Both Ben Bogie and Josh Salinger have written for GBA and can occasionally be found as “experts” on the Q & A Spotlight series.
Ben Bogie and Emily Mottram are part of the BS* + Beer group that has frequented GBA over the past several years. Rachel Wagner is a regular contributor, writing about Energy Smart Details. Former Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink and lighting expert David K. Warfel have been contributors recently as well.
Why You Should Attend
Whether you attended that first Summit in 2019, or any number of the Building Science Symposiums, or this is your first ever conference, these events provide more than education. They offer space to recharge, network, and reflect on the future of home building. If the past is any indication, the 2025 Summit promises to be unforgettable.
Click here to register for the 2025 Fine Homebuilding Summit
— GBA Editor Randy Williams is a recovering general contractor who performs energy auditing and building investigations in Grand Rapids, Minn. He teaches and speaks about building science topics around the country.
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