Cold Climate Conference Schedule
October 12-14, 2026 ● Bozeman, MT
Monday, October 12
Day 1: Building Enclosures. The first day focuses on designing durable, high-performing building enclosures, with practical sessions on air, water, vapor, and thermal control for cold-climate buildings.
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Arrival & Check-In
Montana State University - Norm Asbjornson Hall
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Opening & Keynote with Joe Lsitburek
Montana State University - Norm Asbjornson Hall
Joseph Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. Dr. Lstiburek’s commitment to advancing the building industry has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices worldwide, particularly in air and vapor barriers and vented and unvented roof assemblies.
Dr. Lstiburek is also an acclaimed educator who has taught thousands of professionals over the past three decades and written countless papers as well as the best-selling Builder Guides. Fittingly, the Wall Street Journal has described him as "the dean of North American building science." He has a joy for telling tall tales to his protégés and audiences.
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Building Enclosures
Montana State University
The first day focuses on designing durable, high-performing building enclosures for cold climates. Sessions will explore practical strategies for managing air, water, vapor, and thermal control to create resilient, healthy, and energy-efficient buildings.
The speaker lineup and session schedule are still being finalized.
Featured Speakers for Monday:
Mark LaLiberte | Construction Instruction
Mark LaLiberte is the co-founder and partner at Construction Instruction. He has dedicated over 30 years to the building industry. Through his lectures, site assistance, Building Better Homes video series, and his mobile App, he provides builders, architects and manufacturers with an in-depth look at the current and future state of housing.
Enrico Bonilauri | EMU Passive
A registered Italian Architect and a Certified Passive House Trainer, Designer, and PHI Certifier, Enrico has gained extensive professional experience across Australia, Europe, and North America. Enrico specializes in building envelope analysis, drawing on thousands of hours spent on construction sites.
Kath Williams | Kath Williams + Associates
In this 45-minute session, Kath will share short case studies of high-performance buildings in cold climates. Examples include a variety of building types from Alaska, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, and the continental USA. Emphasis includes descriptions of strategies in architecture, engineering, and construction that support resilience as well as the health, safety, and wellness of occupants.
Teran Foster | Cornerstone Management Services
Fewer than 8% of the US population lives in climate zones 6–8, so cold-climate construction receives limited attention in national standards. Montana also faces wildfire risk 75% higher than other states, making the standards we choose especially consequential. Applying a strict wildfire code, such as California’s, may reduce risk but does not ensure a functional building in Montana’s climate. This presentation introduces essential building-science principles, explains strategies for integrating wildfire and cold-climate standards, and provides resources for designing beautiful, resilient, and functional buildings across the northern Rocky Mountains.
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner & Panel Discussion
Join us for an expert panel discussion at the Rialto in downtown Bozeman, followed by a dinner reception and time to connect with fellow attendees.
Tuesday, October 13
8:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Day 2 - HVAC
Montana State University - Strand Union Building
Day 2 will focus on high-performing HVAC systems for cold climates, with practical sessions on designing, installing, and optimizing mechanical systems for comfort, efficiency, and healthy indoor environments.
More information on speakers and sessions coming soon.
Brynn Cooksey, Sr. CEM, CMS | IREC Certified Master Trainer
Coming Soon.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Building Science & Beer
Montana State University - Strand Union Building
Join us for the event that started it all. Bozeman BS + Beer has brought building professionals in the Gallatin Valley together each month to learn, connect, and share ideas. We'll celebrate with a special evening of conversation, beer, and light snacks.
Wednesday, October 14
8:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Day 3
Montana State University - Strand Union Building
Kath Williams | Kath Williams + Associates
In this 45-minute session, Kath will share short case studies of high-performance buildings in cold climates. Examples include a variety of building types from Alaska, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, and the continental USA. Emphasis includes descriptions of strategies in architecture, engineering, and construction that support resilience as well as the health, safety, and wellness of occupants.
Carl Berntsen | NCAT
Coming Soon.
Jaya Mukhopadhyay | Montana State University
Coming Soon.
Matt Skuntz | Montana State University
Coming Soon.