Built Buildings Lab

vision & mission

Built Buildings Lab is a knowledge-to-action nonprofit dedicated to transforming existing buildings into humanity's greatest resource. We elevate the knowledge, stories, and resources that people need to act on the embodied value of built buildings.

Our work empowers community leaders, policymakers, building owners, and design professionals who care about and advocate for the whole life of the buildings.  

Built Buildings Lab’s project Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage with the Climate Heritage Network, Architecture 2030, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation has been accepted as an official Cooperative Initiative of the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda! Join us in the Heritage Now! campaign to get involved.

https://heritagenowcampaign.org/

news and events

  • Built Buildings Lab in Bloomberg CityLab

    Architects are increasingly embracing the need for more practical and sustainable ways of building, fueling a surge of interest in renovation and adaptive reuse.

    Read Here

  • Design the Future Podcast with Billie Faircloth

    Research Director Billie Faircloth joins “Design the Future” hosts Kira Gould and Lindsay Baker. In this episode, Billie dives into spanning boundaries and building platforms, including the project of launching Built Buildings Lab with co-founder Lori Ferriss. Tune in the hear more about Billie’s journey and her outlook on built buildings.

    Listen Here

  • Check out our public events page for a full list of upcoming engagements

    Public Events

  • Green Building Advisor profiles Built Buildings Lab

    Executive Director Lori Ferriss and Research Director Billie Faircloth talk with Justin Wolf about the organization’s mission, the gaps that led them to found the nonprofit, and how built environment stakeholders can understand and act on the embodied value of built buildings.

    Click Here

  • COP30

    Nov. 10-15

    At COP30, Built Buildings Lab’s Lori Ferriss, Executive Director and Billie Faircloth, Research Director will advocate for the role of the existing built environment as an essential source of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

    Click Here

  • Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit

    Built Buildings Lab’s Lori Ferriss and Billie Faircloth will be in Lausanne co-leading sessions on existing buildings and heritage and advancing the Heritage Now! campaign.

    Click Here

  • P for Preservation

    Metropolis Magazine profiled Built Buildings Lab in the spring 2026 issue, “An A to Z of American Architecture.” Read their article under “P for Preservation” to hear Lori and Billie discuss the value of existing buidlings.

    Read Here