Building for Tomorrow - Designing for Outcomes: Performance-Based Codes and Standards

This session took place at the Building for Tomorrow 2026 conference. Designing for Outcomes: Performance-Based Codes and Standards: Prescriptive codes can limit innovation. Performance-based frameworks enable flexible, outcome-driven design across lifelines and housing. This session unpacks regulatory trends, implementation hurdles, and evaluation tools that link innovation to resilient outcomes. Learning objectives: Understand principles/benefits of performance-based approaches vs. prescriptive codes. Evaluate how performance-based standards enhance resilience and support innovation. Identify verification methods, stakeholder engagement needs, and regulatory alignment. Apply performance-based strategies using case studies, modeling, and risk-informed decisions.