Builders, architects and facilities managers will converge at the Palm Springs Convention Center May 16 for "BuilConn Americas 2006," to see and learn about the technologies behind intelligent, integrated buildings.

BuilConn is comprised of multiple industry-related events taking place over three days. Building professionals of varying experience levels can explore the trends in whole building integration and the benefits of IT convergence. The event coincides with M2M, a technical conference on machine-to-machine interfaces, a major application of which is in building automation.

Within BuilConn is a conference and an expo. The Building Systems Conference offers presentations and workshops on intelligent buildings, IP controls, wireless mesh networks and other topics.

The Building Systems Expo 2006 is a trade show for those involved in intelligent and integrated building systems where HVAC, security and other systems are combined with IT-based networks and technologies. About 60 exhibitors are expected.

Opportunities in internet protocol for buildings
This year BuilConn's focus is on IP centric systems and the convergence of building systems and the IT world. The conference organizers believe that IP represents a dramatic opportunity to significantly change how we build and manage buildings, and that full adoption of IP brings will affect building products, infrastructure, sales methods and suppliers.

This year's conference promises to address these issues, with sessions on value propositions for building-IT convergence, selling and buying processes of IT and enterprise building systems, and new technologies and standards for tomorrow’s building systems. Sessions will also include open roundtable discussions, workshops and demonstrations of new and relevant technologies.

BuilConn is organized by Clasma Inc., whose first BuilConn event in 2003, and subsequent addition of events and countries, won founder Anto Budiardjo a Frost & Sullivan's Building Technologies CEO of the Year award in 2005. Clasma also organizes the XML Symposium, BuilSpec, and the Buildy Awards.

Buildy Awards
BuilConn will conclude with the announcement of this year's Buildy Award winners.

Buildy award categories include Vision (2005 winner AutomatedBuildings.com), Initiative (new in 2006), Best Integration Project, Best New Product, and Best Building.

Candidates may nominate their peers or themselves. Nominations must be submitted by Friday March 31st, 2006, and will be reviewed by the BuilConn boards and elected by BuilConn attendees on the first day of BuilConn.