Building Owners and Managers Association International

Building Owners and Managers Association International
Name	Building Owners and Managers Association International
Founded	1907
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	Commercial real estate professionals

Building Owners and Managers Association International is a trade association representing owners, managers, developers, and investors of commercial real estate, principally office buildings. It serves as a central node connecting stakeholders across sectors such as Real estate investment trust, Property management, Commercial real estate finance, Facility management, and Asset management. The association engages with policy, education, standards, and events that intersect with actors including American Institute of Architects, U.S. Green Building Council, International WELL Building Institute, World Green Building Council, and International Facility Management Association.

History

Founded in 1907 amid urban expansion and the rise of skyscrapers, the association developed alongside developments like Flatiron Building, Woolworth Building, Empire State Building, and regulatory milestones such as the Zoning Resolution of 1916. In the interwar and postwar eras it interacted with entities including National Association of Home Builders, General Services Administration, Federal Reserve Board, and influential projects like Rockefeller Center and Seagram Building. During the energy crises of the 1970s the association aligned with research institutions such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and standards bodies like American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers to address efficiency issues. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries it engaged with sustainability movements associated with LEED, Energy Star, and international frameworks such as the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.

Organization and Governance

The governance model features a board and committees drawing leaders from corporations including CBRE Group, JLL (company), Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers International, and investor firms such as Blackstone Group and Brookfield Asset Management. Executive leadership interfaces with U.S. federal institutions like the Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and legislative offices on matters akin to the Clean Air Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The organization’s legal and financial structures are informed by precedents involving Chamber of Commerce of the United States, National Association of Realtors, and nonprofit governance models used by American Red Cross and United Way Worldwide.

Membership and Chapters

Membership encompasses companies and individuals from markets such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Toronto, Dubai, and Singapore. Chapters and local affiliates mirror municipal and regional networks like Greater London Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and provincial entities such as Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Corporate and institutional members include building owners, property managers, and service providers aligned with firms like Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and Schneider Electric.

Programs and Certifications

Programs emphasize building operations, sustainability, and workplace quality, with certifications and training that interact with credentials such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, WELL Building Standard, BREEAM, and ISO 50001. Technical curricula reference standards from ASHRAE, National Fire Protection Association, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Professional development draws parallels to designations awarded by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Institute of Real Estate Management, Project Management Institute, and educational partners like Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Advocacy and Standards

Advocacy work addresses taxation, zoning, building codes, energy policy, and tenant issues, engaging with legislative frameworks such as the Internal Revenue Code and municipal codes like New York City Building Code. The association contributes to consensus standards alongside American National Standards Institute, Underwriters Laboratories, and industry coalitions including Business Roundtable and U.S. Green Building Council. It has participated in dialogues with international bodies like the United Nations Environment Programme and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on resilience and urban policy.

Events and Publications

Signature events convene stakeholders comparable to MIPIM, EXPO REAL, IMN Conference, and city-level summits such as NYCxDesign and London Real Estate Forum. Publications include market research, technical guides, and benchmarking reports that cite data sources like Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, International Energy Agency, and industry analytics from Moody's Analytics and S&P Global. The association’s content is used by academics and practitioners linked to institutions such as Harvard Graduate School of Design and Stanford University.

Global Impact and Partnerships

International partnerships extend to organizations such as World Green Building Council, International WELL Building Institute, Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, and government agencies including Natural Resources Canada and the European Commission. Collaborative work addresses cross-border investment flows involving markets like Hong Kong, Sydney, São Paulo, and Frankfurt, and intersects with multinational firms such as Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs. These alliances support initiatives on climate resilience, energy performance, workplace health, and urban planning that align with global agendas exemplified by the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Category:Real estate associations Category:Trade associations based in the United States