By Jay Fox
The 2025 Rocky Mountain Natural Building Conference will be held September 18-20 at the Emerson Center for Arts and Culture in Bozeman, Montana. The conference is expected to draw architects, engineers, tradespeople, and owner-builders from throughout North America seeking collaborative and innovative ways to use natural materials in construction. The conference’s theme, “Resilience,” is meant to highlight the critical role that natural building materials play in creating healthy, comfortable, and durable structures that are designed to withstand more changing environmental conditions and extreme weather events.
"The 2025 Rocky Mountain Natural Building Conference is more than just a gathering; it's a pivotal moment for the construction community to embrace 'Resilience' through innovative building”, says David Kaplan, president of the Natural Building Alliance. Kaplan—who is also General Manager, Lead Designer, and Hands-On Builder at Elevated Design in Fort Collins, CO—adds: "We believe that by focusing on bio-based, non-toxic, and low-carbon methods, we are not only constructing buildings but also fortifying our future against environmental challenges.”
The biennial conference is being held by the Natural Building Alliance (NaBA), a Colorado-based nonprofit that has supported natural building practices and skills and hosted natural building conferences since 2003. The focus of the event will be the use of low-carbon, non-toxic natural materials, including strawbale, cob/adobe, hempcrete, straw-clay, timber framing, and natural plastering. The conference will also explore building philosophies and methodologies designed to reduce energy use. Keynotes, presentations, and workshops will cover how these methods can reduce ecological footprints, improve indoor air quality, and withstand worsening environmental challenges.
One of the most anticipated parts of the conference is Bozeman Community Night, a free open house designed to welcome local residents, students, and families to explore the world of natural building. This special event will be held on Thursday, September 18, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Emerson Center. Attendees can enjoy complimentary snacks, a cash bar, and engage with presentations by natural builders and Montana State University (MSU) architecture students.
For building design professionals, the conference offers opportunities for professional growth. Selected presentations will qualify for AIA (American Institute of Architects) Continuing Education Credits. Check back to the website in August for a complete list of AIA-CEU credits. Tickets are $395 for professionals and $50 for students with ID.