From the Editors: 15 of Our Favorite Building Safety Journal Articles From 2025

For the International Code Council (ICC) and the building safety industry, 2025 was filled with significant advancements, forward-thinking projects and distinguished accomplishments. As we look back on this remarkable year, the editorial team of the Building Safety Journal has curated a list of the 15 articles that captured the essence of 2025. 

These articles showcase the year’s most compelling stories, from advancements in building safety and sustainability to the latest updates on codes, standards and industry trends. 

Check out 15 of our favorite articles below: 

Get to Know John Belcik, the Code Council’s New CEO 

In Part 1 of our 2-part series, the Building Safety Journal spoke with Belcik to learn more about him on a personal level. Belcik’s career spans leadership roles at the Illinois Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. He also spent 20 years at Wilson Sporting Goods, where he ultimately served as Vice President of Finance. 

Read the article here. 

Aurora, IL is Using the International Existing Building Code to Rehab Buildings That Were Vacant for 30 Years 

John Curley, Chief Development Services Officer for the Development Services Department of the City of Aurora, IL, has adopted and successfully used the IEBC to breathe new life into the city’s main street buildings. Curley regularly takes the time to educate both designers and owners about the code and how it could be leveraged for their rehabilitation projects. 

Read the article here. 

How Tribal Nations Are Leading the Way on Building Code Adoption 

Tribal nations, like other jurisdictions around the country, view building codes as vital means to protect the health and safety of their community as well as promote economic investment and development in their community. 

Read the article here.  

A Code Enforcement Officer Discovered an Illegal Biosafety Lab and Fought Tirelessly to Clean Up the Mess 

By investigating a simple code violation, a senior code enforcement officer uncovered an illegal biosafety lab that included viruses, blood and hundreds of mice. 

Read the article here.  

Maryia Lackansingh Awarded with 2024 Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship 

Maryia Lackansingh, Code Specialist III in the Commercial Building Division of Land Development Service for Fairfax County, Virginia, has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including Fairfax County’s Outstanding Performance Award in both 2020 and 2023 and was voted the City of Alexandria’s Most Valuable Team Player in 2016. 

Read the article here. 

Ask Me Anything: Your Questions About the Code Development Process, Answered 

Frequently asked questions about the code development cycle are answered by the International Code Council’s Beth Tubbs. 

Read the article here.  

The Florida Building Code Story: Building Safety, Resilience and Affordability 

Florida’s experience offers several key lessons for policymakers, builders and community leaders aiming to strengthen their built environment through effective code development and implementation. 

Read the article here.  

State of the Building Safety Industry Report Provides a Glimpse of the Future of Building Safety 

The State of the Building Industry Report provides a deeper understanding of the field, how people rate their career, and their views on the future of building safety. 

Read the article here.  

Velasquez Inspires Lifelong Learning as First Woman MCP in South Texas 

A local trailblazer, Natalia Velasquez, Chief Building Official for the City of Edinburg is the first woman in the South Texas area to earn the International Code Council’s Master Code Professional (MCP) designation, joining a continually growing number of women MCPs worldwide. 

Read the article here.  

The Pipeline with Tom Roberts: Can Science Solve Water Scarcity? (Episode 3) 

In Episode 3 of The Pipeline, Roberts sits down with Bart Bleys to explore research being undertaken in water reuse and water scarcity issues in Belgium. 

Read the article here.  

Courthouse Challenge: How Code Official David Rittlinger Bicycled Every Corner of North Carolina 

What started as a 108-mile ride with friends from downtown Raleigh to a Henderson coffee shop became Rittlinger’s personal challenge to visit every North Carolina courthouse by bike. 

Read the article here.  

Geothermal HVAC Systems: Harnessing the Earth for Sustainable Comfort 

Geothermal HVAC systems represent a forward-thinking approach to building climate control. With proven success in schools, government buildings, campuses and small businesses, geothermal technology is poised to play a vital role in the future of sustainable construction. 

Read the article here.  

Remembering Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later: Lessons Learned and How Louisiana Evolved into a Building Safety Leader 

More than 1,000 lives were lost and nearly 500,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but Louisiana legislators acted promptly to prevent future tragedies by adopting a statewide building code. 

Read the article here.  

ICC Pulse Podcast Episode 65: Lahaina’s Fire and the Future of Resilient Building in Hawaii 

In this episode of the ICC Pulse Podcast, we gathered key experts to discuss the Lahaina fire and Hawaii wildfires, emphasizing building safety and codes — how they shaped the disaster, what they reveal about vulnerabilities, what could change going forward, and more. 

Read the article here. Listen to all episodes of the podcast here.  

The Coldest Commute: A Plumbing Job in Antarctica 

Dylan Smith packed his tools, thermal gear and sense of adventure for a six-month placement at the Davis Research Station, one of Australia’s three permanent research bases on the icy continent.

Read the article here.

The Building Safety Journal (BSJ) Weekly is a weekly newsletter from the International Code Council that covers the latest news on the building safety and construction sectors. It offers everything from in-depth technical articles about innovative technologies to quick tips, personal perspectives and more. Click here to subscribe.