named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Comparative Building Code Analysis
Produces visual and technical analyses comparing North American double-loaded corridor designs with European point access block models to demonstrate how code differences impact apartment size, cost, and accessibility.
Single-Stair Code Reform Initiative
Advocates for changes to the International Building Code to allow single-stair multifamily buildings up to six stories, improving housing affordability and efficiency through reduced construction costs and smaller footprints.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 2 activities
- Public education and outreach on housing policyEngages in public discussions and media appearances, such as a Bloomberg podcast, to address barriers to building family-sized apartments in the U.S.
- Research on building codes and construction policyConducts research on building codes, construction policy, and regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and Canada, comparing them with those in other developed countries to propose reforms. Includes analysis of single-stair apartment buildings and bird-safe glass requirements.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advocacy for building code reform on single-stair apartment buildingsAdvocates for regulatory reform to allow single-stair multifamily buildings up to six stories by submitting formal proposals to the International Code Council, collaborating with jurisdictions, and supporting code changes in regions such as British Columbia. Successfully co-proposed the E24-24 code change adopted into the 2027 International Building Code.
- Opposition to bird-safe glass requirementsAuthored and published a letter to Jersey City lawmakers opposing bird-safe glass requirements, based on organizational research concluding that the costs outweigh the benefits.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$163K
Contributions & grants$162K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$400%
Other revenue$185
expenses
Total expenses$244K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$179K
Grants paid out$12K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$195K
Cash$192K
Investments$0
Liabilities$4
Net assets$194K
Liquid reserves9.4 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +777.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN SMITH | PRESIDENT | 40 | $168K |
board members · 4
- BEN FURNAS — SECRETARY
- JOHN ZEANAH — BOARD MEMBER
- JULIAN VITULLO-MARTING — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL ELIASON — TREASURER
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- International Code Council Government — Partnered with the ICC to advance the single-stair proposal through the code adoption process.
- International Code Council Government — Submitted a formal code change proposal to the ICC for the 2027 I-Codes and participated in its code development process.
- Jersey City Government — Subject of advocacy efforts regarding proposed bird-safe glass requirements.
- Larch Lab Partner — Collaborated with the Center for Building to develop visualizations comparing North American and European apartment layouts.
- Livable Communities Initiative Partner — Collaborated on research regarding single-stair apartment buildings.
- Michael Eliason Partner — Architect and board member who co-developed comparative apartment floor plans to illustrate code-driven inefficiencies in North American design.
- National Fire Protection Association Partner — Collaborated on the single-exit stair symposium and engaged in dialogue around building safety and code reform.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Code Reform for Housing Affordability Through Design Efficiencymethodology: code-reform-for-affordabilityBy reforming building and zoning codes to allow European-style, compact apartment designs such as point-access blocks and single-stair configurations, the organization increases housing affordability because these designs reduce construction costs and land use while maintaining safety and livability.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis to Prioritize Regulatory Efficiencymethodology: cost-benefit analysisBy applying cost-benefit analysis to building regulations, the organization ensures that code reforms are economically justified, prioritizing changes that deliver safety and efficiency gains without imposing disproportionate costs, because economic efficiency is essential to scalable and sustainable reform.
- Integrated Fire Safety as an Enabler of Housing Innovationmethodology: integrated_fire_safetyBy combining structural fire resistance with active fire protection systems, the organization enables safer single-stair egress in mid-rise buildings, which in turn allows for more space-efficient and affordable housing designs because it reduces the need for redundant stairwells and increases usable floor area.
- International Benchmarking for Code Reformmethodology: international-benchmarkingBy aligning North American building regulations with international best practices, particularly in developed nations, the organization produces more effective and innovative building code reforms because global standards often exceed current U.S. and Canadian requirements in safety, efficiency, and design.
- Stakeholder-Negotiated Incremental Code Reformmethodology: stakeholder-compromiseBy advancing building code changes through negotiated compromise with diverse stakeholders, the organization achieves incremental but meaningful improvements in residential safety standards because this approach balances competing interests and increases the feasibility of adoption across jurisdictions.