Two building performance assessment programs will unite under the BOMA BEST umbrella beginning in 2027. The merger brings the BOMA 360 designation, which has historically had broader uptake in the United States, into BOMA BEST’s more rigorous certification framework.
BOMA BEST prerequisites and assessment criteria will continue to be the key scoring determinants, but questions from the BOMA 360 platform will be optional within the questionnaire. Current BOMA 360 designations will remain valid for the duration of their three years of applicability.
“By integrating BOMA 360 into BOMA BEST, we can provide the market with one clear standard while continuing to support the professionals and organizations that have invested in both programs,” says Kjersten Jaeb, chair of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International.
The BOMA 360 program evaluates building performance in six categories: building operations and management; life safety, security and risk management; training and education; energy; sustainability and wellness; and tenant relations and community outreach. Participants must meet a compulsory points threshold in each category and secure a total score of at least 91 out of a possible 128 points to earn the designation.
BOMA BEST has two separate arms — Sustainable and Smart — five distinct levels of certification and a scoring system grounded in third-party verification. The program was developed under BOMA Canada’s auspices and first became available in the U.S. in 2023.
Enrollees in both programs are promised advance notice of future changes to the questionnaire and other supports during the transition period. “We want to strengthen BOMA BEST without adding unnecessary complexity. Any additions will be carefully reviewed with the existing user experience in mind,” a BOMA Canada communique advises.
“Bringing BOMA 360 into BOMA BEST creates a stronger, more unified approach to building performance,” maintains Randal Froebelius, chair of BOMA BEST LLC. “With continued input from stakeholders, we are building a transition that protects the value of both programs while giving owners and property professionals a clear, practical path forward.”
