NAHB Ignites Imaginations Through Building Stories Exhibition
On Jan. 21, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin joined D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other prominent business and community leaders at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. for the grand opening of the Building Stories exhibition. NAHB’s support of the exhibition is part of a larger national partnership strategy to help draw attention to the value of careers in residential construction.
Building Stories is an immersive space within the museum that promotes the exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books. Building stories is designed to help visitors investigate the role the built environment plays in communities. The exhibition is geared toward an intergenerational audience, with special attention paid to children from kindergarten through third grade and their parents and caregivers.
“We know that career exploration begins at a young age, and children can draw inspiration indirectly from children’s books filled with imaginative stories featuring architecture, construction and design,” said Tobin. “NAHB has a responsibility to help children connect the dots between the built environment, like a residential community, and all the professions in our industry tied to constructing a home.”
The exhibition encourages visitors to interact with familiar children’s books and new favorites through hands-on activities, media installations, reading and sketching. Each visitor will receive a sketchbook for writing, drawing and storytelling with NAHB’s logo prominently displayed. All students enrolled in Title I schools in D.C. will visit the exhibit in the coming year.
NAHB members, executive officers, and HBA and NAHB staff are eligible to receive free general admission to the museum through June 30, 2025.
Latest from NAHBNow
Remodeling
Nov 02, 2026
Are ADUs Popular Among Today's Remodelers?
According to NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index, nearly a quarter of remodelers started an ADU project over the past twelve months; 24% indicated that they were building an addition for use as an ADU and 23% indicated that they were converting an existing space into an ADU.
IBS
Oct 30, 2026
From Mr. Wonderful to Counting Crows, IBS 2027 Brings Out the Stars
The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) always features leading experts and luminaries from the housing and real estate industry. The sheer size of the event also attracts talent from other walks of life.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 02, 2026
Private Residential Construction Slips as Remodeling Weakens
Private residential construction spending decreased in September 2026 driven by a steep decline in improvement (remodeling) spending. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $848.8 billion in September, down 5.5% from the revised August estimates and lower by 8.9% from last year.
Economics
Nov 02, 2026
Interior Finishes: The Most Time-Consuming Stage of Single-family Construction
Interior finishes (drywall, interior doors, painting, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc.) take more time to complete—6.4 weeks, on average—than any other major stage of single-family construction, according to results from the latest NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey.
Economics
Oct 30, 2026
Student Housing Construction Rises in the Third Quarter
Private fixed investment in student dormitories rose 2.6% in the third quarter of 2026, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.8 billion. This gain marked a second consecutive quarterly increase, despite continued pressures from elevated interest rates. On a year-over-year basis, investments in dorms increased 1.1%.