Construction Specifications Institute Launches ‘Renewed CSI’

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) launched a “renewed CSI,” with a new brand and vision focused on “building a new future” for the organization, during the CSI National Conference, Sept. 22-24, in Nashville, Tenn. 

CSI’s new brand reveals a vision of creating a deeper sense of community, being a center for innovation, and elevating the profession.

“The new logo and new look represent a new way of thinking about who we are and what we do,” says CSI Board Chair Marvin Kemp, FCSI, CDTÒ. “It acknowledges the new direction of a community of professionals who are creating an enjoyable, productive, safe, and accessible future benefiting humanity.”

“It’s time to tell a new story about CSI – about exploration, innovation, inclusion, and impact,” says CSI CEO, Mark Dorsey, FASAE, CAE. “This fresh start gives us an opportunity to celebrate the history of CSI and to build a new future together.” 

 CSI’s new vision represents the organization’s three strategic directions: Building a community of belonging, being a center for innovation, and elevating the profession. 

• Building a community of belonging. For CSI and the industry to grow, CSI needs growth from groups of people who have not traditionally been part of this field or CSI. Addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry will make the profession more agile, responsive, innovative, and sustainable. 
• Being a center for innovation. CSI will continue its work as a leading resource for everyone working to create the built environment. This includes leveraging research and thought leadership through the CSI Foundation, ensuring members have state-of-the-art building information and project delivery knowledge, further integrating CSI-developed standards like MasterFormat, Uniformat, and OmniClass, into design and construction software (via platforms like Crosswalk), rejuvenating standards development, and rethinking traditional roles. 
• Elevating the profession. CSI’s renewed vision includes raising the skills, profile, and professional development of CSI members through learning and certification.

“These are the building blocks of a rejuvenated CSI,” Dorsey adds. 

CSI’s new, abstract graphic illustrates the dynamic process of the construction industry. It is bold, contemporary, and focused on the future of CSI and its important role in the built environment. The red building block denotes the warmth of community, the open and inclusive CSI its leaders envision at the national, regional, and local levels. The image of an abstract book symbolizes the knowledge and information that is the core of CSI. The blue symbol represents the potential of elevating the profession, reaching for the sky and looking toward the future.

“With a ‘renewed CSI,’ we are putting the spotlight on the contributions and value of our members and showcasing how CSI professionals are increasingly relevant in a fast-changing environment,” Kemp says. “This is the time to rise up to meet the changing needs of society and to rewrite the terms of engagement.”