Building for Tomorrow: Durability, Resilience, and Sustainability in Homebuilding

Durability, resilience and sustainability are all becoming increasingly important to homeowners. At the 2025 International Builders Show, Aaron Erter, CEO of James Hardie, was joined by industry leaders, Nicole Tysvaer, CEO of Symbi Homes and Peter Pfeiffer, principal of Barley | Pfeiffer Architecture. The three discussed innovative home projects, future resilient building trends and what it takes to be “built to last.”

Nicole is the lead on the Queen of Zero project showcased by the Journal of Light Construction, and Peter is the leading architect behind VISION House Austin showcased by Green Builder Media. James Hardie is a proud sponsor and supplier of fiber cement siding for these two projects. While each are unique in design and style, both demonstrate the modern standard of performance and beauty homeowners expect.

Aaron Erter, CEO of James Hardie, launched the panel conversation saying, “These two homes are both beautiful and more resilient. The most important thing, particularly in this day and age, is that these homes are built to last.”

Resiliency and Durability

From the severe hurricanes across the south last fall and the recent devastating fires in California, we’re certainly seeing more extreme climate-related events. Architects, builders, and suppliers are approaching home construction to be more resilient and durable than ever.

“When you’re a high-performance builder like we are, the attention to detail is incredibly important. We feel like using Hardie products enables us to help keep the elements at bay, and we get to work with wonderful James Hardie people who come on site and help us get every little detail right,” said Nicole. “[At Symbi Homes,] we build in a way that's mutually beneficial for people and planet. We focus on a holistic vision of sustainability, everything from energy and water efficiency to low-embodied carbon materials to reducing waste on a job site.”

Peter added, “It’s critical to keep people aware of their design decisions and how they affect the consumption of the house. I am less enamored with technology and more in favor of good, sensible design decisions. The VISION House Austin shows that you can build a green, zero energy house and buy it with a conventional mortgage.”

Built to Last

At James Hardie, we pride ourselves in providing building products that help you craft more resilient and durable homes and buildings. For example, we are working on a number of projects in Colorado where Hardie® products were selected because they are noncombustible* – and that’s a desired feature in an area prone to wildfires.

“Sustainability goes beyond just our manufacturing processes and extends to products that last longer. That’s what our product does. It requires less maintenance and provides resiliency, whatever the climate.”,” said Aaron Erter, CEO of James Hardie. "They're designed specifically with your climate zone in mind."

In Texas, homeowners face extreme heat, humidity and blistering sun. Only Hardie® fiber cement exterior products are Engineered for Climate®, designed specifically with your climate zone in mind for optimal performance. Hardie® HZ10® products help protect homes – like the VISION House Austin - from hot, humid conditions, blistering sun and more.

James Hardie was also a sponsor for VISION House Sussex in Milwaukee in 2023. Like the Queen of Zero projected located outside of Washington, DC, the Wisconsin home featured the Hardie® HZ5® product line for climates with freezing temperatures, extreme seasonal temperature variations, and snow and ice.

“You can make your home look beautiful, but also make it resilient as well," Aaron said.

Innovating for Resiliency

“With the Queen of Zero project, we wanted it to look like a home that belonged in the historic neighborhood. The Hardie® siding made the whole exterior come together,” said Nicole. “Choosing materials that last a really long time is an important thing, too. We don’t want to build with things that are going to end up in a landfill in 20 to 30 years.”

For Peter, when choosing material for the exterior of the VISION House Austin, his team prioritized resiliency. He said they specified Hardie® fiber cement siding from the beginning. "You want a cladding system that is as durable as brick and stone, but still water shedding,” Peter said. “The reality is that you can get more qualities of durability associated with a water-shedding cladding, cementitious product than brick, stone or stucco.”

“At James Hardie, we talk a lot about our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ - those aren’t just words, we mean that.” said Aaron. “We want to be able to give our customers the solutions for what they need.”

At James Hardie we’re going to continue evolving and innovating to ensure homes are built to last. You can read more about our collaborations with leading home builders and architects in this profile about three resilient homes. For more about the industry-leading durability of Hardie® fiber cement siding, check out our durability resources.

*Hardie® fiber cement products are noncombustible and/or have a Class A fire rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E84. Fiber cement fire resistance does not extend to applied paints or coatings, which may be damaged or char when exposed to flames. The use of noncombustible siding, combined with other fire mitigation measures, can help harden a home against external fire.