178th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

Main Events 178th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

178th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

edition

178

Date

16 April 2025

Venue

Revere Hotel

City

Boston

Official page Watch the Event

About this edition

This will be the 178th edition globally and the 1st edition in Boston which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

Speakers & Panelists

Conference Agenda

Every speaker for the day, grouped by session. Select a topic to see who is presenting, the session focus and the talk points.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

08:00 — 08:50

Topic

Delegate Registration & Networking

Jeffry Burchard

Managing Partner

Machado-Silvetti

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

08:50 — 09:00

Topic

Welcome Address

09:00 — 09:30

Fred Clarke

Co-Founder | Partner Emeritus

Pelli Clarke & Partners

Topic

Boston South Station Tower | Evolving a Landmark: Bridging the Centuries through Design

Talk points

Introduce South Station’s history

Design challenges and structural limitations

Tower and podium massing

Enclosure solutions

Mock-ups, installation and final photography

09:30 — 9:50

Emma Cardini

Unit Manager and Principal

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates

Topic

Shining a Light on Repairs to 200 Berkely Street Weather Beacon Enclosure

Talk points

Inspection by drone

Complexities of staging 430 feet above grade

Design-build repair effort to mitigate water infiltration at various enclosure assemblies: roofing, window sealants, metal panel joints

09:50 — 10:05

Eric Claeys

Founding Partner

Fassada Steel

Topic

Hybrid Steel Curtain Walls, Mastering the Demands & Complexity of Today’s Façades

Talk points

Hybrid steel curtain walls, the long-waited disruption in the market?

Fire resistance, tower infernos belong to the past

Drastic reduction of CO2 emission

10:05 — 10:20

Jeppe Hundevad

President | Lindner Facades

Lindner Group

Topic

Hybrid Wood Unitized CW

Talk points

Low carbon construction (Green Building)

Hybrid wood aluminum façade systems

Integration of recycling in design of ECO_N

Façade system as part of interior design

10:20 — 10:27

Jeremy Smith

Partner/Director of Global Business Development

EXO Surfaces

Topic

:reset

Talk points

Reexamines architecture’s role in meeting human needs

Explores fear, legacy, and the pressure of modern systems

Calls for a return to purpose, place, and honest materials

10:27 — 11:10

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:10 — 11:35

Markus Schulte

Principal | NY Facade Group Leader

Arup

Topic

Wrapped in Wellness - The Science of Healthcare Building Envelopes

Talk points

Hospital façade systems are crucial for creating healing environments, enhancing patient well-being, and ensuring energy efficiency. They must balance aesthetics, durability, safety, and sustainability while reducing maintenance

This presentation will explore key considerations including optimizing natural light, thermal comfort, noise reduction, and resilience and security, all contributing to a functional, welcoming, and eco-friendly healthcare space

11:35 — 11:50

Dean White

Regional Façade Sales Manager

Cosentino

Topic

Sustainable Façade Design with Ultracompact Stone

Talk points

Ultracompact Stone, a sustainable carbon neutral façade material

Attachment methods for ventilated rainscreen and curtainwall integration

Design considerations related to performance, budget, and design intent

11:50 — 12:05

Casey Pritchard

Sales Manager

Boston Valley Terra Cotta

Topic

Innovating the Architectural Terra Cotta Industry for Sustainable, High-Performance Façades

Talk points

Addressing global issues in the built environment and realizing the potential of terra cotta solutions

Materiality and performance benefits of terra cotta façades in modern architecture

Terra cotta façade innovations that address global challenges and enhance building performance

12:05 — 12:35

Frans de Witte

Partner

MVRDV

Rustom Cowasjee

Managing Director

Tishman Speyer

Topic

Enterprise Research Campus: A New Urban District for Boston

Talk points

Creating a common façade selection and materiality within the Enterprise Research Campus masterplan

How design narratives and design principles reference and reinterpret Boston’s architecture

How delivering façade character can deliver for users

12:35 — 13:20

Moderator

Richard Peake

Director of Exterior Enclosures

Suffolk Construction

Panelist

Alberto Franceschet

Principal

Socotec

Panelist

John Hynes

Vice President

Boston Global Investors

Panelist

Montgomery Forman

Senior Principal

Island Exterior Fabricators

Panelist

Victor Vizgaitis

Chair of Architecture & Interior Design

Sasaki

Topic

A New Icon in the Seaport: Partnership & Innovation Behind 10 World Trade’s Façade

Talk points

The project emerged from a highly competitive public RFP, where the boldness of the design and its integration of sustainability, community connection, and economic viability set it apart

Sasaki introduced a 3D model from the start, written into the contract. This technology helped integrate complex geometries and design principles, ensuring feasibility and buildability early in the process

Smart Solutions: The selection of View Glass and decisions around triple vs. double glazing and shading control played a critical role in balancing sustainability, aesthetics, and performance. The curtain wall and water seal presented technical challenges, requiring innovative problem-solving and rigorous testing

Session summary

Richard Peake

13:20 — 14:10

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

14:10 — 14:35

Jonathan Hill

VP | Boston – Building Envelope Team Lead

Thornton Tomasetti

Topic

Injecting Innovation Into Your Project Team

Talk points

A look back on how BIM pushed innovation for building envelope design

How modern day design tools introduce a new level of innovation

Ways to promote organic innovation using your current project team

14:35 — 15:00

Chris O'Hara

Senior Principal - Structural and Facade Design

Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company

Wesley Schwartz

Associate Principal

Payette

Topic

Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT and Harvard

Talk points

Dynamic high performance unitized façade with integrated shading

Mullionless structural glass façade using large format glazing

Timber mullion façade and skylight

15:00 — 15:25

Chenyu Pu

Senior Associate | Facade Designer

Heintges

Sae Kim

Principal

CBT

Topic

The Story of 585 Kendall: Where Art, Innovation and Community Meet

Talk points

Explore how urban life science developments can enhance and strengthen the public realm

Discover how performing arts, public space, and life sciences can seamlessly come together within a single super-hybrid building

Gain insights into the design process behind a dynamic façade that balances aesthetics, performance, sustainability, efficiency, and character

15:25 — 15:40

Arndt Broecker

Head of Sales North America

Forster Profile Systems

Topic

Designing Steel Curtain Walls for Sustainable Buildings

Talk points

Design and security

Energy efficiency and comfort

Sustainability

15:40 — 15:55

Tansu Kumru

Vice President

Turkish Glass

Topic

Every Project Has Its Own Unique Story

Talk points

Project management approach with a powerful and extensive ecosystem

Adding value to the human life with unique projects

Contributing to the future of our planet with sustainable products and technologies

15:55 — 16:40

Moderator

Jeff Geisinger

Director of Sustainable Design

Utile

Panelist

Kate Bubriski

Principal | Director of Building Performance

Arrowstreet

Panelist

Nick Nigro

Senior Project Manager

Leggat McCall Properties

Panelist

Patrick Haydon

Owner

Haycon

Panelist

Shu Talun

Associate Principal, Senior Façade Consultant

RDH

Topic

Positioning a Passive Building Project for Stretch Code Success

Talk points

Understand passive certification within the context of the Massachusetts Energy Code

Compare the diverse perspectives on passive house from an architect, facade consultant, developer and builder

Lessons learned from past experiences and how professionals are preparing for the future of passive building

Session summary

Jeff Geisinger

16:40 — 16:45

Topic

Vote of Thanks & End of the Conference

How it was

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Partners

Associate Partners