185th Edition – Zak World of Façades Canada

Main Events 185th Edition – Zak World of Façades Canada

185th Edition – Zak World of Façades Canada

edition

185

Date

22 May 2025

Venue

Plaza Centre-Ville

City

Montreal

Official page Watch the Event

About this edition

This will be the 185th edition globally and the 2nd edition in Montreal 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

Registration & Welcome Coffee Hour

Maxime Frappier

President

ACDF

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

08:50 — 09:00

Topic

Welcome Address

09:00 — 09:20

Stephan Langevin

Associé principal, Chef de pratique en conception | Senior Partner, Practice Lead, Design

STGM Architecture

Topic

Beyond Aesthetics: Façade Materials and Their Environmental Impacts

Talk points

Beyond contributing to the architectural identity of buildings and the DNA of our cities, the choice of materials used for exterior cladding raises several important issues

The presentation will focus in particular on the environmental impacts of these choices, such as embodied carbon, their influence on energy performance, and their contribution to urban heat islands

09:20 — 09:45

Mitsu Edwards

Director - Façades & Special Structures

Eckersley O'Callaghan

Topic

Enabling Façade Reuse: Examples and Opportunities

Talk points

Preserving 20th-century façades | environmental, social, and heritage potential

The key role of diagnostics: Audits, tests, and dismantling strategies

Towards normalizing reuse: Creating opportunities

09:45 — 10:10

Tijs Van Boven

Products & Services Development Teams Manager

Reynaers Aluminium

Topic

Customized Façades Using Bespoke Aluminium Solutions

Talk points

Optimal design, matching the project specifications

Creating state of the art solutions, together with all stakeholders

Impressive case study: Tour Mohammed VI Rabat-Salé

10:10 — 10:25

Mourad El Garci

International Sales Director

Alucoil

Topic

Technological Transfer from Aerospace to the Façade Sector

Talk points

Case studies

Circular economy

10:25 — 10:50

Joanne Parent

Associate Architect

MSDL

Matthew Fielding

Technical Director | Architect

MSDL

Topic

Technical Design of Building Envelope for Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital

Talk points

One of the largest real estate investment projects in the healthcare sector in Quebec over the past 10 years

Overview of the technical design process for the building envelope, particularly regarding the requirements of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) to which the project is subject

Constraints and challenges (wind loads, infection control), performance objectives (energy, sustainability), construction systems (fenestration, curtain wall) and commissioning of the building envelope

10:50 — 11:30

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:30 — 11:55

Catherine Lemieux

Principal, Senior Building Science Specialist

RDH Building Science

Topic

Choosing the Right Façade for Your Iconic Building

Talk points

Describing the cause-and-effect relationship between building movement and façade displacement

Identifying potential clashes and “impossible geometry” in case studies and graphical examples of building and façade movement

Recognizing what makes one façade system better than another for specific building typologies

11:55 — 12:10

Joe Baz

Product Manager

Flynn Group of Companies

Topic

Factory-Controlled Modular Wall Systems

Talk points

Understanding current challenges faced by construction from a labor and performance standpoint

Understand the benefits and challenges faced when building and designing with modular walls

Brief overview of Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) and how modular construction can affect this

12:10 — 12:25

Martin Durivage

Architectural Project and Specification Manager

Saint-Gobain Glass Canada

Topic

A Clear Vision of The Future

Talk points

Understanding the importance of glass visualization in façade decision-making

Glazing comparison: Choosing the right glazing is not just about performance, aesthetics and perception play a crucial role

New technologies that aid in selecting the best aesthetics bring us closer to the realistic appearance of the façade

12:25 — 12:55

Anthony Bouchard

Project Manager

Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture

Rachel Stecker

Partner

Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture

Topic

MHM Montreal Holocaust Museum

Talk points

Project overview: Concept and competition

Technical aspects: The envelope challenges, zero carbon certifications, façade design

12:55 — 13:40

Moderator

Rainier Silva

Technical Director

NEUF Architects

Panelist

Harrison Chan

Principal

WZMH

Panelist

Lilia Koleva

Partner

NEUF architect(e)s

Panelist

Marc-Olivier Houde

Director, Building Sciences Quebec

WSP Canada

Topic

The Transformation of 600 de la Gauchetière

Talk points

40-year-old landmark tower undergoing a complete architectural modernization, including recladding the entirety of the building façade while occupied

The new design increases the glazing, while improving building energy performance and thermal comfort

The retrofit addresses long-standing issues such as water leakage and design flaws

Session summary

Rainier Silva

13:40 — 14:30

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

14:30 — 14:50

François Moreau

Principal Partner

ABCP Architecture

Topic

Bosquet High School: Integrating Aluminum into the Building Envelope

Talk points

Designed for a 75-year life cycle, the project stands out for its judicious choice of materials, including aluminum. Its innovative and optimized use was made possible thanks to a research and development partnership with AluQuébec

The architectural treatment of the aluminum panels is inspired by the verticality of the wooded area surrounding the project

Overview of the envelope design process and the multiple uses of this durable material sourced locally (bending, perforation, coloring)

14:50 — 15:10

Anik Teasdale-St-Hilaire

Principal | Department Manager - Façade Engineering

Stantec

Topic

Office to Residential Conversions: What do we do with the Windows?

Talk points

Punch window replacement. Use of combustible windows?

Is replacement the only approach?

Challenges, considerations and some solutions