194th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

Main Events 194th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

194th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

edition

194

Date

25 September 2025

Venue

Crowne Plaza Midtown

City

Atlanta

Official page Watch the Event

About this edition

This will be the 194th edition globally and the 1st edition in Atlanta 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 & Welcome Coffee Hour

Michael Rometo

Principal

Ware Malcomb

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

08:50 — 09:00

Topic

Welcome Address

09:00 — 09:25

Kevin Heidorn

Studio Leader

Oppenheim Architecture

Topic

The Star Metals District – A Metal Façade Three Ways

Talk points

Contrast and comparison: Establishing an architectural DNA to define a neighborhood

Star metals residences: Drawings inspiration from West Midtown’s industrial past

Star metal office: Shifting volumes to address an emerging office market

Stella at star metals: A kit of parts to create a variety of moments

09:25 — 09:45

Patrick Deveau

Vice President

JLL

Topic

Owner’s Perspective on Façades

Talk points

Matching the right design for the right owner

Schedule rules, Time is money

Risk: Design side, schedule side, maintenance and operations

09:45 — 10:00

Thomas Miller

Global Head of Projects

Forster Profile Systems

Topic

Framing Safety & Style: Best Practices for Steel Curtain Walls and Fire-Rated Openings

Talk points

Applied sustainability

System supplier vs. local requirements

Balancing aesthetics, performance, safety and protection

10:00 — 10:25

Dryden Razook

Design Principal

Topic

Façade Strategies in Adaptive Reuse: Campus 244 and Neuhoff

Talk points

Reviving underutilized buildings as catalysts for neighborhood transformation

Adaptive reuse façade design to meet modern demands

Evolving the design through construction

10:25 — 11:15

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:15 — 11:35

Mark Chiu

Vice President

Thornton Tomasetti

Topic

Spelman College Center for Innovation & the Arts | Façade Development for a Multidisciplinary Learning Environment

Talk points

Optimizing solarshade and glazing systems for arts and lab spaces with critical daylight considerations

Developing façade thermal performance for spaces with temperature and humidity sensitivities

Enhancing acoustics in recording and performance spaces

11:35 — 11:50

Vaughn Schauss

Technical Services Manager - Americas

Kuraray

Topic

Designing Laminated Glass for Exposure to Hydrostatic Loads – A New ASTM Method

Talk points

What are hydrostatic loads?

Explore the new ASTM standard

Flood loads

11:50 — 12:05

Eneko Igartua

Regional Façades Sales Manager

Cosentino

Topic

Sustainable Façade Design

Talk points

Circular economy and sustainability

Ultracompact stone - What is it?

Case studies on ultracompact stone applications

12:05 — 12:35

Brooke Taylor

Principal

TVS

Dave Brown

Principal

TVS

Topic

1072 West Peachtree: Atlanta's Tallest Residential Tower

Talk points

A behind-the-scenes look at the architectural vision, and design process that shaped the city’s tallest residential tower

In-depth discussion on the complexities of window wall systems in high-rise concrete buildings, including strategies for accommodating axial shortening, creep, and thermal movement

Learn how the architectural team balanced elegance and identity at skyline scale, integrating slender proportions, material expression, and resident experience into the tower’s façade

12:35 — 13:15

Moderator

Ross Payton

Principal | Studio Leader

Corgan

Panelist

Edmund Ramos

Vice President

WSP

Panelist

Kelvin Hall

Principal | Assoc. Director of Aviation & Special Projects

GVSA

Panelist

Mike Burnett

Senior Vice President

Holder Construction

Panelist

Todd McClendon

Sr. Vice President

WSP

Topic

Modular Construction Flies at the Busiest Airport in the World

Talk points

Modular Construction Benefits: Learn how modular construction, if used the right way, accelerates project timelines and reduces on-site disruptions during complex airport upgrades

Maintaining Operations During Construction: Understand strategies for keeping airport facilities operational while undergoing major construction

Integrated Construction Approach: Gain insights into the integration of modular and traditional construction methods to optimize efficiency and minimize impacts

Session summary

Ross Payton

13:15 — 14:05

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

14:05 — 14:30

Z Smith

Principal | Director of Sustainability & Performance

Eskew Dumez Ripple

Topic

High Performance Façades for Atlanta: The Tech Square 3 Story

Talk points

How Georgia Tech set aggressive performance goals for their Tech Square 3 academic tower project—LEED Platinum and EUI

Construction speed for projects like these (400,000 SF, 18 stories) favors curtain wall, but high thermal performance curtain walls typically come at a substantial cost premium

Working together, the design team, contractor, and regional fabricators were able to achieve high performance visually rich façade while reducing construction time and first cost

14:30 — 14:55

Chris Norris

Principal | Technical Director

BPL Enclosure

Topic

Simplifying the Complex – Using “Stock” Systems and Materials to Create Unique Façades

14:55 — 15:10

Eric Claeys

Founding Partner

Fassada Steel

Topic

Hybrid Steel Curtain Walls

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

15:10 — 15:25

Raj Sundar

Business Manager - Lumiflon® Resins

AGC Chemicals Americas

Topic

Environmentally Friendly FEVE Fluoropolymers Resins for Powder Coatings

Talk points

FEVE resins in powder coatings

Life cycle (cost analysis)

Architectural applications

15:25 — 16:05

Moderator

Joshua R. Gassman

Principal, Sustainable Design Director

Lord Aeck Sargent

Panelist

Emily Fulton

Building Enclosure Project Manager

SK Collaborative

Panelist

Marilyn Specht

Senior Principal | Director of Sustainability Integration

SmithGroup

Panelist

Matthew Williams

Project Executive

Skanska

Panelist

Mickey Leso

VP | Building Enclosure Department Manager

Epsten Group, a Salas O'Brien company

Topic

Sealing the Envelope to Battle Atlanta's Heat & Moisture

Talk points

Façade optimization's role in meeting sustainability certifications

The façade's role in reaching thermal comfort while not sacrificing daylight

Is it possible to have natural ventilation while maintaining a tight envelope

Session summary

Joshua R. Gassman

16:05 — 16:10

Topic

Thanks/Conference Concludes

16:10 — 17:00

Topic

Post-Event Snacks and Socializing

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Chapters

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Associate Partners