210th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

Main Events 210th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

210th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

edition

210

Date

09 April 2026

Venue

Omni

City

Los Angeles

Official page Watch the Event

About this edition

This will be the 210th edition globally and the 2nd edition in Los Angeles 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

Session 4

08:00 — 09:00

Topic

Delegate Registration & Welcome Coffee Hour

Stan Su

Vice President | Practice Design Director - Façades

HKS

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

09:00 — 09:15

Topic

Welcome Address

09:15 — 09:40

John Gralewski

Principal

Johnson Fain

Todd Thongeiam

Senior Associate

Johnson Fain

Topic

Century City Center: LA’s Premier Environmentally Sustainable High-Rise Office Building

Talk points

Form, function, sustainability and connectivity are merged in this state-of-the-art tower

Distinguishable on the skyline by its tapered and highly sculptured profile

Designed to maximize views, increase natural light and comfort while minimizing heat and energy consumption, with a LEED Platinum target

09:40 — 10:00

Gijs Libourel

Principal | Senior Façade Specialist

RDH Building Science

Topic

Façade Performance Beyond Operational Carbon

Talk points

Peak heating and cooling loads vs yearly energy expenditure

Embodied carbon, toxicity of materials and wellness (Daylight, Acoustics, Tactile & Aesthetic Qualities)

Manufacturing, installation and maintenance, but also the enduring value of good architectural design

10:00 — 10:10

Andrew Pries

Director of Innovation & Technical Sales

Boston Valley Terra Cotta

Topic

Architectural Terra Cotta Innovations 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

10:10 — 10:20

Werner Jager

Managing Director

Keller Minimal Windows

Topic

SkyHigh – Limitless Transparency

Talk points

Large-scale glazing in the discourse of architectural requirements

From specification needs to solutions realized

10:20 — 11:05

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:05 — 11:25

Lisa Rammig

Director

Eckersley O'Callaghan

Topic

Can Circular be Beautiful?!

Talk points

How does circular façade design look outside the framework of carbon counting and ticking boxes?

Are passive design strategies still valid?

Case studies assessing potential for reuse

Kit of parts thinking to establish efficiencies in reuse, recycling and minimal material use while maximizing performance

11:25 — 11:35

Bob Zhang

Commercial Director

Tianjin North Glass

Topic

Advances in Curved Architectural Glass

Talk points

Multi-curved glass

High-end curtain wall glass panel

Customization

11:35 — 12:00

Dana Getman

Principal

SHoP

Topic

Habitat: A new vision for living in Los Angeles

Talk points

Located at LA’s geographic center along the Los Angeles River and the Metro, the design for Habitat weaves the nature of LA with the benefits of urban connectivity

The massing of the building is shaped to maximize access to light, garden space and terraces on every floor, creating a hill shape that speaks to the neighboring state parks and the spectacular mountains that frame the LA basin

The façade design reinforces and reinterprets the region's landscape and architecture, through lightweight materials and sage and eucalyptus colors, dynamically capturing the light throughout the day

Façade operability is key, blurring the lines between interior and exterior, both office and residential buildings feature folding walls and transparency while achieving sustainability goals

12:00 — 12:10

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

12:10 — 12:50

Moderator

Nathan Wittasek

Fire Protection Engineer & Investigator

SGH

Panelist

Colin Mangham

Chief Experience Officer

USGBC California

Panelist

Nathan Bishop

Design Principal | Partner

Koning Eizenberg

Panelist

Tom Silva

Project Director - Design

Webcor

Topic

Building in Fire Resilience in Multifamily, Public, and Commercial Facades to Respond to Catastrophic Blazes

Talk points

Choosing resilient envelope materials and construction methods

Understanding, complying with and exceeding updated fire codes and zoning laws

Assessing risk and optimizing designs

Session summary

Nathan Wittasek

12:50 — 13:40

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

13:40 — 14:10

Olin McKenzie

Design Partner

SOM

Topic

Drawing on Restraint

Talk points

Clarity, economy, and restraint as guiding principles in the studio's approach to enclosure design

14:10 — 14:30

Joseph Schettino

Assistant VP - Building Enclosures | Department Head – LA | Sports Venue Leader

WSP

Topic

Achieving Reliable Façade Performance Through Detailing, Testing & Installation Verification: An Enclosure Consultant’s Perspective

Talk points

Key considerations that help ensure architectural intent is supported by constructible, coordinated enclosure details that maintain air, water, and thermal continuity

How mock‑up testing, performance reviews, and collaboration with specialty consultants strengthen enclosure reliability before systems reach the field

How structured site observations and installation verification translate design expectations into real-world performance across various vertical enclosure systems curtain wall, prefabricated, and traditional wall systems

14:30 — 14:40

Mark Matusow

Regional Façades 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

14:40 — 14:50

Natasha Appel

Business Development Manager

EJOT

Topic

Stainless Steel: Preferred Material for Rainscreen Attachment

Talk points

Influence of the rainscreen attachment system

Benefits of stainless steel: Resistance to fire, thermal and energy, corrosion resistance

Sustainability

14:50 — 15:15

Yan Krymsky

Principal, Design Director, US West

Stantec

Topic

Façade as Frieze: Buildings that Tell a Story

Talk points

How computational tools achieve consistency of vision across a wide set of multidisciplinary collaborators

Computational methods used to create the most expressive high-end building façades can be used to deliver similar results with even the most modest construction types

15:15 — 15:55

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

15:55 — 16:20

Isabelle Paparo

Senior Engineer

Arup

Maya White-Turre

Senior Associate

Gruen Associates

Topic

LAX Metro Transit Center Façades