Main Events 227th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

227th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

edition

227

Date

17 September 2026

Venue

The Ritz-Carlton

City

Dallas

Official page

About this edition

This will be the 227th edition globally and the 2nd edition in Dallas 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

08:30 — 09:30

Topic

Delegate Registration & Networking

Stefan Burnett

Senior Project Designer, Senior Associate

Perkins&Will

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

09:30 — 09:40

Topic

Welcome Address

09:40 — 10:00

Andrew Bennett

Partner & Design Principal

BOKA Powell

Topic

Urban & Vertical: Creating Façades that Compliment an Iconic Skyline

Talk points

The Opportunity: An overview of the Chalk Hill Mixed-Use Office Tower and Dallas EDITION Hotel & Residences

The Process: When strong massing and geometric design must be complemented by an exceptional and intentional façade design

The “Inside Baseball”: There are multiple decisions layered thought processes in solving to market conditions: how we got there

10:00 — 10:20

Billy Jones

Principal

Curtain Wall Design & Consulting, Inc

Dickson Fogleman

Senior Building Envelope Consultant

Curtain Wall Design & Consulting, Inc

Topic

Revenge of the Fifth Façade: National Medal of Honor Museum

Talk points

Review Fifth Façade trends in the marketplace

Review Fifth Façade challenges

Case study of National Medal of Honor Museum’s Fifth Façades

10:20 — 10:30

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

10:30 — 10:40

Eneko Igartua

Regional Façades Sales Manager

Cosentino

Topic

Sustainable Façade Design with Ultracompact Stone

Talk points

Circular economy and sustainability in façade design

Understanding ultracompact stone as a material

Case studies: Applications of ultracompact stone in façades

10:40 — 11:10

Chris O'Hara

Senior Principal - Structural and Facade Design

Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company

Will Ramhold

Senior Architect

Marlon Blackwell Architects

Topic

An Architecture of Place Through Material and Technology: Heartland Whole Health Institute

Talk points

The façade design establishes the building’s identity while mediating daylight, satisfying performance goals of uniquely disparate indoor environments, and connecting exterior expression to the interior experience

Combining locally rooted materials with advanced fabrication technologies, the façade creates an architecture that is distinct in its place, demonstrating how regional identity can achieve universal relevance

Material logic of the façade extends beyond aesthetics to support principles of whole health through its influence on daylight, spatial quality, and the character of the interior environment, reinforcing the Institute’s mission

11:10 — 12:00

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

12:00 — 12:25

Kevin Conway

Senior Associate Principal

SOM

Topic

Springs District: Defining a New Heart for Uptown Dallas

Talk points

An architectural village: In response to Uptown's eclectic character, the project introduces a collection of three towers each with a unique façade, conceived as an architectural village rather than a singular mega project

A hospitality identity rooted function: The façade language is informed by a terraced massing that creates spaces for private patios, shaded loggias and amenity terraces

A collaborative approach: Early collaboration between the consultant and contractor teams allowed design iteration to meet design, performance and budget goals

12:25 — 12:35

Victor J Yakin

Application Engineer

Momentive

Topic

Pushing the Boundaries of Design: The Future of Structural Silicones

Talk points

Origins and legacy of Structural Silicone Glazing (SSG)

Advancements and trends in SSG

Shaping skylines with SSG sealants

12:35 — 13:00

Irene Martin

Associate Principal

Arup

Lei Gao

Principal

TVS Design

Topic

The Fort Worth Convention Center Expansion Façade Design

Talk points

Integrating new and existing façades to create a cohesive design vision for the Fort Worth Convention Center expansion

Balancing materiality and performance through brick, glass, and steel façade systems tailored to program and context

Applying building science, constructability lessons, and long-term maintenance strategies to ensure façade durability and performance

13:00 — 13:45

Cliff Wood

Senior Vice President

Trammell Crow Company

David Brown

Studio Practice Leader, Commercial/Mixed‑Use | Principal

HKS

Josh McKeown

Associate

Woods Bagot

Marc Angelillo

Director of Architectural Structural Sales

Wells

Tevin Williams

Project Manager

ANDRES Construction

Topic

Knox Development: Integrating Façade Design with Collaboration to Shape a Dynamic Mixed-Use Destination

Talk points

How cross-disciplinary collaboration between architects, façade consultants, developers, and contractors is shaping the vision and execution of Knox

Navigating the technical and logistical complexities of façade design and construction within a large-scale mixed-use project in a dense urban Dallas context

Key façade and building strategies that elevate Knox as a distinctive destination while meeting performance, sustainability, and market demands

Session summary

David Brown

13:45 — 14:35

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

14:35 — 15:00

Matthew Mittelstet

Senior Consultant

Lerch Bates

Trey Greer

Director of Technical Practice

Fitzpatrick Architects

Topic

Smith County Courthouse: An Interplay of Façade Materials and Lessons Learned in Field Testing

Talk points

When unexpected design or construction changes occur, façade testing requirements should be elevated to mitigate risk and ensure performance

Clearly defining air and water testing parameters upfront is critical to aligning expectations, avoiding ambiguity, and ensuring reliable results

Adopt a proactive mindset: Planning for potential test failures to build resilience into the design and delivery process

15:00 — 15:25

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

15:25 — 15:35

Chad Patterson

Senior Manager - Regional Architectural Sales

Mitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC Division

Topic

Understanding Metal Composite Materials (MCM) in High-Performance Façade Design

Talk points

Material composition and core options (PE, FR, NC) and their impact on fire performance and code compliance

Coating systems and finish durability, including PVDF and FEVE performance characteristics for long-term façade application

Best practices for specifying MCM systems, including tested assemblies, performance standards, and lifecycle considerations

15:35 — 15:45

Nathan Seaman

National Sales Manager

Form Metal Systems

Topic

Bringing Façades to Life with Imagery

Talk points

Discover how integrated imagery can elevate a façade, create visual impact, and strengthen a project's identity through real-world case studies, including the Dallas Zoo and other notable installations

Learn how perforated imagery is created, the technical considerations behind successful applications, and the factors architects should understand during specification and design

Explore the sublimation process, material options, durability considerations, and design opportunities for incorporating vibrant, long-lasting imagery into architectural surfaces

15:45 — 16:30

John Ivanoff

Principal | Facades

Buro Happold

Tamara Higgins

Vice President of Operations

BEAM Professionals

Topic

How Façade Strategies Drive Occupant Experience, Energy Efficiency, and Building Decarbonization

Talk points

The impact of projections, recesses, fins, and shading elements

Solar control through architectural form and balancing aesthetics and performance