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Zak World of Façades Saudi Arabia

Name: Zak World of Façades Saudi Arabia
Start: 2025-09-30
Location: The Ritz-Carlton

edition

195

Date

30 September 2025

Venue

The Ritz-Carlton

City

Jeddah

Official page

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

09:00 — 09:50 Delegate Registration & Networking

09:50 — 10:00 Welcome Address

11:35 — 12:10 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

Session 2

13:30 — 14:30 Networking Lunch Break & Prayers

Session 3

16:25 — 16:30 Vote of Thanks & End of the Conference

16:30 — 17:00 Post Event Networking

Ahmed Abdulazeem Felimban

Head of Alumni Relations

Architecture and Planning Faculty, King AbdulAziz University

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

10:00 — 10:30

Fernando Rial Ponce

Studio Design Director

KEO Design

Topic

Beyond the Curtain Wall: Data, Design and the Jeddah Skyline

Talk points

Reinterpreting environmental data into façade design performance

From static envelopes to adaptive vertical ecosystems

Where passive strategy meets expressive geometry

10:30 — 10:45

Ron Hull

Global Director - High Performance Products

Kuraray

Topic

New Innovations in Sustainable, Structural Glass Interlayers

Talk points

Innovative structural glass projects

New innovations in structural glass interlayers

Sustainability benefits of using structural glass interlayers

10:45 — 11:05

Celeste Gariando

Technical Director

Meinhardt Façade Technology

Topic

Structured Movement, Shaped Vision: Structural Movement and Glass Innovation of a ‘Simple’ Carpark

Talk points

Hanging Complexity: Unveiling the engineering of a suspended façade system in a structure often overlooked architecturally/li>

13 Meters at a Time: Movement, fixing strategy and bracket restraints in response to structural behavior

Shaped Glass, Unified Vision: Integrating diverse glazing types into a harmonized architectural language

Case studies of projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

11:05 — 11:20

Manoj Divakaran

Founder/Managing Director

Mitrex and Empereal Energy

Topic

Architectural Solar Façades for Net Zero Design and Construction

Talk points

Design with solar façades

Superior façades and net zero buildings

Positive energy buildings

11:20 — 11:35

Joan Tarrús

Consultant

sedak

Topic

Elevating Luxury Through Oversized and Groundbreaking 3D Bent Glass

Talk points

Oversized: Excellence in large-scale glass fabrication

Transparency & opacity: Pushing architectural glass through advanced tempering & lamination, while integrating exclusive materials such as marble, metals, and real gold

Iconic applications in high-profile Middle East architecture

12:10 — 12:30

Francesca Rossi

Associate | Facade Engineer

Buro Happold

Topic

Future-Proofing Façades - Balance between Innovation, Performance, and Low-carbon Design

Talk points

Enhancing façade performance with modern construction

Preserving identity: Challenges & opportunities in heritage façade retrofits

Circular façade strategies and barriers to implementation

12:30 — 12:45

Dinesh Kumar

International General Manager

Saint-Gobain Glass

Usman Ahmed

Sales Manager and Specification Saudi Arabia

Saint-Gobain Glass

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

12:45 — 13:15

Simon Gathercole

Partner

Allies and Morrison

Topic

Vernacular to Modular

Talk points

How Saudi Arabia’s architectural character guidelines present a unique opportunity for façade innovation

How can modern methods of construction be harnessed to deliver contemporary buildings of local character at scale? What is the role of retrofit?

Reflecting on our work in the UK and Saudi Arabia and speculating on promising areas for development in design

13:15 — 13:30

Kenzo Tamada

Architectural Specification Manager

Pellini

Topic

Façade-Integrated Shading Systems

Talk points

Energy performance indicators in a glass façade

Optical performance indicators in a glass façade

Case studies

14:30 — 14:50

Mostafa Jafar Sabbagh

Founder & President

Sabbagh Engineering Consultants & Associates

Topic

Traditional Façade Elements as a Living Expression of Saudi Cultural Identity

Talk points

Challenges in contemporary façade design

Reinterpreting traditional architectural elements in innovative ways

Balancing modernization with heritage preservation

14:50 — 15:10

Eiad Shami

Principal Consultant–FLS KSA Lead

WSP

Topic

Façade Fire Safety Under the New Saudi Codes: Navigating Risk and Compliance

Talk points

Understanding SBC & SFC requirements for façade systems

Fire testing, material compliance, and local challenges

Bridging architectural vision with code-conforming design

15:10 — 15:25

Ben Runhaar

Product & Marketing Manager

AGC Chemicals Europe

Topic

Specialized Products for the Architectural World

Talk points

Fluorinated resins for ultradurable coatings, passing the highest standards

ETFE film: Setting the standard for light weight architectural roof and façade films

15:25 — 15:40

Musa Seyhan

Architectural Projects Manager

Şişecam

Topic

Innovative Path to Advanced Glass Technologies

Talk points

Sustainability practices

Integrating solar power with architecture

Elevating urban living through smart façade design: South Heights

15:40 — 16:25

Moderator

Mohammad Abu Al Kheir

Executive Manager

AluVerse

Panelist

Mohammad Al Mohazam

Sales and Estimation Manager

Premium for Aluminum and Glazing

Panelist

Mohamed Afifi

Senior Portfolio Manager Technical Director

Saudi Diyar Consultants

Panelist

Abdulaziz Afandi

Chair of Department of Architecture

King AbdulAziz University

Panelist

Elie Khoury

Director - Project Management

Khatib & Alami

Topic

The Strategic Importance of Early Supply Chain Engagement: Convincing Clients to Involve Façade Contractors in Schematic Design

Talk points

How early involvement of façade contractors can mitigate design risks, ensure material availability, and optimize cost

Strategies for making a business case to clients that early engagement of façade contractors reduces long-term project risks and delays

Examples of successful case studies where early collaboration has improved project outcomes

Explore how BIM (Building Information Modeling) and digital tools can facilitate this early engagement effectively

How it was

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Chapters

Partners

Associate Partners