Home

Zak World of Façades Canada

Name: Zak World of Façades Canada
Start: 2026-10-07
Location: Sheraton Centre

edition

231

Date

07 October 2026

Venue

Sheraton Centre

City

Toronto

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

08:00 — 08:50 Delegate Registration & Welcome Coffee Hour

08:50 — 09:00 Welcome Address

09:25 — 09:45 Topic to be Announced

10:15 — 10:55 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

10:55 — 11:15 Topic to be Announced

11:35 — 12:00 Topic to be Announced

12:35 — 13:35 Networking Lunch Break

14:00 — 14:20 Topic to be Announced

14:40 — 15:05 Topic to be Announced

15:05 — 15:45 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

15:45 — 16:05 Topic to be Announced

16:05 — 16:15 Topic to be Announced

17:10 — 17:15 Thanks/Conference Concludes

Alex Josephson

President

Partisans

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

09:00 — 09:25

David Dow

Principal

Diamond Schmitt

Topic

Modernity in a historical context

Talk points

Responding to and respecting a rich historical context with a contemporary architectural design

Integrating stone within a high-performance curtain wall system to unite traditional material character with modern building envelope technologies

Leveraging prefabricated modular façade construction to improve efficiency and installation precision

09:45 — 10:05

Jordi Marasse

Technical Project Consultant

Reynaers Aluminium

Topic

Sustainability from Every Angle in the Building Envelope

Talk points

Sustainability strategy

The importance of operational carbon and embodied carbon: Need to go hand in hand to decarbonise

What really makes a building sustainable

10:05 — 10:15

Bryce Given

National Architectural Manager

Vitro Architectural Glass

Topic

Colour in Glass

Talk points

Photo tour of the aesthetics of tinted glass

Visual connectivity: Understanding transmission squared

Considering low-e colour vs glass colour

11:15 — 11:25

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

11:25 — 11:35

Martin Durivage

Architectural Project and Specification Manager

Saint-Gobain Glass Canada

Ravneet Saini

Regional 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

12:00 — 12:35

Brian Porter

Principal

Two Row Architect

Bruno Weber

Partner

KPMB

Dan McTavish

Associate Principal

Perkins&Will

Topic

Indigenous influences in contemporary façade design and structure

Talk points

How to best express and celebrate Indigenous culture and sovereignty on their lands

Case studies that demonstrate the full cycle of community engagement in the work

Translating the vision to subcontractors, adjusting budgets and materials as needed

13:35 — 14:00

Juan Carlos Portuese

Partner | Architect | Design Lead

DIALOG

Topic

Meaningful Transparency: Rethinking the Facade for a Zero-Carbon Future

Talk points

How Canadian climate, high-performance energy targets and zero-carbon ambitions are shaping the balance between opaque enclosure and glazing

Treating transparency as a purposeful architectural act, placing glass where it brings daylight, views, connection and meaning rather than maximizing it by default

Lessons from a portfolio of zero-carbon and mass timber projects on creating facades that integrate envelope performance, material expression, and architectural identity

14:20 — 14:30

Owen Coyle

President

IG Masonry Support Systems

Topic

Inspiring Innovation in Brick: Pushing Boundaries in Modern Masonry

Talk points

Next generation stainless steel masonry support systems

Realizing intricate brick features with prefabricated brick slip soffit systems

Case studies: Innovation in action

14:30 — 14:40

Brian White

Technical Director – Global Building Adhesive Solutions

H.B. Fuller

Topic

Reducing Carbon Costs Through Edge Seal Design

Talk points

Carbon impact of insulating glass: Embodied and operational considerations

Role of edge seal durability in insulating glass performance

Reference projects

16:15 — 16:55

Dima Cook

Director | Principal

EVOQ

Emily Pepper

Sr. Structural Engineer

Heritage Structures Local Market Lead, WSP Canada

Topic

Heritage Restorations, Readaptations, Repurposing

Talk points

Criteria for Heritage Preservation | What are the key factors that guide decisions in building preservation?

Old meets new — how do you bring both together? How do you add something new while respecting the history of a place?

What role do local stakeholders and civic partners play in your projects?