Zak World of Façades Zak World of Façades
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Zak World of Façades USA

edition

198

Date

15 October 2025

Venue

United States

City

New York

Official page Watch the Event

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

07:30 — 08:30 Delegate Registration & Networking
08:30 — 08:45 Welcome Address
08:45 — 08:55 Special Tribute to Erik Verboon
10:07 — 11:05 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

Session 2

13:10 — 14:10 Networking Lunch Break

Session 3

15:55 — 16:35 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

Session 4

17:40 — 17:45 Thanks & End of the Conference

Susie Teal

Partner

COOKFOX

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

08:55 — 09:10

Carlo A. Scissura

Esq.

President and CEO, New York Building Congress

Topic

Construction Outlook for 2026

Talk points

How the City of Yes will affect our industry

09:10 — 09:25

Justin D’Alessandro

National Architectural Manager

Vitro Architectural Glass

Topic

Vacuum Insulated Glass Technology

Talk points

Technology overview
Vacuum insulated glass
Project case studies

09:25 — 09:45

John Ivanoff

Principal | Facades

Buro Happold

Topic

From Pixels to Performance: Game Engines for the Future of Façades: How Immersive Technology is Reshaping Design Visualization, Performance Simulation, and Sustainability

Talk points

Immersive design: How game engines transform façade visualization—allowing clients and teams to walk through design options in real time
Performance & carbon insight: Integrating daylight, thermal, and embodied carbon simulations into interactive environments
Engaging stakeholders: Turning complex façade performance metrics into clear, interactive experiences

09:45 — 10:00

Alberto Alarcon

Marketing Manager

Kuraray America

Topic

Laminated Glass: A Transparent Solution for Flood Control

Talk points

Understanding the risks and causes
Current flood defense strategies
Engineering & design solutions using laminated glass

10:00 — 10:07

Maic Pannwitz

Senior Executive Vice President

sedak

Topic

From Flat to Fantastic: The Rise of Multicurved FT/HS Glass

11:05 — 11:35

Hugh Dutton

Founder & Director

Hugh Dutton Associés

Topic

A Synthesis of Poetic Intent and Physical Reality of Structural Glass

Talk points

Designs in structural glass
Sustainability: Energy and heritage
Glass as an artistic medium

11:35 — 12:00

Tobiasz Staszak

Area Manager - North America

Reynaers Aluminium

Topic

Project Case Study: 89 Avenue Yorkville

Talk points

Reynaers’ 360-degree approach to the 89 Avenue Project
Virtual Reality as a game changer in architecture and construction

12:00 — 12:30

Luis Palacio

Design Director

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill

Topic

Beyond the Envelope, Exploring the Boundary of Building Façades

Talk points

Role of a façade beyond the envelope
Levels of performance - How much can a façade do?
Evolution - Ever-evolving building component
A blended system - A combination of functions that responds to various asks

12:30 — 13:10

Moderator

Hagen Scutt

Senior Vice President – Design Hudson Yards

The Related Companies

Panelist

Andrew Black

Director of Product Development and Design

New Hudson Façades

Panelist

Breen Mahony

Director

Roger Ferris + Partners

Panelist

Rok Lee

Principal – Façades

DeSimone Consulting Engineering

Panelist

Michael Lin

Design Director

Gensler

Topic

70 Hudson Yards: Office 2.0

Talk points

70HY is the largest ground-up office development in the U.S. post-pandemic, specifically re-designed to meet the needs of tenants addressing flexibility, productivity and sustainability
1.1M SF side core building with 59’ lease spans and increased floor to floor to provide tenant planning, tenant terraces and an abundance of daylighting
How this all electric building, high performance triple glazed curtainwall, bird glazing all contribute to achieving LEED Platinum and the City of Yes Ultra Low Energy Building credit
How the building was designed as a collaborative effort between various design firms

Sameer Kumar

Principal

Techne

Topic

Session Chair

14:10 — 14:30

Zach Craun

Associate Partner

CookFox

Topic

The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music

Talk points

Utilization of bio-based materials
Carbon reduction specifications
Designing for circularity

14:10 — 14:30

Todd Poisson

Partner

BKSK Architects

David Kubik

Partner

BKSK Architects

Topic

New Skins, Old Stories – Reimagining Historic Context Through Façade Design

Talk points

Using contemporary craft in historic context
The Twenty-Two: Transforming an 1891 boarding house into a luxury hotel with a restored and reimagined façade
Village West: Selecting the right materials for contemporary projects in historic districts

14:10 — 14:30

Tali Mejicovsky

Associate Principal | Façade Engineering and Building Physics

Arup

Paul Granger

Senior Project Architect

Selldorf

Topic

The Frick Collection Expansion and Enhancement: A Dialogue Between Old and New

Talk points

Designing a new building façade to reinforce a landmarked building
Integrating new architecture within a historic fabric
Balancing aesthetic integrity with modern performance

14:30 — 14:50

Joseph Madaghiele

Associate

Thornton Tomasetti

Melissa Wong

Principal

Thornton Tomasetti

Topic

Columbia University’s 600 W 125th Street: From Raw Materials to Finished Product - GFRC Fabrication and Quality Control

Talk points

Why GFRC was selected as the project cladding material
GFRC technical review for project compliance and performance requirements
GFRC fabrication process, quality control and testing

14:30 — 14:50

Manan Raval

Partner - Façades & Envelopes

Hatfield Group Engineering

Jun Schick Lee

Associate Principal - Façades & Envelopes

Hatfield Group Engineering

Topic

Skin Deep Efficiency: Engineering Performance-Driven Façades

Talk points

Cladding's impact on thermal and daylighting performance
Façade integration with urban revitalization and building codes
Strategies for combining architectural expression with sustainability

14:30 — 14:50

Nathan McRae

Director

Snøhetta

Jamison Guest

Principal

Heintges

Topic

Parallels in Automotive and Façade Design: Inspiration Through Realization

Talk points

Inspiration for façade systems focusing on frit and specialty glass
Development of performance criteria and prototyping
Mockups and realization

14:50 — 15:05

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

14:50 — 15:05

Gary Tongco

National Architectural Manager

ES Windows

Topic

Measuring Thermal Performance

Talk points

Building codes and measuring system performance
Materials and system designs that affect thermal performance
Effects on building design and system application

14:50 — 15:05

Sean Og Coyle

Chief Commercial Officer

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 from the UK & Europe: Innovation in action

15:05 — 15:20

Dean White

Regional Façade 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

15:05 — 15:20

Andrew Pries

Director of Innovation & Technical Sales

Boston Valley Terra Cotta

Topic

Innovating the Architectural Terra Cotta Industry 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

15:05 — 15:20

Ben Haigh

Senior Director - Fire-Rated Division

McGrory Glass

Topic

From Outdated to Outstanding: Steel Fire/Ballistic/Security-Rated Systems Evolved

Talk points

Sleek steel profiles and expansive glass replace yesterday’s clunky frames
Design-forward hardware options eliminate past limitations
Fire- and ballistic/security-rated systems that meet lot line codes

15:20 — 15:55

Moderator

Diego Cuevas

VP Business Development USA

Onyx Solar

Panelist

Carmelo Guido Galante

Director of Design

Gualini

Panelist

Leo Henke

Principal

Front

Panelist

Yan Torres

Chief Estimator and Project Manager

PGNY

Topic

Photovoltaic Façades: The Intersection of Energy, Architecture, and Innovation

Talk points

Solar façades around the world
From concept to commissioning: The art of managing a glass with wires
262 Fifth Avenue: Integrating photovoltaics at height

15:20 — 15:55

Moderator

Lee Brandt

Senior Principal

HLB Lighting

Panelist

Christopher Steffens

Architectural Lighting Designer | Energy Modeler

HLB Lighting

Panelist

Miguel Angel Maldonado

Principal

Beyer Blinder Belle

Panelist

Jennifer Sage

Partner

Sage and Coombe

Topic

Layers of Light and Layers of Daylight - Tools and Technique

Talk points

Materiality and Reflection - metal panels, terra cotta, coves, depth of façade
Daylighting as an integral part of sustainable design
Frit as a visual identity, telling a story

15:20 — 15:55

Moderator

Frank Mahan

Principal

Adaptive Reuse Practice Leader, SOM

Panelist

Kevin Kim

Associate

SOCOTEC

Panelist

Jonathan Taylor

Senior Associate

Higgins Quasebarth & Partners

Panelist

Victoria Ponce de Leon

Vice President

Principal, TYLin (Silman)

Topic

Transforming the Waldorf Astoria: Preservation, Modernization, and the Next Century of an Art Deco Icon

Talk points

The Waldorf Astoria New York has been transformed for the future through a careful combination of adaptive reuse, preservation, and restoration
Through restoration and subtle reconfiguration, the exterior enclosure evokes the original architects’ intent while meeting contemporary standards
The reconstruction of the twin pinnacles provides a case study in the collaboration required among architects, engineers, enclosure specialists, and landmarks consultants

Kate Kulpa

Associate Partner

Ennead Architects

Topic

Session Chair

Nidhi Sekhar

Technology & Innovation Manager | Digital Development Lead

STV Inc.

Topic

Session Chair

16:35 — 17:00

Hugh Trumbull

Principal

KPF

Topic

Hidden Windows: Performative Façades and Natural Ventilation

Talk points

Creating modern façades with aesthetically integrated operable windows
Examining varying regulations in global cities
Prioritizing sustainable practices in façade and window design

17:00 — 17:40

Moderator

Alfonso Oliva

Senior Manager DevRel AECO AI

NVIDIA

Panelist

Emir Pekdemir

Associate

Atelier Ten

Panelist

Dan Reynolds

AI Leader

Walter P Moore

Panelist

Andres Roncal

Senior Computational Designer

HKS

Panelist

Veronica Quintero

Senior Associate Principal and Head of BIM

KPF

Topic

Ai for the Built Environment

Talk points

Project coordination from materials evaluation to construction
Optimization of façade performance
Accelerating performance analysis in real time

How it was

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Presenting Partner

Associate Partners

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