235th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA

This will be the 235th edition globally and the 2nd edition in San Francisco which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

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Speakers & Panelists
Philip Ra
Principal, FLAD Architects
Philip Ra is a talented design leader with over 33 years of experience, guiding projects from conceptual design through completion. His passion for design and digital technology has led him to become an innovator in the use of digital media...
Anders Smith
CEO, SolarLab
Vanessa Kassabian
Principal, Design Director, Americas, Henning Larsen
Yakuh Askew
Founding Principal, Y.A Studio
akuh Askew co-founded Y.A. studio with a straightforward goal: build a practice that could move between a custom hillside home and a supportive housing project for formerly homeless families, and bring the same care to both.He grew up in San...
Michael Naughton
Business Development Manager, CENTRIA , a Nucor company
Katie Stacy
Manager, Regional Architectural Sales, Mitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC
Brandusa Bularca
Senior Project Designer, Senior Associate, Perkins&Will
Diego Cuevas
VP Business Development USA, Onyx Solar
Diego Cuevas Gomez is Vice President of Business Development and Sales for North America at Onyx Solar. Diego earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance and a Master’s degree in Foreign Trade, graduating as valedictorian. He brings more...
Bob Zhang
Commercial Director, Tianjin North Glass
Bob joined Northglass in 2012. For the first two years He worked on the technical side, then moved to project management and worked on the Apple Park project. In 2015, He came to the US and started the Northglass US...
Felix Weber
Principal, Senior Specialist - Façade, RDH Building Science Inc
Felix Weber advances complex façade and glass design at RDH out of our Oakland office. He is a highly creative engineer and experienced team leader with over 15 years of experience in façade consulting and structural engineering. Trained as both...
Adrian Betanzos
Principal, VIA
Adrian Betanzos is a Materials lover who was born in Tapachula, Chiapas. He is married, has two kids and a dog. In his free time, he is a Principal at VIA, a facade consulting firm with projects all over the...
John Runkle
Vice President Forensic Division, Senior Principal, Allana Buick & Bers Inc
John Runkle, PE, is Vice President of ABB’s Forensic Division and Senior Principal with more than 26 years of experience in building enclosure consulting, forensic investigation, commissioning, field performance testing, and resiliency consulting. His expertise includes façade and curtain wall...
Karen Brandt
Principal, Heintges
Karen Brandt, AIA, is a Senior Principal at Heintges. She has been with the firm since 2001 and launched the firm’s West Coast office in San Francisco in 2013. She has extensive experience collaborating on building facades with visionary architects...
Roger Schaerer
Senior Engineering Director, BM Windows
With over 40 years of experience in the aluminum and glass façade industry across demanding international markets-including the Middle East, Dubai, the United States, and Switzerland-Roger Scharer brings exceptional expertise in delivering custom-designed façade engineering solutions. His career encompasses the...
Conference Agenda
  • Multi-curved glass
  • High-end curtain wall glass panel
  • Customization
Speakers:
  • 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
Speakers:
  • Integrated windows & louvres
  • Integrated fins & accents
  • The ultimate wall assembly
Speakers:

Yakuh Askew

  • Exploring the shift from Type III and V construction toward type I and high-rise affordable housing as cities seek to maximize limited land and increase housing supply
  • Examining how façade design, material selection, and construction methods can balance the cost, performance, and complexity of taller affordable housing
  • Discussing opportunities to deliver more durable, energy-efficient, and architecturally compelling affordable housing while reducing long-term operational and maintenance costs
Speakers:
  • Beauty - Unparalleled design freedom that enables seamless integration and on-site energy production in retrofit and new build
  • Quality - Transformative non-fading, self-cleaning and maintenance-free cladding with longevity and resiliency
  • Sustainability - Recycled materials that generates free electricity for generations, and can be non-destructively reused & fully recycled
Speakers:
  • Review the physics behind flowing water
  • Understand the consequences of recent storm events
  • Discuss paths forward after a loss
  • Learn what options are available to you to protect your property
Speakers:
  • Presenting a holistic approach from engineering coordination and fabrication to delivery and installation
  • Sharing fabrication solutions for static and dynamic façade systems across complex building envelopes
  • Considering BMU access and façade cleaning requirements for efficient long-term building maintenance
Speakers:

Philip Ra

  • Exploring how façade design can respond to the highly specialized environmental, operational, and technical requirements of life sciences and biotech facilities
  • Balancing daylight, thermal performance, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort while meeting the stringent performance demands of research environments
  • Examining how material innovation, adaptable façade systems, and integrated building technologies can support the evolving needs of labs and future-proof these highly complex buildings
Speakers:
Event Details
  • 235th Edition – Zak World of Façades USA, November 18, 2026
  • Start Date
    November 18, 2026 8:00 am
  • End Date
    November 18, 2026 5:00 pm
  • Status
    Upcoming
  • Location
  • Venue
  • Category
    • Sponsors

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