As a Principal of the Boston office, Alberto Franceschet oversees SOCOTEC's Massachusetts building envelope consulting projects from the design to the construction administration phases.

With over 25 years of experience in the Façade industry, Alberto has developed a deep understanding of the challenges of designing, engineering, procuring, manufacturing, and installing custom unitized curtain walls. His broad knowledge of façades and his unique experience gives him the skill sets to be the ideal partner and advisor for architects and developers.

Alberto is the co-author of numerous technical papers about the design of façades to resist blast loads and about the dynamic performances of double skin façades for building energy efficiency.

He holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Padova (Italy) and was recently appointed Co-Chair of the Special Advisory Council for the Façade Tectonics Institute.

Arndt Broecker is a seasoned international business leader with 30 years of experience in the fenestration industry. He has successfully expanded the reach of fenestration products across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Currently, Arndt serves as the Head of Sales North America at Forster, where he works closely with manufacturers, architects, and design consultants to deliver high-performance steel profile systems that meet the rigorous demands of contemporary architecture. With extensive expertise in technical sales and product design, Arndt possesses deep knowledge of building codes and testing standards across various regions.

Forster, a premier Swiss company, produces leading steel profile systems for windows, doors, and facades, emphasizing security, energy efficiency, and design. To us, building with steel means building for life, addressing the diverse needs of present and future generations while respecting the environment and our natural resources. We partner closely with industry professionals to advance the building industry.

Casey Pritchard is a Sales Manager at Boston Valley Terra Cotta, where she plays a key role in bringing visionary architectural designs to life through the beauty and versatility of terra cotta. With a deep understanding of facade materials and a passion for craftsmanship, she works closely with architects, designers, and developers to create high-performance building envelopes that balance aesthetics, sustainability, and durability.

Chenyu Pu, RA, LEED AP BD+C is a Senior Associate at Heintges Consulting Architects & Engineers. Since joining Heintges in 2015, he has worked with world-renowned architects across a wide range of project typologies including commercial, academic, residential, healthcare, and high-end retail. Chenyu has collaborated on complex and high-performing enclosure systems across the United States, and his portfolio of Boston projects includes 585 Kendall Square, Pier 4 Condominiums and Pier 4 Office Towers. Additionally, Chenyu has co-authored multiple architectural publications focusing on the materiality of enclosure systems.Chenyu is a licensed Architect in New York State and holds a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University GSAPP and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Southeast University in Jiangsu, China.

Chris O'Hara is a Founding Principal of Studio NYL. Trained as a Structural Engineer, Chris has a passion for Architecture. This passion has fostered the collaborative approach that is a cornerstone of Studio NYL’s collaborative approach to structures and enclosures. Although Studio NYL is recognized for its skins work with cutting-edge glass and glazing, their team also specializes in digitally fabricated metal skins, GFRC, reinforced polymers, stone, ultra high performance concrete, terra cotta, and traditional precast. In addition to the structural aspects of facades, Chris’s focus is on constructability, fabrication and modularity within the Studio.

Chris has served as a board member on the AIA National TAP Committee as well as AIA Board of Directors. Chris has also been a board member of the Native American Sustainable Housing Initiative and participated in lectures with the Carbon Leadership Forum and the BSA’s Embodied Carbon 101 series for both Structure and Façade.

Dean has a 30-year history in the building materials and construction industry ranging from quality management to senior sales management focused on the building envelope. His approach is solution based and consultative. Dean provides practical knowledge to help with design assist and material selections for projects. He has a keen interest in innovative materials and application methods for use on commercial façade projects.

Emma Cardini is a Principal and Unit Manager at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. She has more than twenty-two years of experience in the repair and restoration of historic building enclosures. Emma will discuss her experience with historic enclosures, especially when access is challenged by unusual building geometry. Emma is a Professional Engineer who has participated in the inspection of several iconic structures in Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and many other locations.

Eric Claeys holds a degree as Civil Engineer in Construction from KU Leuven, Belgium, a degree in Industrial Engineering in Public Works from KU Leuven, Belgium, and graduated with a Master in Business Administration from the Vlerick Business School, Belgium. Eric has 40 years of experience in façade technologies and consulting and was involved in hundreds of prestigious projects by the most famous architects in more than 30 countries worldwide. Since the very beginning, value engineering has been his driving force, along with the belief that “ It always seems impossible until it’s done”. Out-of-the-box thinking is not just in his DNA; it is his DNA.

Eric is the inventor of “hybrid” curtain wall systems, an innovative combination of stick and unitized CW systems. The technologies are covered by an extensive patent portfolio in more than 70 countries worldwide.

“Innovating is critical, but it is not enough. The Fassada steel curtain wall technologies are carefully engineered to revolutionize the market, setting a new standard to eliminate problems and enable the impossible.”

Eric is co-founder of Fassada Steel SA, which is a Switzerland-based joint venture between the Swiss Montanstahl AG and the Belgian Fassada Group, the parent company of Fassada Technologies.

Frans de Witte, Partner, Architect, and Director Studio Americas at MVRDV joined the practice in 1996, and is currently leading projects in the Netherlands, the USA, Canada and South America. Frans has executed many successful MVRDV projects, such as Silodam, the Radio Tower and Hotel in Manhattan, the sustainable and demountable office and laboratory complex Matrix 1 in Amsterdam, and the Canyon, a 23-storey mixed-used residential complex on San Francisco’s waterfront.

He is currently leading projects in the Netherlands, the USA, Canada and South America, including six residential towers ranging from 92 to 143 metres in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex in Toronto School, the Faneuil Gardens masterplan set to transform a Boston public housing complex, and The Sax, two residential towers in Rotterdam bridged at 100m by a golden beam.

Fred Clarke co-founded the firm in New Haven with Cesar Pelli in 1977 while Cesar was Dean of the Architecture School at Yale University. As Senior Design Principal, Fred has directed all the projects in the New Haven and Asian studios. The firm has designed and built over 100 million square feet of landmark towers that define skylines, as well as cultural institutions treasured by the citizens of their communities, from San Francisco to Abu Dhabi and Tokyo to Miami. A career-long teacher and writer, Fred has been a faculty member of Yale University, Rice University, and the University of California at Los Angeles. Fred believes strongly that architects have a social responsibility, particularly as projects grow larger, more vertical, and more complex, to consider how society will be impacted. New buildings should behave like “good citizens” of their community, taking cues from its surroundings and enhancing the urban fabric.

Jeff Geisinger is Director of Sustainable Design at Utile, where he leads the firm’s building performance and decarbonization initiatives. He works with project teams to create energy efficient buildings and healthy, resilient spaces through energy modeling and design guidance. He holds an SMArchS in Building Technology from MIT and a B.Arch from Rice University. Jeff also teaches environmental building performance to architecture students at Rhode Island School of Design.

Jeffry Burchard is an Architect. He is Managing Partner & Design Principal at Machado Silvetti, the Boston architecture and urban design practice with place-based projects across the United States and around the world. Recent accolades include Boston Society for Architecture Awards for Design Excellence for Downtown Cary Park, Denver Art Museum, NYU Global Center, Asian Art Study Center at the Ringling Museum, and the Vietnamese-German University.

Jeffry is Associate Professor in Practice of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design where he teaches design studios and practice. He received the 2020 AIA Young Architects Award for his demonstrated commitment to excellence in design, practice, and education. Jeffry received a M.Arch degree from the University of Idaho, and a post-professional M.Arch with Distinction from the Harvard GSD. Jeffry’s work has been featured in publications such as the Harvard Design Magazine, IntAR, Architecture Record, Domez, Clarin and the Architect’s Newspaper.

Jeppe Hundevad is the President of Lindner Facades. He has been at Lindner since November 2014 and has over 30 years of experience working in the field in various positions. He has worked in the UK, France and Germany at OVE ARUP and Partners, EIFFEL Construction and MERO GmbH respectively. He was also Managing Director/Owner at APG EUROPE GmbH between 2001-2014.

Jeppe has a MBA and a bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering. He is fluent in German and English. His project references include the Edinburgh International Airport in Scotland, the World Trade Center Tower 1 in New York, and most recently Canal Street in Chicago and the Sheikh Zayed Museum in Abu Dhabi.

Jeppe received an award for his work at the Edinburgh International Airport, Scotland in 2006. He also received an Architectural Award for the renovation project at the Bryn Mawr School, USA in 2008 and a Crystal Achievement Award for the Custom Glass Animated Vortex at the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah.

Jeremy Smith is a partner and the Director of Global Business Development at exo, specializing in ventilated rainscreen systems and architectural façade solutions. With three decades of experience in architecture, engineering, and project management, he has overseen high-profile projects, managed multidisciplinary teams, and contributed to the design and implementation of innovative façade systems. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in Architecture and Engineering Sciences, Jeremy has also served as a lecturer at the university’s Department of Architecture, teaching advanced mathematics, land use, and construction. His work reflects a commitment to merging creativity and science to make things better, smarter, and more impactful.

John Hynes joined the BGI team in 2014. Prior to his role as Vice President of BGI and Project Executive of the 10 World Trade development, John oversaw numerous Seaport Square projects, totaling over $150M of development in 3-years. He has also helped lead BGI’s new business efforts, and serves as the primary point of contact for project approvals with City and State agencies. Before BGI, John spent 4 years working in the finance and construction industries in Boston, North Carolina, and Miami. John holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and lives in Milton with his wife, their two sons, and two very large dogs.

Jonathan Hill has nearly 20 years of experience in the design, investigation and construction contract administration of building enclosure and façade systems for commercial, healthcare, educational and residential buildings. He has overseen major projects in the USA, New Zealand, and internationally that have encompassed waterproofing consulting (including roofs, plaza areas, and below-grade spaces), as well as the design and evaluation of facade and building enclosure components, both standard and bespoke.After starting his career in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Jon relocated to New Zealand to focus on educating and advancing the New Zealand industry by introducing international best practices before returning back to the US and settling in the Northeast. Committed to using innovative methods to solve problems, Jon focuses on integrating the design, performance analysis, fabrication, and construction of building enclosures. He applies his focus on performance-based design to projects all types including investigation, remediation, or new design.

Jon joined TT in 2024, where he leads the Boston Building Envelope team which integrates TT’s established Façade, Renewal, and Forensic Practices.

Kate Bubriski is the Director of Building Performance at Arrowstreet. For over twenty years, she has completed numerous high-performing buildings, including 1 million square feet of passive buildings, working with clients to ensure building performance simultaneously creates social, health, environmental, and economic benefits. She is a national leader in net zero energy, passive buildings, embodied carbon, building certifications, materials evaluation, and occupant engagement. Kate currently serves on the Board of Directors for Built Environment Plus and AIA Massachusetts. Recently, she has been a featured speaker at Greenbuild, Green Schools Conference, BuildingEnergy Boston, and Boston Society for Architecture.

Markus Schulte is a Principal with over 28 years of experience in Arup’s New York Office and leads their Façade Engineering and Building Physics group. Markus pioneers the design and construction of sophisticated buildings in NYC and around the world. His goal is to arrive at high-quality and efficient buildings, which meet vision, program, budget and schedule constraints of his clients. His team’s projects include Northeastern University’s Interdisciplinary Science Buildings with Payette, Columbia University’s new Business School with Diller Scofidio+Renfro; the Re-clad of 1271 Avenue of the Americas for the Rockefeller Group with Pei Cobb Freed; the enhancement of the Frick Collection with Selldorf Architects and BBB; the expansion of the SF-MoMA with Snohetta; Cornell’s First Academic Net-Zero Energy Building on Roosevelt Island with Morphosis; and multiple renovation and upgrade projects at the Metropolitan Museum with BBB. Markus has been a visiting lecturer at Yale University and at Cooper Union.

Nick Nigro acts as the day-to-day project manager on complex design and construction projects for both clients and LMP’s principal portfolio. With 15 years of real estate experience, he has worked on academic, residential, infrastructure, and commercial projects. In recent years, he’s worked to advance Passive House and Mass Timber project delivery.

The founding partner of Haycon Building LLC, Patrick Haydon is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of design, construction, and development experience. With a passion for streamlined sustainable building, Patrick’s broad-based knowledge provides clients with integrated solutions, ultimately providing more cost-effective results, faster.

Patrick works directly will all of Haycon’s employees, encouraging initiative and forward-thinking amongst his team of Engineers, Project Managers, and Construction Superintendents. Patrick operates as Project Executive, helping foster a culture of growth and advancement.

Rich Peake has been with Suffolk for 10 years and is Suffolk's Director of Exterior Enclosures. The Exterior Enclosures Group is responsible for estimating, contract awards, subcontractor procurement, design assist, technical review, source, and site inspections, and overall QAQC for curtain wall and other exterior enclosure trades in Suffolk's Northeast and has recently expanded nationally for Suffolk. Rich and his team are focused on delivering exterior systems with strict adherence to the design intent, performance, and sustainability required for all projects. He also brings his extensive experience over a 25-year architectural career to the construction management and design teams at Suffolk and Suffolk Design. In addition to 10 World Trade, other Boston projects include 585 Kendall, Lyra - Huntington Tower, MIT Schwarzman College, BU Data Sciences, Northeastern EXP, Lyrik Back Bay, 400 Summer St, 2 Harbor St, South Station, Winthrop Center, and Four Seasons One Dalton. Rich has also been adjunct faculty at Boston Architectural College and guest lecturer at Harvard GSD and MIT Architecture.

Rustom Cowasjee is currently responsible for the design and construction of the Washington, D.C., and Boston portfolios. Since joining Tishman Speyer in 1999, he has been responsible for the design and construction of the company’s projects in Northern Virginia, District of Columbia, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston. He was also responsible for setting up Tishman Speyer’s Design and Construction groups and projects in India. Prior to joining Tishman Speyer, Rustom worked for London & Leeds Development Corporation and was responsible for the design and construction of the commercial office building portfolio and hotels in the Americas, including in Canada, the Caribbean and South America. He has also worked as an architect for I.M. Pei & Partners in New York. Rustom graduated from Cornell University with a B.Arch. and earned a MAUD in architecture and urban design from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Sae Kim is an architect and designer with deep insights into spatial experiences and innovative concepts. With a particularly keen understanding of creative processes, Sae has been deeply involved in complex, award-winning projects, ranging from large urban master plans to architectural and research initiatives. His creative process is founded on evaluating multiple design solutions through the lens of problem-solving, storytelling, and value creation.

Sae holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design (MAUD) from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

Shu Talun is an Associate Principal and Senior Façade Consultant with RDH’s Boston team. With a background in architecture and manufacturing, Shu brings 15 years of experience in façade systems design and development. Her expertise spans enclosure consulting, unitized system design, and early façade procurement for high-performance buildings.

Shu collaborates with architects, contractors, and property developers to deliver solutions that balance architectural distinction with cost-aware optimization. Her experience as a Senior Façade Design Manager for a fabricator allows her to approach projects holistically, from design through fabrication and installation. At RDH, Shu provides project management, technical leadership, and façade consulting for diverse building types, including hospitals, laboratories, and mixed-use developments.

Tansu Kumru has extensive experience in the glass industry and has been working for Şişecam, one of the world’s leading glass manufacturers with production operations in 14 countries across four continents. She is currently responsible for public relations and coordination within the company.

Throughout her career, she has held various roles in the Architectural Glass division, including strategy development, product and brand management, and marketing communication. She contributed to the development of energy-efficient architectural glass products and provided customised and advanced glass solutions for a wide variety of projects around the world.

As the Vice President of the Board of the Exporters’ Association, she is currently the global representative of the Turkish Glass Sector. She continues to inform industry professionals about how Turkish glass products can enhance the capabilities of important construction projects worldwide.

She graduated from the Department of Industrial Engineering and completed her master’s degree in the Faculty of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University.

A senior principal and architect at Sasaki, Victor leads Sasaki’s commercial architecture and interiors practice, bringing together a spectrum of disciplines, from architecture and interiors, to landscape and urban design.

This breadth of professional experience has led to a deep understanding of the interrelation of commercial development, the public realm, and the needs of the people who use these spaces—as well as the processes required to make these projects happen. Over 20+ years, Victor’s focus has been on the design and development of rigorous and creative spaces and buildings for forward-thinking corporations and institutions. His role has spanned from development planning and approvals, to lead design architect and architect of record.

Practicing since 1994, Victor holds a bachelor of architecture from Cornell University. He is a member of the Boston Society of Architects and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and has taught design at the Boston Architectural College.

At the vanguard of the next generation of architects, Wesley Schwartz, is transforming practice through the integration of performance in design. His portfolio of award-winning projects is deeply connected to idea of place and defined by its relationship to natural systems. Wes is an Associate Principal at Boston’s Payette, 2019 AIA Firm of the year winner, where his uncanny ability to create beautiful designs while remaining a steadfast collaborator is on full view. His work has garnered more than 20 national and regional design awards including the 2019 AIA Young Architects Award, 2 national AIA COTE Top Ten Awards, and multiple National AIA awards. His recently completed projects include the new home for the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard in Kendall Square, Northeastern ISEC & EXP, and the new Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea, a net-zero long-term care facility for veterans.