San
Francisco

Zak World

OF Façades

Hero

The Art + Science of today's building enclosures

SAN FRANCISCO|HOTEL NIKKO|18 Nov 2026

About the Event

Zak World of Façades is a globally acclaimed conference series dedicated to façade design & engineering. With over 200 editions successfully delivered worldwide, the series has attracted more than 70,000 delegates across 50 countries, making it one of the most influential platforms for the architectural façade industry.

The upcoming event, which is the 235th global edition and the 2nd edition in San Francisco, will bring together leading architects, façade engineers, consultants, developers, contractors, and industry specialists to explore the latest innovations, emerging trends, practical solutions, and key challenges shaping the building envelope sector.

For more information and insights from past events, visit www.zakwof.com

One series · Six continents · 70+ host cities

  • Hosted an edition
  • Upcoming 2027

Who Should Attend

  • Architects
  • Developers
  • General/Main Contractors
  • Façade Consultants
  • Façade Contractors
  • Sustainability/ESD Consultants
  • Fire Consultants
  • Glass Processors
  • Structural Consultants
  • Cost Consultants
  • Quantity Surveyors
  • PMC's
  • Related building specifiers
FAÇADES

Insightful Dialogues & Networking

Hear from experts in the domain of façade design, engineering, procuring and execution on their views on constructing high-performance, safe, sustainable and long lasting façades with the latest techniques and tools available. Also, network with other industry peers and leading manufacturers & solution providers in the façade industry.

Event Format

01

Tabletop Expo Display

An intimate exhibition in the networking area where delegates meet and interact with the brands showcasing new products and solutions.

Key Numbers

235Edition
24Speakers & Panelists
3Sessions
1Day

Speakers & Panelists

Our speakers and panelists are domain experts and will ensure that the content presented at the event is meaningful with key takeaways to ponder upon. Below is the initial list of speakers, more to be added as we progress.

Adrian Betanzos
VIA logo

Adrian Betanzos

PrincipalVIA
Anders Smith
SolarLab logo

Anders Smith

CEOSolarLab
Bob Zhang
Tianjin North Glass logo

Bob Zhang

Commercial DirectorTianjin North Glass
Brandusa Bularca
Perkins&Will logo

Brandusa Bularca

Senior Project Designer, Senior AssociatePerkins&Will
Diego Cuevas
Onyx Solar logo

Diego Cuevas

VP Business Development USAOnyx Solar
Felix Weber
RDH Building Science logo

Felix Weber

Principal, Senior Specialist - FaçadeRDH Building Science
Fiona Ruddy
Mercy Housing logo

Fiona Ruddy

Senior Project ManagerMercy Housing
Itria Licitra

Itria Licitra

Associate | Project DirectorTipping Structural Engineering
John Runkle
Allana Buick & Bers logo

John Runkle

Vice President Forensic Division, Senior PrincipalAllana Buick & Bers
John Thompson
Paulett Taggart Architects logo

John Thompson

Senior Project ArchitectPaulett Taggart Architects
Jordan Teitelbaum
KerianTimberlake logo

Jordan Teitelbaum

AssociateKerianTimberlake
Karen Brandt
heintges logo

Karen Brandt

Principalheintges
Leslie Scheppelmann
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. logo

Leslie Scheppelmann

Senior AssociateWiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Mark J. Hildebrand
Willis Construction logo

Mark J. Hildebrand

Chief EngineerWillis Construction
Micheal Naughton
CENTRIA, a Nucor company logo

Micheal Naughton

Business Development ManagerCENTRIA, a Nucor company
Owen Kennerly
Kennerly Architecture & Planning logo

Owen Kennerly

PrincipalKennerly Architecture & Planning
Philip Ra
FLAD Architects logo

Philip Ra

PrincipalFLAD Architects
Rigo Vega
Mitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC logo

Rigo Vega

Manager, Regional Architectural SalesMitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC
Roger Schaerer
BM Windows logo

Roger Schaerer

Senior Engineering DirectorBM Windows
Sarah Williams
Breakthrough Partners logo

Sarah Williams

Vice President, Design & ConstructionBreakthrough Partners
Tyler Wright
Coalition Glass logo

Tyler Wright

PresidentCoalition Glass
Xiu T. Li
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger logo

Xiu T. Li

Associate PrincipalSimpson Gumpertz & Heger
Yakuh Askew
Y.A Studio logo

Yakuh Askew

Founding PrincipalY.A Studio

Conference Schedule

The event agenda is split into multiple sessions separated by networking break-out sessions.

Sessions
08:30
09:30

Delegate Registration & Networking

Event Convenor & Host

09:30
09:40

Welcome Address

09:40
10:00

Sculpting Industrial Land into a New Sense of Place: 580 Dubuque

  • Site Challenges + Opportunities: The site’s industrial past, freeway noise, and strong bay winds are transformed into opportunities for a vibrant, connected place with a strong identity and a visually striking highway-facing façade
  • The Massing as Orchestrator: Two elevated, shifting volumes respond to program, views, and context while connecting to the landscape through a wind-screened plaza, sculptural corten walls, and art-inspired walkways
  • The Façade Brings It All Together: Metal panels, glass, and solar fins reinforce the sculptural massing while creating depth, providing passive shading and cooling, and serving as a canvas for art and nighttime illumination
10:00
10:20

UC Berkeley Bancroft Fulton

10:20
10:30

Advances in Curved Architectural Glass

  • Multi-curved glass
  • High-end curtain wall glass panel
  • Customization
10:30
10:40

Understanding Metal Composite Materials (MCM) in High-Performance Façade Design

  • 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
10:40
11:05

The Beauty in Any Material

  • How to get the best out of each material and understand where each one shines
  • To each their own: Exploring the unique strengths, applications, and possibilities of different materials
  • Fun examples from recent projects showcasing how each material’s potential was maximized through thoughtful façade design
11:05
11:55

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:55
12:25

Topic to be Announced

12:25
12:35

Photovoltaic Glass shaped by Architecture

  • Material adapting to vision: Customising shape, colour, and transparency to serve the architectural envelope, rather than standardising the building to fit the solar panel
  • The form-function tension: Balancing the architect's aesthetic intent with commercial energy demands and building performance
  • Built realities: Real-world projects demonstrating how specific design requirements successfully shaped the final photovoltaic solution
12:35
12:45

Architectural IMPs and Integrated Products

  • Integrated windows & louvres
  • Integrated fins & accents
  • The ultimate wall assembly
12:45
13:10

Façade Movements and Sightlines

  • The Challenge: Understanding movement criteria and how they vary across different building typologies
  • The Kit of Parts: Reviewing how common façade systems and interface details accommodate building movements and maintain performance and safety, and how they affect sightlines
  • Outside the Box: Explore innovative façade design solutions developed for a series of West Coast projects, and how they performed during seismic performance testing
13:10
13:55
Panel

Elevating Affordable Housing: Designing High-Performance, High-Density Homes

  • 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
13:55
14:35

Networking Lunch Break

14:35
15:00

Building Resiliency – Lessons from Long Beach: Strategies for Façade and Envelope Protection

  • 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
15:00
15:10

Customised Solar Façades

  • 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
15:10
15:20

The HOLISTIC Approach to Façade Excellence

  • 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
15:20
15:45

Topic to be Announced

15:45
16:30
Panel

Enveloping Innovation: Façade Design for Life Sciences & Biotech

  • 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
16:30
16:35

Thanks/Conference Concludes

16:35
17:00

Refreshments & Networking

Our Partners

Meet our industry leading suppliers who play a key role in this event. Visit their booths to know more about their products & solutions and how they can help play a role in defining your projects.

Socials

Catch the latest from Zak World of Façades across our social channels.

FAQ

Everything you need to know before attending the event.

A limited number of complimentary seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for select professionals, including architects, façade consultants, developers, project management consultants, main contractors, sustainability consultants, fire consultants, façade contractors, cost consultants, government officials and other related stakeholders. To secure your entry pass, we kindly request you to complete the official online registration process. Allocation of complimentary seats will be evaluated based on the professional nature of your organization.

For product/material suppliers & testing firms, a delegate fee of USD 500 per person will apply, subject to availability. Please note that registrations from organizations that have participated in previous editions of the event will not be processed.

All registrations are subject to review and approval by the event organizers, whose decisions shall be considered final.

The online registration acts as an “Interest” for attending the conference. An internal system evaluates the registrations received and issues the confirmation/entry pass accordingly. The online registration alone DOES NOT stand confirmed without a confirmation/entry pass email from the organizers.

If successfully approved, the confirmation number/pass is sent within 3-4 working days of registration or earlier. It is advisable to check your spam/junk folders as there maybe chances of the email landing in those folders. If you have not received your confirmation within the stipulated timeframe, please write to the organisers/reply on the acknowledgment email to check on the status.

It is highly recommended that you use your company/official email id for registration to avoid any confirmation delay. If you use your personal email id, we will not be able to verify the same always.

No. All registrations are pre-approved online and no on-spot registrations are encouraged.

The invitation copy from the sponsors DOES NOT qualify as the entry pass. The invite mentions the registration process at the last page. All the recipients of these invitation copies are advised to follow the online registration process to attain their passes to be able to attend the event.

No. Please note, this event pass is non-transferable. Valid ID is required for event access.

The registrations start at 08:30 hrs. The team at the registration desk will be fully equipped with the details of those confirmed to attend. If your registration is confirmed, you will only be asked to quote your registration number and drop your visiting cards at the registration desk to collect your badge and kit.

Post the event, the organisers will share a link to the HD video recording of the conference.

The full-day conference will include access to the conference hall, exhibit area, lunch and networking session, delegate kits and HD video recording of the conference.

Please inform us if you have any dietary restrictions at least 15 days in advance of the event.

As the seats are allocated on a first come first serve basis, the registration will close once the hall seating capacity is reached.

No. The event will be 100% in-person only.

Yes, 6 AIA HSW CEUs will be credited to the attendees. The delegate must attend in-person for the entire program and sign up at the conclusion with their current AIA membership number to receive the credits.

Event Location

Venue

Hotel Nikko, San Francisco

Nikko Ballroom - Third Floor

Registration Opens

08:30 AM PST

Date

18 November 2026

Get Directions→

Get in Touch

Contact Us

Have a query about the event, registration, sponsorship, or anything else? We'd love to hear from you.