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
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
Katie Stacy
Mitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC logo

Katie Stacy

Manager, Regional Architectural SalesMitsubishi Chemical America ALPOLIC
Micheal Naughton
CENTRIA, a Nucor company logo

Micheal Naughton

Business Development ManagerCENTRIA, a Nucor company
Roger Schaerer
BM Windows logo

Roger Schaerer

Senior Engineering DirectorBM Windows
Vanessa Kassabian
Henning Larsen logo

Vanessa Kassabian

Principal, Design Director, AmericasHenning Larsen

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

395 3rd street Residences

10:00
10:20

Topic to be Announced

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

Topic to be Announced

11:05
11:55

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

11:55
12:25

Topic to be Announced

12:25
12:35

Architectural IMPs and Integrated Products

  • Integrated windows & louvres
  • Integrated fins & accents
  • The ultimate wall assembly
12:35
13:00

Topic to be Announced

13:00
13:45
Panel

Topic to be Announced

13:45
14:35

Networking Lunch Break

14:35
15:00

Topic to be Announced

15:00
15:10

Customised Solar Façades

  • Beauty - Unparalleled design freedom that eables seamless integration and on-site 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
15:35

Topic to be Announced

15:35
15:45

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
15:45
15:55

Topic to be Announced

15:55
16:40
Panel

Topic to be Announced

16:40
16:45

Thanks/Conference Concludes

16:45
17:30

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.