The Performance-Based Façade Design initiative was an insightful event that highlighted the balance between innovation and tradition in the façade industry. Its significance lies in the way it integrated cutting-edge advancements like AI with established methods, creating a comprehensive experience for participants.
Akira Kudou - Japan Sash Manufacturers Associatio (Windows & Doors）

Performance-Based Facade Design - Seminar and Workshop Agenda - vertical_page-0001.jpg

The first edition of the Performance-Based Façade Design initiative curated by Angela Mejorin has been hosted at Università Iuav di Venezia. The Seminar and Workshop had the support of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Western (Canada) and Iuav (Italy) Universities, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Order and College of Engineers of the Province of Venice, PoliMi University (Italy).

The Seminar took place on Monday afternoon, September 4th, 2023, with a focus on Performance-Based Façade Design: The Current Challenges. Some of the topics covered by the presentations were related to façade design for hazard mitigation, building sustainability, energy efficiency, freeform skins, and safety performance.

SEMINAR

Current Challenges

WORKSHOP

Windows, doors and curtain walling – Impacted by windborne debris in windstorms – Test method and classification

The Workshop took place on Tuesday morning, September 5th, 2023. It corresponded to the in-person meeting for the ISO Standard draft preparation "Windows, doors and curtain walling – Impacted by windborne debris in windstorms – Test method and classification". ISO / TC 162 / WG 5 "Curtain walling" Designated Experts, together with all workshop participants, went through the in-progress standard document.

Angela Mejorin was appointed as the Project Leader of the ISO 16316 standard that has been published in October 2024.

The Orsoni Furnace seamlessly connects traditional craftsmanship with modern façade design, creating materials that redefine architectural aesthetics. Founded in 1888 by Angelo Orsoni, the company gained prominence with its vibrant smalti and mosaic tesserae, showcased at the 1889 Great Exhibition in Paris. Orsoni’s mosaics have adorned iconic architectural façades such as Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the Sacré Coeur, and Westminster Abbey, blending art and structure to transform buildings into visual masterpieces.

With innovations like uniform tesserae production, Orsoni advanced the integration of mosaics into façades, emphasizing durability and detail. Today, under the TREND Group, Orsoni continues to inspire contemporary architects, offering handcrafted mosaics that enhance façades as both functional and artistic elements. The Orsoni legacy exemplifies how traditional techniques can elevate modern performance-based façade design.

OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES

Fornace Orsoni 1888

SEPTEMBER 4, 2:00 - 6:00 PM

SEMINAR PROGRAM
Current Challenges

Angela Mejorin - Performance-Based Façade Design. Current Challenges

David Bott - Performance-based façade design approaches from concept to completion

PERFORMANCE-BASED FAÇADE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

Ingo Stelzer - High performance laminated glass for challenging façade needs

Gery Chinzi - Curved glass and hot bending innovations for bespoke façade solutions

Guido Sabatini - The upcoming construction products regulation: new rules for declaring performance of products in the EU

PERFORMANCE-BASED FAÇADE DESIGN INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Angelo Lucchini - New design challenges for opaque ventilated façades

Alberto Consolaro - Seismic design of façades: strategies and application cases

Stefano Rossi - The extension of the BIM process related to façade design

Oliver Varley - Challenging façade solutions with performance-based design

Jalal Farooq - Wind-borne debris-resistant façade solutions

Angela Mejorin - Final Discussion and Closing Remarks

SEPTEMBER 5, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Windows, doors and curtain walling impacted by windborne debris in windstorms

Angela Mejorin - Welcome

Akira Kudo - Welcome from the ISO/TC 162 Secretariat

Paolo Rigone - Introduction to the on-going ISO/TC 162 standardization activities

Angela Mejorin - “Windows, doors and curtain walling – Impacted by windborne debris in windstorms – Test method and classification” under development by ISO/TC 162/WG 5

Angela Mejorin - Final Discussion and Closing Remarks

SEPTEMBER 5, 2:30 - 4:00 PM

OFF-SITE ACTIVITY PROGRAM
Orsoni Furnace

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2024 Speakers

David Bott | Principal, Heintges

David Bott, PE, SE, AIA, joined Heintges in 2006, and holds bachelors’ degrees in both civil engineering and architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a master’s degree in civil engineering from Columbia University. In addition to his extensive experience with custom-designed building enclosure systems, Mr. Bott is also well-versed in the design and engineering of special structures including structural glass, cable nets, and tensioned membranes. Mr. Bott has taught building systems integration in Columbia University’s GSAPP and sits on the ASCE 7-28 Wind Loads Subcommittee.

Alberto Consolaro | Technical Director Façade, Maffeis Engineering

Alberto Consolaro began his career in 2012 as a structural engineer and joined Maffeis Engineering in 2015. Over the years, he has worked on the design of three stadiums, a dome, a hospital, and various glass façades across Europe and West Asia. With expertise in concrete structures, timber structures, and façade systems, Alberto has also served as a project manager, focusing on stadium and façade development. At Maffeis, he leads the Façade Engineering Department, specializing in façade structure design. His key skills include concrete and façade engineering, engineering management, and overseeing complex team-driven processes.

Angelo Lucchini | Professor, Politecnico di Milano

Angelo Lucchini is a Civil Engineer and Ph.D. in Building Engineering, currently a Full Professor of Design and Technological Architecture at the School of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Construction Engineering, where he coordinates the Master's Degree Program in Building Systems Engineering. He chairs the UNI Commission on "Products, Processes, and Systems for Building Envelopes" and serves on its Strategic Advisory Committee for Construction. He is a member of the European Façade Network (EFN) and various façade-focused research groups, including the IDM Cluster Edilizia in South Tyrol. With expertise in building envelopes, innovative construction systems, and systems integration, he has worked on complex architectural projects.

Guido Sabatini | Senior Manager Standards, European Aluminium

Guido Sabatini works as Senior Manager Standards at European Aluminium where he oversees the standardisation activities of the Building Market Group. He previously dealt with standardisation issues linked to the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation at DG GROW and at the European Builders Confederation. He studied Environmental Engineering at both the University of Florence (Italy) and Lund University (Sweden).

Ingo Stelzer - Senior Technical Program Manager, Kuraray Europe

Ingo Stelzer is Senior Technical Program Manager at Kuraray Europe GmbH. With more than 20 years of professional experience in the glass and façade industry he has been involved into the realization of many projects and R&D programs worldwide. He is also an active member of DIN & EN Code Work groups in Europe. In year 2000 he received his engineering degree at the University of Hanover.
Positions before joining Kuraray have been at DuPont / GLS as a Senior Consultant and at the Seele-Group as a Technical Director.

Jalal Farooq | CFO, Al-Farooq Corporation

With intricate knowledge of the Florida product approval and Miami-Dade NOA processes, his expertise has resulted in the certification of nearly 500 different glazing systems for hurricane resistance. Jalal is a certified expert of hurricane resistant glazing by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as well as by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). As a representative for the United States and a primary contributor during the development of the upcoming ISO standard for Windows, doors and curtain walling impacted by windborne debris in windstorms, he has helped shape international safety standards for hurricane glazing. He received a master’s degree in structural engineering and geomechanics from Stanford University and is a licensed professional engineer. Jalal’s passion for resilient architecture ensures safety without compromise.

Oliver Varley | Director, Inhabit

Oliver Varley is the Director of Inhabit’s United Kingdom practice, overseeing business operations from the London office. Originally from the UK, he began his career in structural engineering, gaining expertise in steel, concrete, timber, tension membrane structures, and lightweight ETFE canopies. He has worked internationally, developing a strong reputation for detailed design, value engineering, and technical versatility. During his time in Sydney, Oliver led technical delivery and quality for the local practice while supporting high-profile international projects, partnering with top architects and developers on some of the city’s landmark structures. Now back in the UK, he combines his structural engineering background and façade expertise to guide clients and teams from concept design to project delivery, ensuring the architectural vision is realized with quality outcomes.

Paolo Rigone - Technical Director, UNICMI

Paolo Rigone earned a PhD in Building Ergotechnics Engineering and since 2007, he has served as an Associate Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, teaching courses related to building envelope design and engineering. Since 1989, he has been a partner at Studio di Ingegneria Rigone, focusing on building envelope technologies. He worked as a consultant in major construction projects in Milan, such as the renovation of the Pirelli Skyscraper, the Porta Nuova complex, and the CityLife development. Since 2000, he has been the technical director of UNICMI, focusing on metal construction and the development of technical standards for building envelopes. He contributes to national and international technical committees, including serving as the Convenor for the Working Groups CEN/TC33/WG6 and ISO/TC162/WG5 on curtain walling.

Stefano Rossi | Façade Consultant - Business Development, idpartners

Stefano Rossi is an architect (University of Innsbruck) and façade consultant at idpartners, a boutique facade consulting firm headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. His experience lies in finding creative solutions on high-end projects ranging from using hand sketches or going as far as using computational design. He manages design consultation, detail development, specifications, shop drawings review for a mixture of residential, high-rise, commercial developments to cultural, civic and public use projects in the DACH region, Italy, USA and Middle-East. In his current role, he is working on a number of projects ranging from concept to construction assisting Developers, Architects and Façade Contractors and to successfully deliver the façade package via the best procurement routes and technical solutions.

Seminar & Workshop location: Palazzo Badoer, Venice

Palazzo Badoer originates from the "house of the priory of San Giovanni Evangelista," which belonged to the Badoer family. A document from 1350 granted the Badoer family the right to bury the members of the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista. The cemetery, still located beneath the main hall of the palace, historically influenced the unique layout of the building, which can be described as "Z-shaped." This plan distinguishes it from the typical structure of a Venetian palace. Subsequent modifications to the palace continued until 1712, when the building reached its formal architectural completion. Additional interior renovations were carried out in later years.

In 1974, the Iuav (Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia) purchased the palace from the Institute of Santa Caterina, Sisters of Nevers. Extraordinary maintenance and functional adaptation works for the building’s use as the headquarters of the Department of Architectural History began in April 1978. Since 2008, Palazzo Badoer has been the home of the Iuav Doctoral School.