PBFD 2026

The PBFD 2026 programme brought together leading architects, engineers, researchers, and industry experts to explore the evolving frontiers of performance-based façade design. Across three days in Venice, the conference moved from foundational discussions on durability to the practical realities of serviceability, failure, and long-term façade performance.

The first day (September 16), Durable Façades – Seminar, examined how façades respond to time, climate, and use through keynote presentations and technical papers on adaptive envelopes, circularity, ageing, digital continuity, climate resilience, and long-term performance.

The second day (September 17), Façade Serviceability: Failures and Lessons Learned – Workshop, focused on real-world façade behaviour through forensic investigations, case studies, testing methodologies, wind and environmental loading, fire safety, and interface-driven failures.

Together, the Seminar and Workshop established a dialogue between theory and practice, framing façade design as a discipline shaped by performance and long-term environmental interaction.

The third day (September 18) extended the PBFD experience through curated off-site activities across Venice and the Veneto Region, combining architecture, craftsmanship, landscape, and networking. Participants chose among experiences including visits to CastelBrando, architectural tours at Palazzina Masieri, and exclusive furnace visits at Orsoni Furnace, with several activities offered in multiple time slots to provide flexibility and maintain a curated experience.

Certificate of Learning | CPD

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2026 Keynote Speakers

Silvia Prandelli | Senior Principal, Populous

Director of the Milan office of Populous, the global architecture and design studio specializing in sports and entertainment venues, Silvia Prandelli leads the practice’s business in Italy and Southern Europe. Her portfolio includes award-winning projects in the USA, UK, Middle East and Far East – ranging from sporting and cultural to civic and public-use buildings. With an engineering background, she leads teams on complex, large-scale projects from early feasibility through delivery and lifecycle monitoring. She is the author of several scientific publications, serves on Technical Committees in the ESG field, and has worked in Academia where she has contributed in Adjunct Professor roles.

Astrid Piber | Partner, UNS

Astrid Piber is Partner and Senior Architect at UNStudio, and a member of the studio’s Global Management Team. She brings strategic architectural and development expertise to large-scale, complex projects, aligning design solutions with business objectives and broader urban and social contexts. Educated at Columbia University, she joined UNStudio in 1998 and has played a key role in the firm’s international growth. Her portfolio spans major transport hubs and mixed-use developments, with a strong focus on inclusive, sustainable and high-density environments. She regularly contributes to international professional forums, including the Council on Vertical Urbanism.

Balázs Bognár | Partner and Executive Vice President, Kengo Kuma & Associates

Partner and Executive Vice President at Kengo Kuma & Associates, and President of the Japan chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Based in Tokyo, he has worked alongside Kengo Kuma since 2007, leading international projects and contributing to the studio’s design direction and mentorship. His work explores the relationships between architecture, place, culture, and nature across diverse contexts. His portfolio includes projects such as Alberni in Vancouver, the Portland Japanese Garden Cultural Village, and the Amanpuri Retail Pavilion in Phuket. Bognár lectures internationally and writes on architecture, with publications addressing materiality, cultural context, and contemporary practice. He holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a B.A. in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Francesca Vagliani | Co-Head of Development Italy, Covivio

With a PhD in Engineering and a degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, Francesca Vagliani has been Co-Head of Development Italy at Covivio since 2016. She coordinates a team of professionals and primarily oversees the refurbishment of historic and prestigious buildings, whilst also managing greenfield projects, including the L’Oréal Italia headquarters in Milan. Before joining Covivio, she gained extensive experience as a Project Manager in consultancy and engineering firms, overseeing complex projects in the office, residential, retail and hotel sectors.

Andrei Koshelev | Real Estate Management, ETH Zurich

Andrei’s team currently leads several high-profile construction projects at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich). In his architectural and consulting practice in Zurich, as well as at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Chicago and London, Andrei has completed multiple large-scale projects in the USA, the UK, Russia, and Switzerland. Holding master’s degrees in architecture from Russia and the USA, he is a licensed architect in the United States and a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Swiss Union of Architects and Engineers. Andrei speaks on building design for science and education, laboratory architecture and high-rise labs, architecture and patents, facade design and sustainability, the client’s role in construction, and other industry-relevant topics.

Massimo Colomban | Founder, Permasteelisa Group

Founder and former President of the Permasteelisa Group, one of the world’s leading companies in the design, engineering, and construction of architectural envelopes. Massimo began his professional path at the age of fourteen working in a window manufacturing factory while attending evening school to obtain his technical diploma. After briefly studying architecture at the IUAV University of Venice, he founded ISA S.n.c. (Industria Serramenti in Alluminio) in 1973, laying the foundations for what would later become a global façade engineering group. Under his leadership, the company expanded internationally, notably through the acquisition of the Australian firm Permasteel Industries—known for delivering the glass cladding of the Sydney Opera House—which led to the creation of the Permasteelisa Group and its worldwide growth.

2026 Speakers

Shane Hart | Principal, Insol

Shane Hart is Principal at Insol Ltd, a New Zealand company specialising in porous architectural façade systems for commercial construction. Shane has years of hands-on experience with research and testing at WindLab, Insol's full-scale wind testing facility, where façade prototypes are tested under controlled wind loading, often for conditions no established test protocol yet covers. His recent work addresses long-term façade durability, an area not adequately covered by existing static design codes, giving architects and engineers the confidence to identify and avoid unexpected failures. Shane has presented at several façade conferences on this work.

Shorena Gudzhabidze | Digital Product Manager, Staticus

Shorena Gudzhabidze is a Civil Engineer by background, holding a Bachelor's degree, who spent three years as a 3D Design Engineer before making a move into digital product development. She is now Digital Product Manager at Staticus, leading the XD platform - a digital intelligence layer for building envelopes spanning early-stage façade configuration, project delivery, and operational lifecycle management. Her work sits at the intersection of engineering rigour and digital innovation and her goal is threefold: making engineering teams more efficient, bringing genuine transparency to clients, and ensuring that knowledge about a building envelope survives long after the project ends. She is currently developing the concept of Information Half-Life and a Digital Durability strategy as a new lens for understanding façade longevity.

Nebojsa Jakica | Associate Professor, the University of Southern Denmark

Nebojsa Jakica is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). He holds a Ph.D. in Technology and Design for the Environment and Buildings from Politecnico di Milano, where he developed and tested building-integrated photovoltaic façade systems. His career bridges academia and professional practice, with experience as an architect, computational designer, and façade consultant at leading firms including HENN in Berlin and Vittorio Grassi Architetto and Partners in Milan. Nebojsa leads FACETS Lab, an interdisciplinary research group focused on digital technologies for façade design. The lab developed FacadeGenius, an AI-powered, no-code computational design platform enabling real-time collaboration across devices and integrating design and engineering workflows.

Timothy Soebroto | Regional Director, Meinhardt Façade Technology

Timothy Soebroto is Regional Director at Meinhardt Façade Technology for Southeast Asia, providing strategic and technical leadership across the region. With over 25 years of experience, he has led the design and delivery of complex façade systems, with a specialization in unitized curtain wall solutions. His portfolio includes major international developments such as Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore and the Thamrin Nine Development in Jakarta. He brings extensive expertise across design, production, and construction, ensuring seamless project execution from concept to installation. Timothy is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences, sharing insights on façade design, performance, and delivery. He holds a Master of Science in Construction Management and a Bachelor of Architecture.

Triadi Bagus Gumilar | Senior Façade Engineer, Meinhardt Façade Technology

Triadi Bagus Gumilar is a Senior Façade Engineer at Meinhardt Façade Technology, with over 6 years of experience in façade engineering and 9 years in civil engineering. His work spans from conceptual design to performance verification, integrating architectural intent with technical rigor across a range of building types. He specializes in structural and façade system design, including curtain walls, cladding, and advanced analysis methods such as finite element modeling. He is a certified professional engineer in Indonesia and holds ASEAN and APEC Engineer titles. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Civil Engineering at the University of Bologna, focusing on innovative approaches to steel reuse and façade optimization.

Michael Lacasse | Research Associate, Concordia University

Dr. Lacasse is a former employee of the Construction Research Centre, National Research Council Canada and currently is a Research Associate at Concordia University, Montreal, where he provides lectures, and helps manage a Research program on Climate Resilient Buildings and Communities. He is a widely recognized expert in the durability of building materials and building components and the moisture performance and climate resilience of building enclosures. Over the course of his more than 34-year career at the NRC, he has undertaken both strategic and collaborative research, with local academia as well as internationally, related to building facades and fenestration. He has played an important role in industry having influenced code and standard development in respect to resistance to deterioration of building assemblies, where his work has helped develop both Canadian and ISO standards on durability.

Eric Claeys | Founding Partner, Fassada

Eric Claeys is a Civil Engineer and MBA with more than 40 years of international experience in façade engineering, R&D, and consultancy. He has contributed to hundreds of landmark projects in over 40 countries, collaborating with many of the world's most renowned architects while earning a reputation for transforming ambitious architectural visions into practical, buildable, and high-performance façade solutions.
Driven by a passion for value engineering and guided by the belief that “it always seems impossible until it’s done,” Eric is the inventor of the patented hybrid curtain wall concept, an innovation protected by an international patent portfolio spanning more than 70 countries. As co-founder of Fassada Steel SA, he continues to advance next-generation thin cold-rolled steel hybrid curtain wall systems, championing technologies that redefine industry standards, overcome longstanding technical constraints, and shape the façades of the future.

Tony Cinnamon | Associate Principal, WJE

Mr. Cinnamon is an Associate Principal with the firm of Wiss, Janney Elstner (WJE) in the Chicago, Illinois, USA office. His expertise lies in the design and analysis of exterior enclosures with an emphasis on glass, curtain walls, and fenestration systems. He is a licensed Architect in the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusetts. Mr. Cinnamon has written numerous articles on the inspection, repair/restoration, and replacement of window and facade systems. He has also presented seminars domestically and internationally on fenestration related topics including typical window problems, testing and repair of window and curtain wall systems, and typical glass failures. Mr. Cinnamon also serves on the Board of Directors at the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and façade Tectonics Institute (FTI).

Carl Knutson | Principal and Design Director, Perkins&Will

Raised in Central and North America, Carl was exposed to diverse cities from an early age—from Mexico City, where he was born, to Detroit, Michigan, and later Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he completed his university studies. These experiences shaped his interest in how communities organize themselves and express their values through architecture. His exposure to different cultures and urban environments continues to inform his design approach today. Carl is particularly focused on translating clients’ goals into meaningful and context-driven architectural solutions. He began his career in the Chicago studio of his firm before relocating to Washington, DC, which he has called home for the past five years. Outside of work, Carl enjoys exploring the city with his wife and their three daughters.

Vedran Skopac | Principal, Reimagine Architects

Vedran is Principal at Reimagine Architects and Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) at University of Calgary. Working at the intersection of practice and academia, he develops architectural strategies that support mental health, well-being, and community building. With over 30 years of experience across Canada, Europe, and China, his work challenges assumptions and responds to the social, cultural, and historical context of each place. Vedran sees architecture as a catalyst for human connection, fostering interaction and engagement within the built environment. Trained in architecture, urban design, interiors, and building science, he holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Zagreb and became a partner at Reimagine Architects in 2019.

Giovanni (John) Diodati | Director, Giovanni Diodati Architecte

Giovanni (John) Diodati is a Canadian conservation architect with over 30 years of experience in rehabilitation of building envelopes and in materials conservation and traditional building techniques, especially in historic contexts.
He designs custom, durable, and cost-effective solutions appropriate for each building, and has implemented numerous in situ monitoring programs for performance and maintenance. He is skilled at combining traditional building craft and contemporary techniques to resolve complex issues. Working closely with leading national and international specialists, John developed an in-depth understanding of technical and management issues related to building restoration and rehabilitation. His work with EVOQ Architecture includes numerous award-winning projects.

Luigi Pagnoncelli | Key Account Manager, Mapei

Luigi Pagnoncelli is a Civil Engineer with over 18 years of international experience in the construction industry, specialising in façade specification, building materials and major construction projects. At MAPEI, he develops strategic relationships with leading architectural firms across Italy, supporting the specification of innovative and durable construction solutions. His career combines engineering, research and business development, with previous international experience in technical development and building acoustics. He has contributed to ISO, CEN and EURIMA technical committees, authored scientific publications and regularly speaks at technical seminars and international conferences. His current work focuses on supporting architects in designing high-performance, durable and low-carbon construction solutions.

William MacDonald | Director - Façade Engineering, GL&SS

Will MacDonald has over 35 years' experience in façade engineering and is a Director of GL&SS (Glass Light and Special Structures). His delivered projects include the London 2012 Olympic Athletes' Village, the Central Bank of Ireland, Riyadh Metro, Alwakrah Stadium, Hong Kong International Airport and LinkedIn's Dublin headquarters. He previously held senior leadership roles as Director and Head of Façades at AECOM, and as Technical Director at Inhabit Group. Will holds an MSc in Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design from the University of Bath and an Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence (APAEWE). His current focus is on dispute avoidance and the remediation of defective buildings.

Marco Biancospino | Associate, GL&SS

Marco is an Associate at GL&SS, where he began in 2015 while developing his Master’s thesis on cold-bent glass—an experience that sparked his focus on structural glass. Over the years, he has specialised in advanced glass solutions that push transparency while minimising visible structure. With a background in structural engineering, he has delivered projects across residential, commercial, and complex façade sectors, often in client-facing roles. Known for his hands-on approach, Marco applies rigorous analysis to achieve efficient material-conscious designs. He maintains strong links with academia, contributing to research and innovation. His recent work includes a glass extension featuring 20 x 3.2 m panels and a large-scale borosilicate cast glass façade.

Angie Ogino | Technical Services Leader, Owens Corning Thermafiber

Angie Ogino is the Technical Services Leader at Owens Corning Thermafiber, with over 28 years of experience in the mineral wool and firestopping industry. She provides engineering judgments and technical support on mineral wool product performance for architects, building officials, and contractors, with a focus on fire containment. Angie has extensive experience developing perimeter fire containment testing programs at Underwriters Laboratories, Southwest Research Institute, and Intertek. She manages Thermafiber’s UL and Intertek Follow-Up Service Quality Programs and developed the company’s educational programs on perimeter fire containment. Angie has presented at ASTM International, AIA National Conventions, FCIA, CSI, PCI, and leading architectural and curtain wall firms.

Brandon Andow | Principal and Facades Studio Practice Leader, HKS

Brandon Andow is the Facade Studio Practice Leader and a Principal at HKS. He leads the design, development, analysis, and implementation of performance facades and building enclosure systems across sectors. He is committed to creating generational, cost-effective, low-carbon, and transformational facades that improve occupant health, comfort, and experience.
Brandon believes the influence of the facade extends well beyond it's thickness. Carbon, climate, ecology, fabrication methods, human experience, and placemaking shape building enclosures which define the character, culture, and signature of a place for generations. The tekne and poesis of architecture coexist at the facade and the extensive impact of building enclosure decisions requires transdisciplinary and multiscalar responsibility.

John Medina | Founder/Principal/Owner, Miami Curtain Wall Consultants

John R. Medina, RA AIA, is a renowned architect and exterior façade consultant with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He has dedicated his career to design and consulting of innovative and sustainable building enclosure systems. As a registered architect, John Medina is responsible for the design, planning and supervision of major projects throughout all design phases. John specializes in aluminum and glass facades, leveraging his extensive knowledge to enhance both the aesthetic and functional aspects of building exteriors. His expertise in architectural design and engineering has made him a sought-after consultant for complex projects worldwide, ensuring that structures meet the highest standards of performance and visual appeal. John's commitment to excellence and his passion for cutting-edge facade solutions have established him as a leader in the field.

Matthew Glanville | Founding Director, Cermak Peterka Petersen

Dr. Matt Glanville was a founding director of CPP’s Australian wind tunnel facility and now maintains a technical and business development focus as a company Vice President. Matt undertook his undergraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Sydney and over the last three decades has managed commercial projects around the globe in the fields of wind engineering, full-scale monitoring, wind forensics, structural dynamics, building physics and CFD. Matt is a code committee member responsible for the Australia/New Zealand Wind Code AS/NZS1170.2:2021 and is actively involved with several international task groups in his fields of expertise.

Edoardo Cardone | Senior CFD Engineer, Windtech Consultants

Edoardo completed his MSc Advance Aeronautical Engineering with a focus on CFD and fluid mechanics. One of his major projects was to commission the new wind tunnel at Imperial College which including replicating the turbulence wake being a bluff 3D axisymmetric body with a blunt trailing edge. In 2017, Edoardo won the IMechE Design Competition National Winner.
Prior to joining Windtech, Edoardo undertook consulting work involving advanced CFD. Edoardo now operates at Windtech’s London Office. He is responsible for undertaking a variety of CFD studies that are relevant to the built environment, including (but not limited to) studies of wind microclimate, thermal comfort, stack effects, wind-driven rain, pollution and ordor dispersion, and snow accumulation.

Noah Doukas | Senior Associate, Secretariat

Noah Doukas, P.E., LEED Green Associate - Noah Doukas, is an engineer and building enclosure consultant with experience in construction defect analysis, forensic investigations, and existing building renovation & restoration design. Noah specializes in diagnosing and resolving complex construction issues, providing building enclosure consultation services, and leveraging his expertise to deliver effective project solutions.

Gordon A. Shepperd | Managing Director, Secretariat

Gordon Shepperd is an experienced engineering consultant, effectively diagnosing and solving problems with building enclosure and structural systems, materials failures, moisture accumulation, installation problems, and design deficiencies. He has testified numerous times on causes of these failures, responsible parties, and appropriate courses of repairs. He has designed and implemented repairs to complex failures and performance problems for a variety of building types, including heritage structures, institutional buildings, and high-rise buildings. Additionally, Mr. Shepperd is business leader with 25 years of experience performing forensic investigations, engineering design, construction consulting, industry leadership, team development and leadership, as well as business development and marketing.

Daniel Haaland | Principal, RDH Building Science

As a Principal and Senior Building Science Engineer, Daniel supports RDH’s core practice areas including Building Enclosure Consulting and Facade Engineering, while also contributing to numerous training activities and publications. Daniel leads a team of engineers dedicated to assessing the thermal performance of building enclosure systems and to assisting clients in achieving their low energy/high-performance targets. As the lead author of several industry guidelines and standards related to thermal modeling, including the CSA Z5010 Standard and the THERM PH Window Simulation procedure, Daniel is an industry leader in the field.

Sarah B. Rentfro | Senior Project Manager, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Sarah B. Rentfro, P.E. is a registered professional engineer and Senior Project Manager with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, a firm that provides multidisciplinary engineering services for new and existing buildings and infrastructure. In her more than ten years of experience, she has contributed to a variety of building enclosure design, investigation, and construction projects in the eastern United States. Her work includes new design consulting, construction administration, heat flow and condensation modeling, and investigation and rehabilitation of existing building enclosures, including projects related to fenestration, roofing and waterproofing, and exterior wall systems.

Eric K. Olson | Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Eric K. Olson, P.E. is a registered professional engineer specializing in evaluating and investigating building enclosure systems, including windows and curtain walls, cladding and veneer systems, roofing, and terrace and below-grade waterproofing. His 30-year career at SGH encompasses forensic investigation of design and construction defect claims, surety claims, litigation, and dispute resolution related to building enclosure systems, enclosure system condition assessments for due diligence or to establish maintenance and replacement needs, and investigation of hurricane-and storm-related damage claims. Eric leverages his expertise in investigation and forensic analysis to lead repair/rehabilitation design projects for failed enclosure systems and to provide design consulting for enclosure systems in new and existing buildings. Eric frequently speaks about and publishes articles related to enclosure system issues and practices.

Juste Tresor Gatari | Research in Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich

Juste Tresor Gatari is an architect and structural engineer specializing in façade systems and performance. His work investigates the interface conditions between structural and façade assemblies, with a focus on constraint interactions with fabrication and serviceability. He is engaged in advanced research in digital fabrication at ETH Zurich.

2026 Event Venues: Auditorium and Grand Finale

Auditorium Santa Margherita, Venice

The third edition of PBFD will take place in the prestigious Auditorium Santa Margherita, a venue that perfectly embodies the intersection of history, culture, and innovation. Located in the heart of Venice, this former 13th-century church has been transformed into a versatile cultural hub, renowned for hosting international conferences, artistic performances, and workshop events. The auditorium's unique blend of Gothic and Venetian architecture, coupled with its elegant vaulted ceilings and preserved fresco fragments, creates an inspiring atmosphere for creative and technical exchange.

The choice of Auditorium Santa Margherita underscores the initiative's commitment to connecting cutting-edge façade design with Venice’s rich architectural legacy, providing a fitting stage for advancing the future of performance-based façade innovation.

Grand Finale location: Wave Murano Glass

Located within a historic industrial building on the island of Murano, Wave Murano Glass represents a unique intersection between centuries-old Venetian glassmaking traditions and contemporary technological innovation.

Throughout the evening, guests experienced live glassblowing demonstrations, curated hands-on experiences, drinks, and networking within an industrial-artistic setting that reflects the ongoing dialogue between Venetian heritage, contemporary design culture, and advanced fabrication.