To return back to the main Symposium page, click here.
Looking for information on this year's conference?
Full day in-person tickets include lunch, networking, and are eligible AIA LU HSW Credits. Virtual, Emerging Professional, and Reception Only tickets are not eligible for continuing education credits.
Full Day (In-Person)
BSA Member
$200
Non-Member
$250
Emerging Professional
$100
Opening remarks will be offered by the Symposium Committee.
Prefabricated building facade systems have become popular in the industry because they can help project teams streamline construction schedules, reduce construction costs, and can improve assembly quality. However, achieving high-quality, high-performing systems requires more than just moving labor off-site; it requires a fundamental shift in thought process, design, sequencing, and construction methods compared to traditional on-site construction, and they are not necessarily appropriate for every project.
In this presentation, we will explore the diverse landscape of panelized and unitized facade systems, ranging from individual facade components to fully modular construction. We will review the benefits and challenges of these systems and explore design, installation, and constructability, coordination, durability, weatherproofing, thermal performance, and other practical considerations. We will review quality assurance and control workflows to minimize building enclosure issues, discuss how traditional workflows change when moving from site construction to prefabrication, and identify the best systems to optimize performance.
Christopher Norton Grey | Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Christopher Grey is a principal in Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.’s (SGH) Building Technology Division in Boston, Massachusetts. He is experienced in investigating, rehabilitating, and designing a wide range of building enclosure systems, from historic structures to contemporary high-rise buildings. His practice focuses on enclosure consulting for new construction and existing building retrofits, specializing in energy performance analysis, performance testing, and the design and coordination of unitized curtainwall and prefabricated megapanel enclosure systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Structural focus from Virginia Tech. He is a certified sUAS Level I Thermographer, holds IIBEC Registered Exterior Wall and Registered Roofing Consulting certifications, and is a contributing member of the FGIA/AAMA, serving on several industry-standard task groups.
Anna Burhoe | Senior Project Manager, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Anna M. Burhoe is a Senor Project Manager in Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.’s Building Technology division. She is experienced in building enclosure design, investigation, rehabilitation, commissioning, and construction administration of both historic and contemporary buildings, from low-rise schools to high-rise construction and below-grade structures. She specializes in the design, construction, commissioning, and testing of complex building enclosure systems, including above- and below-grade waterproofing, air, water, and vapor barriers, flooring, roofing, cladding systems, and fenestration systems and leads SGH’s Building Enclosure Commissioning sub-group.
As the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries navigate the rigorous requirements of the Stretch Energy Code, project teams are seeking innovative ways to realize aspirational designs. This presentation explores the Dana-Farber Beth Israel Future Cancer Hospital and the development of a Prefabricated Exterior Wall System (PEWS) as a case study on how to achieve these goals.
By leveraging existing unitized curtain wall strategies to create a panelized glazed rainscreen that embodies the "Wagdy Wall" ethos, the team achieved the benefits of unitized construction while significantly outperforming traditional aluminum-framed systems. This approach allowed the project to exceed stringent energy codes without compromising the Architect’s and Owner’s vision for a high-glazing aesthetic. The panel—comprising members from the Contractor, Fabricator, Architect, and Façade Designer—will discuss how an integrated design process allowed for the technical "PEWS" requirements to be balanced with the project’s logistical, budgetary, and design goals.
Jensen Ying, AIA, LEED BD+C | Senior Associate, Payette
Jensen Ying joined Payette in 2013 and brings over 12 years of experience delivering large-scale science and healthcare projects, with a focus on exterior shell and core design. He has deep expertise in the design, analysis, and detailing of complex building envelope systems, including parametric façade sun-shading assemblies, unitized and stick-built curtain walls, and masonry rainscreens. His notable projects in Massachusetts include the Northeastern University Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex at 795 Columbus Avenue, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Klarman Building at 111 Francis Street, the Boston Children’s Hospital Needham Outpatient Building at 360 First Avenue, and the upcoming Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Future Cancer Hospital at 1 Joslin Place in Boston.
Richard Peake | Senior Director, Building Enclosures, Suffolk Construction
Richard Peake serves as Senior Director of Building Enclosures at Suffolk, where he has been a key leader for over 11 years. He oversees the Building Enclosures team, which is responsible for estimating, contract awards, subcontractor procurement, design assist, technical review, source and site inspections, and comprehensive QA/QC for curtain wall and all other exterior enclosure systems. While his primary focus has been the Northeast, the team has recently expanded its reach nationally. Rich and his team are dedicated to delivering high-performance exterior systems that strictly adhere to design intent, meet rigorous performance standards, and support sustainability goals across all projects. He brings more than 25 years of architectural experience to his role, including serving as a Technical Director on The Tower at PNC Plaza, which informs his Design-Construction Integration approach to construction management and design collaboration at Suffolk and Suffolk Design. His portfolio includes a wide range of notable projects, such as the Dana-Farber Beth Israel Future Cancer Hospital, 10 World Trade, 585 Kendall, Lyra – Huntington Tower, Brown University Danoff Life Sciences, MIT Schwarzman College, Boston University Duan Data Sciences, Northeastern EXP, Lyrik Back Bay, 400 Summer Lab Tower, 2 Harbor Life Sciences, Ritz-Carlton South Station Tower, Winthrop Center Tower, and Four Seasons One Dalton Tower. In addition to his professional work, Rich has contributed to architectural education as an adjunct faculty member at the Boston Architectural College and as a guest lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and MIT Architecture.
Felipe Francisco, AIA, CPHC | Principal – Façade Design, Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company
Felipe Francisco is an Architect, Builder, and Fabricator with experience ranging from large-scale commercial and institution projects, medium scale Passive House residential projects, and small scale digital fabrication projects. At Studio NYL Felipe's role is that of Technical Design Lead and as part of the facades division, he works with architects, building teams, and contractors to provide expertise on challenging facade systems. As a charter member and co-chair Emeritus of the Boston Society of Architect’s MakeTank Knowledge Community, he has played a lead role in many of the committee’s efforts in the greater Boston area. This includes advocacy for STEM education and the development of a digitally fabricated model of the City of Boston for display at the Boston Society of Architects. His work has been exhibited at Architecture Boston Expo, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, and World Maker Faire in NYC, and published in Architect’s Newspaper and Architecture Boston Magazine. As the current chair of the Boston Building Enclosure Counsil, he advocates the importance of building science and tectonics in the design process. In his spare time, he is a gravel cyclist, bike-packer, and backpacker.
Jason Hasko, Assoc. AIA | Facade Designer and Digital Technology Lead, Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company
Jason, an AIA Associate, is a dedicated facade designer, digital fabricator, and computational specialist, steadily carving out his niche in the world of architecture and design. Jason's journey has been marked by years of hard work and collaboration with esteemed fabricators in the North East such as CW Keller, Mark Richey Woodworking, and Island Exterior Fabricators. His expertise shines in his contributions to workflow development, design assist, and the art of automation and optimization, enhancing the efficiency of project delivery teams. You can explore Jason's work at several award-winning projects like The American Museum of Natural History, Boston Children's Hospital, MIT Site 4, and The Alliance Theater, where his innovative techniques add a touch of elegance and precision. Beyond his projects, Jason is a humble advocate for knowledge sharing in the Boston community. He generously imparts his wisdom as a rotating adjunct professor at the Boston Architectural College and actively participates in BSA's MakeTank and MKR|MGR groups.
Montgomery Forman | Senior Principal, Island Exterior Fabricators
Monty Forman is a Senior Principal at Island Exterior Fabricators, where he oversees all new project engagements through the Design Assist, Design-Build or Integrated Project Delivery processes. His leadership responsibilities expand to providing strategic planning and new product development input for Island’s complete portfolio of work. Monty holds a BA Yale University and an M.ARCH from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is currently a registered Architect in the State of Massachusetts and is NCARB Certified. Since establishing Island’s Boston office in 2013, Monty has most enjoyed the challenge of converting traditionally detailed projects into high-performance prefabricated megapanel or curtainwall systems.
The difficulty of bringing truly novel construction technologies to market often centers on the challenging, iterative path toward commercial code compliance. This paper chronicles the history and product development evolution of Branch Technology, from its inception with 3D printed Matrix structures to its current focus on large-scale commercial facades. The company has moved from an initial market toehold to scalable adoption. The transition required extensive testing and certification to meet stringent regulatory demands for commercial buildings, particularly around performance criteria related to structural loading, wind & weather performance, fire protection, and long term product performance.
The initial phase involved proving the viability of robotic fabrication and composite 3D printing to create geometrically complex, lightweight structures. The journey includes a strategic pivot from an initial residential construction focus to facades for commercial construction. This was necessitated by an almost death of the company due to an ambitious housing project and lack of funding. The inherent complexity of product development which includes hardware, software, robotics, and material science, to create an end product has required much funding, research and development, along with tenacious execution. By examining this case study in digital practice and innovation, we illuminate the critical process of translating a groundbreaking idea into a mass-market construction solution, a path fraught with the challenges of development that often lead to product failure, but in this case, resulted in a new class of high-performance architectural facades.
Platt Boyd, AIA, LEED AP | Founder and CEO, Branch Technology
Platt is the Founder and CEO of Branch Technology who practiced as an award winning architect for 15 years prior to leaving a partnership twelve years ago to found Branch. His fascination with natural beauty and amazing structures led to the initiation of a new technology using freeform 3D printing combined with conventional materials to robotically prefabricate architectural assemblies with resource stewardship and unprecedented design freedom. The Cellular Fabrication (C-FAB™) method takes its cues from proven methods observed in nature, where material use is minimized, but form is free to become almost anything. Branch has evolved from an idea to a global leader in construction scale 3D printing, having produced the largest 3D printed pavilions in the world in 2016, the largest 3D printed spans in 2018, and the first 3D printed GFRC facade in 2021. They have received awards ranging from NASA, Inc, Dezeen, and the publishers of Architect Magazine to the State of Tennessee where they are located. They are working with the National Science Foundation, Air Force, Department of Energy, NASA and corporate partners to further develop the technology producing composite walls for commercial facades. They have past and ongoing projects with Apple, Disney, Altar’d State, Lululemon, Snap, Foster+Partners, Oppenheim, and ShoP.
Steel-framed shop-fabricated skylights played a critical role in the revitalization of the monumental atriums at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), where demanding daylighting, condensation resistance, thermal, and blast-resistant performance criteria pushed beyond the capabilities of conventional aluminum systems. Although steel framing has a long legacy in historic fenestration, its application in modern high-performance skylights remains uncommon—yet its structural efficiency, blast resistance, and capacity for long-span stiffness made it uniquely suited to NASM’s mission-critical environment.
Because steel skylights behave differently from unitized curtain wall systems, designers must understand the implications of unique modular connections and the shop-fabricated “ladder” assemblies that define these systems. This presentation uses NASM as a detailed case study to compare the original stick-built design basis with the Rohsmann Group’s prefabricated ladder-frame approach, demonstrating how extensive shop fabrication improved tolerance control, accelerated installation, and minimized the duration of the costly temporary protection system.
The session will also address field challenges, including the PVC roofing work required to create a watertight bridge between frame modules. Attendees will gain practical insight into when and why steel skylights are the right choice—and how prefabrication can elevate both performance and constructability in complex, high-value enclosures.
Brian Rose | Senior Project Manager, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Brian Rose is a professional engineer and senior project manager for Simpson Gumpertz & Heger where he provides a variety of building enclosure commissioning, consulting, and investigation services for owners, architects, and contractors. Brian manages several complex, high-performance, building enclosure design and rehabilitation projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including for various government and university institutions with extensive sustainability and building longevity goals. His portfolio includes LEED Platinum certified, WELL Building, Phius, and several LEED Gold Certified projects. He holds BECxP and CxA+BE certifications and is an active member of the Air Barrier Association of America, Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, and others.
Designing modular buildings for extreme environments presents unique engineering challenges that extend far beyond conventional building envelope design. This presentation focuses on two case studies that utilize innovative modular construction techniques to deliver unique solutions to complex façade designs that must perform in two very different extreme environments.
Jonathan Hill | Thornton Tomasetti
Jonathan Hill joined Thornton Tomasetti in 2024, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the design, investigation and construction contract administration of building enclosure and façade systems for major commercial, healthcare, educational and residential buildings. He has overseen major projects in the US and internationally, including New Zealand where he ran a leading building envelope consulting firm. His projects encompass waterproofing consulting on roofs, plaza areas, and below-grade spaces, as well as the design and evaluation of façade and building enclosure components, both standard and bespoke.
Samira Ahmadi, BEMP, LEED AP, WELL AP | Founding Principal, enviENERGY Studio LLC
Dan Clark joined Thornton Tomasetti in 2023 with more than 18 years of experience managing a diverse portfolio of projects related to building enclosure systems, historic building rehabilitation, and construction administration. He has the proven ability to lead teams, develop proposals, and ensure successful project delivery from conception to completion. Dan is adept at generating innovative solutions and collaborating effectively with stakeholders to meet project goals.
Mr. Brian Stroik has spent over 25 years focused on the building enclosure and over 35 years in construction. Mr. Stroik’s first mentor in the enclosure arena was Mr. Wagdy Anis. Wady invited Brian to join his first national board (BETEC) in 2007 and encouraged Brian to assist with other organizations as well. During these early years, Wagdy continually asked Brian to speak up. As a carpenter and QAQC manager, Mr. Stroik offered a different perspective on the construction of building enclosures than the heavily represented consultants and educators typically seen on these boards of directors.
High-performance building enclosures are increasingly central to meeting evolving climate and energy performance targets in cold-climate regions such as Boston and the broader Northeast. In Climate Zone 5 markets, projects must comply with stringent regulatory frameworks including the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code and municipal decarbonization policies such as Boston’s BERDO (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance). At the same time, the construction industry faces labor shortages, schedule pressures, and rising costs that challenge the delivery of durable, high-quality building envelopes. Off-site fabrication of enclosure systems offers a pathway to address these pressures while improving consistency and performance reliability.
This presentation examines the integration of panelized structural systems with factory-prepared façade assemblies to deliver high-performance building enclosures. By relocating critical layers—including light-gauge steel framing, sheathing, air and water barriers, continuous insulation, and façade attachment systems—into controlled manufacturing environments, project teams can achieve greater dimensional precision and repeatable installation quality compared to conventional field-built assemblies. The session explores how factory-produced enclosure panels improve airtightness, reduce thermal bridging, and support consistent execution of heat-air-moisture control layers. Particular attention will be given to enclosure testing and verification, including laboratory and field mock-ups evaluating air infiltration, ASTM E331 water penetration, and ASTM E330 structural performance under wind loading, as well as NFPA 285 fire propagation requirements for façadesystems. Finally, the presentation examines how factory QA/QC processes and coordinated installation strategies improve reliability at critical interfaces—such as windows, floor lines, and panel joints—while positioning panelized enclosure systems as a bridge toward broader industrialized and modular construction methods.
Matt Capone l Owner, Principal Facades X + Metalleve Wall Systems
Matt Capone is a lifelong Boston design / construction professional and founder of Facades X, which focuses on building enclosure systems and prefabricated façade assemblies. His work emphasizes integrating LGMF-based panelization with high-performance enclosure design, balancing aesthetics, cost optimization, and critical air, water, thermal, and fire requirements through tested and code-compliant systems. He is actively engaged in advancing offsite construction strategies to improve constructability, performance, and scalability in urban projects.
Joshua Maxfield and Ryan Hansen of Heintges Consulting Architects and Engineers will present case studies of unitized curtain wall enclosures which respond to the progressive performance targets in evolving versions of the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code. 585 Kendall, designed by CBT Architects, and 75 Broadway, designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, stand as prominent examples of the use of terra cotta cladding as a bold aesthetic expression and a method for achieving critical U-value targets.
The buildings, both with laboratory functions in the Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, show the diverse range of aesthetic design intents that architects may achieve with terra cotta. Varying forms of extruded and ram-pressed terra cotta tiles will be discussed in terms of tolerances, fabrication, and installation. Integration onto unitized frames allowed for unique building forms and patterning of the facade.
Ryan Hansen, AIA | Architect and Associate, Heintges Consulting Architects and Engineers
Ryan Hansen, AIA, is an architect and Associate at Heintges Consulting Architects and Engineers, based in New York City. He has consulted on large-scale projects in all phases of design and construction, with an emphasis on unitized curtain wall system design, cladding material procurement, and complex thermal modeling for envelopes. Ryan’s involvement in projects at Heintges include the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, IL, 50 West 66th Street in NYC, and 75 Broadway in Cambridge, MA, covering a wide range of enclosure system types and innovative design approaches. His specialty concentration on thermal analysis efforts is spurred by a deep interest in sustainable design and the need for carbon reduction in architecture. He is a licensed Architect in NY, holds a master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University, and holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota.Joshua Maxfield | Building Envelope Consultant and Inspection Services Manager, Heintges Consulting Architects and EngineersJoshua Maxfield is a Building Envelope Consultant and Inspection Services Manager at Heintges Consulting Architects and Engineers. With over seven years of experience in New York City, he is collaborating with Architects across a wide scope of projects including 50 Hudson Yards in NYC, 7 Hudson Square in NYC, and 585 Kendall in Cambridge, MA. His focus on fabrication, testing, construction, and restoration expresses his detailed eye for quality assurance and public safety as it relates to the building facade. Joshua has consulted across a range of scales and typologies from supertalls, commercial headquarters, research & science, restoration, healthcare, to residential buildings. Joshua holds a master’s degree in architecture from Louisiana Tech University.
As an increasing number of concrete buildings of the late 20th century are renovated, the advantages of new architectural precast cladding with an almost unlimited variety of appearances become desirable as a way to bridge between existing and new. The challenge is how to address aesthetics, constructability and cost in a manner which achieves the best value.
Using two case studies, Goody Clancy and Coreslab will share the benefits of a design assist process and how collaboration between the architect and fabricator can lead to improved design, precision, craft, and value. Case study one for example: In 2017 Goody Clancy and Coreslab completed an expansion of Fairfield University’s student center. The project consisted of 10,450 square feet of decorative architectural precast panels erected in only six days. The uninsulated panels are tapered in width, feature cast-in block outs for windows, and are as large as 15 ft wide and 38 ft tall. The large size panels lower erection cost, by reducing the number of panels required, and offering fewer connections and fewer joints to waterproof.
Stiff budget and schedule requirements were major drivers, but our collaboration still allowed the design to embrace custom sizes, details, and finishes. The design team visited the fabricators shop regularly reviewing mock-ups and punchlisting full size panels prior to delivery onsite. Using the design-assist delivery method, the project successfully met the budget and schedule requirements all with a design endorsed by the University Trustees.
David Charney, AIA | Senior Associate, Goody Clancy
David Charney, AIA is a senior associate at Goody Clancy and chair of Goody Clancy’s Exterior Envelope committee. At Goody Clancy he has a dual role of PA / PM allowing him to engage with every facet of the architectural process, from concept design through construction administration. With a keen interest in material exploration, digital fabrication, and building assemblies, he brings a tenacious detail-oriented approach to all his work. His fascination with craft, and the art of making, extends beyond architecture leading him down rabbit holes of woodworking, furniture building, and the culinary arts.
Robert Del Vento | General Manager of Operations, Coreslab Structures
Robert Del Vento Jr. is the General Manager of Operations for Coreslab Structures’ Connecticut facility, bringing more than 40 years of experience in commercial construction, including 28 years specializing in Architectural Precast Concrete. A dedicated member of the Precast/Prestress Concrete Institute (PCI) Northeast Chapter since 2003, Robert has been deeply involved in advancing the industry through education initiatives, technical and product development, and market growth efforts.
The Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code establishes aggressive performance targets intended to promote energy conservation while allowing flexibility for innovative systems and construction techniques. As a result, high performance enclosure design has effectively become a baseline requirement for new construction. For large scale projects, delivery methods and construction schedule constraints often necessitate prefabricated solutions. With increased repetition and continued refinement in manufacturing, prefabricated panel systems offer a reliable strategy for achieving consistent enclosure performance. Large format prefabricated exterior wall panels, in particular, can meet high R-value requirements for opaque wall assemblies using conventional components, offering performance advantages over unitized curtainwall spandrel systems.
This presentation draws on lessons learned from affordable housing and mixed-use developments across Massachusetts and New England where large format prefabricated exterior wall panel systems were employed to meet energy code and project delivery objectives. Case studies are supported by documentation from factory and site visits, laboratory testing, whole building airtightness testing, and validated two- and three- dimensional thermal modeling. These data points are used to illustrate both the benefits and risks associated with this panel typology and to compare performance outcomes with other prefabricated approaches, including conventional glazed wall systems. The findings demonstrate that large format prefabricated exterior wall panel systems offer a scalable, high performance solution capable of meeting stringent energy code requirements while reducing construction timelines and overall project costs.
Aaron deHaan | Project Consultant, RDH Building Science, Inc.
Aaron is a Project Consultant at RDH Building Science Inc. whose professional skills center on curtain wall systems, including design, fabrication, and testing. Aaron has worked throughout the fabrication process to ensure design quality and on-time unit delivery. More recently he has combined this experience with building science fundamentals to assist fabricators deliver large format, prefabricated panels for affordable housing developments in New England. He currently manages a range of both new and existing construction projects in the Northeast region. Aaron holds a Master of Architecture from Wentworth of Technology.
View our Sponsorship page for more information.
What are you looking for?