WELCOME TO FACADES+ MONTERREY!
The Architect’s Newspaper is celebrating 14 Years of Facades+ Conferences. We are thrilled to welcome both new attendees and longtime facades fanatics to our first ever event in Mexico. We bring fresh and relevant programming to each and every city and have an exceptional group of projects, people, and expertise for you today.
Facades+ Monterrey gathers top professionals from the worlds of design, engineering, fabrication, and construction to consider how high-performance envelopes are transforming the built environment across North America, and are responding to changing codes, climates, technologies, and client expectations.
I’d like to thank our amazing conference co-chairs, Ricardo Daniel Diez, Rodrigo Borghino, and Sameer Kumar of Techne, who have assembled today’s program of design leaders. We invite you to connect with the presenters and your peers during networking breaks in the Methods+Materials Gallery and throughout today’s event.
Please get to know our sponsors exhibiting in the Methods+Materials Gallery today and learn how they will help you shape the future of facade design and technology.
Has Facades+ struck a chord with you? Have a look at our upcoming events held in 15 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Visit our website to learn more about our other events and additional opportunities to earn your CEUs.
We are eager to hear from you about how we might improve the Facades+ experience. Talk to us. And please spread the word—help us to continue to grow the Facades+ dialogue and community.
All the best,
Diana Darling CEO & Creative Director, AN Media Group
CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
DIANA DARLING CEO / Creative Director, AN Media Group
MARTY WOOD VP of Events, AN Media Group
DIONNE DARLING VP of Brand Partnerships, AN Media Group
AGENDA
(TIMES IN CST)
8:00 AM CHECK-IN & BREAKFAST | Methods + Materials Gallery
9:30 AM WELCOME: Diana Darling | The Architect’s Newspaper
9:40 AM PARTNER WELCOME: Juan Manuel Rodriguez | Vitro Architectural Glass
PROGRAM INTRODUCTION:
Rodrigo Borghino | Techne
9:45 AM
9:50 AM
10:15 AM
Ricardo Daniel Diaz | Techne
Sameer Kumar | Techne
SPOTLIGHT Facade Systems Play Their Part
Presenter:
Chris O’Hara | Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company
PANEL High Rise: Lessons Learned On Super Talls
Presenters:
Antonio Cárdenas | CWSYSTEMS
Luis Fernandez de Ortega | V-Fo Architects
Bujar Morava | RWDI
11:00 AM METHODS + MATERIALS BREAK
SPOTLIGHT Building Performance: Metrics for Success
11:30 AM
Presenter:
Alejandra Menchaca | AIRLIT studio
SPOTLIGHT Enhancing Building Skins: Innovations for Better Performance and Design
Presenters:
12:15 PM
12:45 PM
Aaron Alterman | STI Specified Technologies
Agustín Grimaldi | STI Specified Technologies
Sameer Kumar | Techne
PANEL LUMARIS: Visionary Valle Oriente
Presenter:
Antonio Perez Vazquez | Perkins&Will
Rodrigo Borghino | Techne
1:15 PM PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Christina Martinexz | Vitro Arquitectónico
1:30 PM NETWORKING LUNCH
ROUNDTABLE Advancements in Facade Design for Sports & Entertainment: A Global Perspective
Presenters:
2:30 PM
3:15 PM
Luis Fernandez de Ortega | V-Fo Architects
Adela Rangel Fediuk | Akurat
Ricardo Daniel Diaz | Techne
SPOTLIGHT From Monterrey’s Iconic Architecture to Certified Building Systems for the U.S. and Canada
Presenters:
Gabe M. Sada | AkzoNobel
Sameer Kumar | Techne
AGENDA
3:30
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
PANEL Torre Gala: Transformative Towers Face the Landscape Presenters:
Hernán R. Chebar | RAMSA
Estrella Esquivel | Schwarz
Mauricio Mireles Montaño | Convirtus
Mauricio Calderon Loaiza | ONE Development Group
Ricardo Daniel Diaz | Techne
ROUNDTABLE International Perspectives on Glass Development Presenter:
Adrian Betanzos | VIA
Rodrigo Borghino | Techne
CLOSING REMARKS
5:30 PM
Diana Darling | The Architect’s Newspaper
Ricardo Daniel Diaz | Techne
5:30 PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION
WORKSHOPS SCHEDULE - APR 23
SPEAKERS
CO-CHAIRS
SAMEER KUMAR Principal / Techne
Sameer Kumar is the Founder of Techne, a building enclosure design and consulting firm based in New York. With over 23 years of experience in the field of architectural facades, Sameer’s accomplishments represent a consistent pursuit of design excellence through the balance of craft and environmental performance in a wide variety of material expressions on several prominent projects around the globe.
Sameer extends his contributions to the architecture profession through his academic engagement as visiting faculty member with Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as through active participation in various architectural conferences as speaker and panelist. Sameer is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He is a licensed architect in the State of New York. He holds degrees in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
RICARDO DANIEL DIAZ Managing Partner / Techne
Ricardo is Managing Partner at Techne, bringing over 10 years of experience in bioclimatic analysis, façade engineering, and highperformance building envelope design. His expertise integrates building science, energy modeling, and advanced visualization to support technically rigorous and commercially viable façade solutions.
Prior to Techne, Ricardo co-founded The Façade Studio in Mexico City, where he led the firm’s growth and market positioning while delivering façade consulting services for commercial, residential, retail, and hospitality developments. He played a key role in business development, client acquisition, and strategic partnerships, expanding operations into international markets and managing cross-border collaborations between Mexico and the United States.
RODRIGO BORGHINO Managing Partner / Techne
Rodrigo is cofounder at the Façade Studio, a company based in Mexico City dedicated to solving façade projects focusing on energy efficiency, safety, affordability and design intent compliance of the façade.
With around 10 years of experience working on façade systems, Rodrigo has specialized in calculating, designing and studying facade systems, being his main input as Engineering Director at The Facade Studio.
He has been leading design teams at The Facade Studio on mid-rise and high-rise buildings, commercial, residential, retail, hospitality and healthcare projects across Mexico.
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SPEAKERS
AARON ALTERMAN
Consultant Support Specialist – US & Canada / STI Specified Technologies
Aaron joined STI in 2015 as a Territory Manager in the Gulf South. In 2018, he was promoted to the Curtain and Facades Specialist role, working with glaziers, fabricators, curtain wall consultants and perimeter fire containments contractors in the Midwest, Gulf Coast, Texas and Central Canada. In 2024, Aaron became the Curtain Wall and Facades Consultant Support Specialist for North America, working with curtain wall consultants, architects, engineers and code officials.
ADRIAN BETANZOS
Principal / VIA
Adrian is a Materials lover born in Mexico. He is married, has two kids and a dog. In his free time, he is a Principal at VIA, a facade consulting firm with projects all over the world. He’s spent the last decade working for Apple Inc in their Sourcing and Innovation teams, pushing the envelope on facade design in the retail team. He has also worked at Vitro in Mexico, Permasteelisa North America and Front Inc, New York.
Adrian holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana, a European Business diploma from Vaxjo Universitet in Sweden and a master of engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He’s been a keynote speaker worldwide and has been an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at City University of New York, NYU, Columbia University, Syracuse University, UC Berkeley, California College of the Arts and TU Delft.
ANTONIO CÁRDENAS
Director / CWSYSTEMS
Antonio Cárdenas is the Director of CWSYSTEMS, with extensive experience in the development and consulting of architectural façade systems for highprofile projects. He has participated in major office and high-rise residential developments, contributing to the engineering and executive design of façade systems. His professional focus is on the technical, constructability, and architectural optimization of façade systems, integrating aluminum and glass solutions that meet high standards of performance, aesthetics, and buildability. Through CWSYSTEMS, he promotes a vision driven by technical precision, innovation, and quality in building envelopes.
DANIELA
CASTRO
Partner and CEO / JWA in Mexico
Daniela Castro is a highly accomplished architect and expert in sustainable design and real estate development. She has led significant projects across various sectors, including hotels, corporate spaces, residential buildings, and mixed-use developments. As the Partner and CEO of JWA in Mexico, Daniela focuses on advancing sustainable architectural practices across Latin America. Previously, Daniela served as the Chief Development and Sustainability Officer at Fibra Eco, where she developed the company's ESG strategy and promoted environmentally friendly practices in Mexico’s real estate sector. She also held leadership roles at Pulso Inmobiliario and MIRA, contributing to landmark projects such as Alai By Zaha Hadid in Cancun and Neuchatel Cuadrante Polanco in Mexico City..
HERNÁN R. CHEBAR
Associate Partner / RAMSA
Associate Partner Hernán Chebar has been with Robert A.M. Stern Architects since 1996 and has been responsible for the design and project management of many of the firm’s high-profile multifamily residential projects in New York, as well as a wide variety of building types in the US and internationally, from resort hotels to office buildings to assisted living facilities.
ESTRELLA ESQUIVEL
Design Director / Schwarz
Since 2017, Estrella Esquivel has been a part of Schwarz, where she leads the architectural and interior design areas, consolidating a portfolio that encompasses institutional, residential, and commercial projects. She currently serves as Design Director for the Gala tower in Mexico— designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects—and for the Kirana development in the United States. In the realm of vertical architecture, she has been involved in highly significant regional projects, such as the residential phase of Arboleda, Torre Sofia—designed by Cesar Pelli—and Torre Insignia, among others.
ADELA RANGEL FEDIUK
Founding Partner and CEO / Akurat
Adela Fediuk is Founding Partner and CEO of Akurat —an architectural design firm and ConTech company focused on Design and BIM/Lean Management. For the past 13 years, Akurat has delivered Intelligent Virtual Design and Construction services for large-scale projects in Mexico and abroad. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Airport Planning, Design, and Operations at Tech University, and is certified in ISO 19650, GIS, and LEAN. She is Chair of the Tech Committee at Urban Land Institute (ULI) Mexico. Professor at Universidad La Salle Mexico City.
SPEAKERS
LUIS FERNANDEZ DE ORTEGA
Principal / V-Fo Architects
Luis Fernández de Ortega is an Architect by the Anahuac University in Mexico City. He studied a Master’s degree in Interior Design with the University of Salamanca and a diploma in Construction Administration with the Polytechnic University of Madrid.He began his career as a designer in 1988. In 1997, he joined the international firm HOK in Mexico City where he worked on various types of industrial, corporate, residential, sports, mixed-use, urban planning, residential and corporate interiors. In 2009, he founded the firm VFO Architects with his partner Juan Andrés Vergara and since then he has served as Design Director where he leads various work teams and his role is to understand the needs and aspirations of his clients to translate them into sustainable architectural solutions.
AGUSTÍN GRIMALDI
A&D Projects – LATAM / Neolith
Agustín Grimaldi is an architect graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana, with a diploma in Sustainable Urban Systems from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC). Since 2023, he has been in charge of managing Neolith’s façade projects across Latin America, leading the technical and strategic coordination of architectural solutions using sintered stone in different markets throughout the region. He has solid experience in the fabrication of steel and aluminum structures, as well as in the development of construction details and building processes. He has actively participated in the installation of metal, phenolic, and especially sintered stone façade systems, contributing a comprehensive vision that integrates design, engineering, and execution.
MAURICIO CALDERON LOAIZA
Construction Director / ONE Development Group
Mauricio Calderon Loaiza is a veteran of the Mexican Real Estate Industry with a legacy of developing over 100 million square feet of highimpact real estate across Mexico. As the Construction Director for ONE Development Group, he spearheads a prestigious portfolio of high-end residential, mixeduse, historical renovation, and luxury resort projects that currently serve nearly a thousand families. Prior to joining ONE Development Group in 2025, Mauricio played a pivotal role in the expansion of Hines’ Mexican portfolio, overseeing 30 million square feet of diverse developments.
CRISTINA MARTÍNEZ
Head of Marketing / Vitro Arquitectónico
Cristina Martínez is the Head of Marketing for Vitro Arquitectónico in Mexico, where she leads strategic initiatives to promote and raise awareness about the value of incorporating high-performance low-e glass in building façades. Her work highlights how these advanced glazing solutions contribute to more sustainable construction, from significantly reducing environmental impact to enhancing occupant comfort and overall quality of life. Emphasizing the importance of making informed material decisions early in the construction process—choices that not only enhance energy efficiency but also generate substantial cost savings and measurable returns on investment through Vitro champions building practices that foster long-term sustainability, operational efficiency, and future-ready architectural design.
ALEJANDRA MENCHACA
Founding Principal / AIRLIT studio
Alejandra is a Principal at AIRLIT studio, an environmental consultancy with a design-centric approach rooted in technical excellence. Alejandra combines expertise in mechanical engineering and building science to give clients a clear understanding of the impact design strategies and innovative solutions have on long-term building performance. Alejandra’s expertise includes passive design, visual and thermal comfort assessment, and indoor air quality. She also has extensive experience in policy development, having contributed in updating ASHRAE standards, developing zero net carbon policies with the city of Boston, and developing compliance workflows for the MA stretch code. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and has lectured at MIT and the Harvard GSD.
MAURICIO MIRELES MONTAÑO
Co-Founder / Convirtus
Mauricio Mireles Montaño is CoFounder and Director of Operations at CONVIRTUS, a multidisciplinary building engineering firm based in Monterrey, Mexico, specializing in architecture, structural and MEP integration through BIM-driven and IPD-aligned workflows. With over 15 years of experience, Mauricio has led complex residential, mixed-use, industrial, and high-rise projects, focusing on constructability, facade performance, and the coordination between design intent and execution. His work emphasizes early technical decision-making, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the use of digital tools to reduce risk and uncertainty before construction.
SPEAKERS
BUJAR MORAVA
Senior Technical Director & Principal / RWDI
Bujar’s deep expertise and vast experience in applied structural dynamics are invaluable to clients who face tough wind engineering and structural response challenges. Through three decades of professional experience, research, and consulting, he has earned a reputation for delivering outstanding results in the structural optimization of tall buildings and other dynamically sensitive structures. In addition to managing highly complex and very demanding projects around the globe, Bujar leads quality assurance and technical development for our structural, wind engineering, and damping system implementation consulting services.
CHRIS O’HARA
Senior Design Principal / Studio NYL, a Lerch Bates Company
O’Hara is facade director for the Skins Group, a division of Studio NYL, established to provide full service facade design specializing in thermal modeling, moisture/condensation analysis, and in-depth detailing. Although Studio NYL is recognized for its skins work with cutting-edge glass and glazing, their team also specializes in digitally fabricated metal skins, GFRC, reinforced polymers, stone, ultra high performance concrete, terra cotta, and traditional precast. O’Hara is currently working on multiple projects in the Boston area.
KEYAN RAHIMZADEH
Principal / VIA
Keyan Rahimzadeh is a structural engineer and architect who has spent his career building complex facades, and the software to make it possible. After 10 years working on high-profile projects at Front, Inc. in New York and London, he led Computational Design at Grimshaw, and built software at a venturebacked AEC startup. He is now a Principal and Global Technical Director at VIA, where he oversees the technical initiatives of the practice, including software development and automation across design, analysis, and fabrication.
GABRIEL MORALES SADA
Architectural Coatings Professional / AkzoNobel
Gabriel Morales Sada is a global architectural coatings professional focused on the synergies between powder-coated architectural aluminum extrusion and façade system performance, including windows and aluminum railing systems, in collaboration with global architectural components OEMs. With a consultative, OEM-driven approach, he works alongside architects, façade consultants, extruders, and applicators to align extrusion design, surface preparation, and coating technology with AAMA/FGIA-compliant, durable, and scalable solutions.
ANTONIO PEREZ VAZQUEZ
Associate Principal, Managing Principal, Monterrey / Perkins&Will
Growing up, Antonio’s father worked in construction and his mother with an airline–a combination that fueled Antonio’s interest in design and travel from a young age. Born and raised in Mexico, Antonio moved to Texas to complete high school, then traveled to Italy to further his education in architecture. While exploring the world, he realized the importance of making the community a better place by balancing architectural design with the needs and wants of different demographics.
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