Future Facades Will Celebrate Life. A Summit in Dubai Shows How

Presented by Windows Doors & Facades Event (Dubai World Trade Centre, 23-25 September), the Summit will be part of a broad, free to attend and CPD-Certified educational program delivered by top industry leaders.

Facades have a tremendous impact on our cities’ appearance. Today we know that they also have a measurable impact on our emotional wellbeing. With fresh data and new technology available, the look and feel of buildings is set for a dramatic change, for good.

“New, beautiful façades will be about celebrating life,” according to Douglas Sum, Associate Facade Services Group Leader at Aurecon. 

“Static façades are fast becoming a thing of the past. Today’s concept of a traditionally beautiful façade will move beyond just being about “big glass”, “transparent” and “open”. Façades will be designed to stir spirits, and to evoke emotions like comfort, friendliness and warmth.”

Technological advancement is at the core of the transformation. For this reason, the region’s largest dedicated event for the windows, doors and facades industry – Windows Doors & Facades Event 2018 – will put innovation at centre stage at its Middle East Facades Summit. 

“Digital innovation isn’t just a vague term for the façade industry’s future; it’s happening here and now,” says Sum, who will speak about Advanced Facade Design Technology at the Summit. He adds:

“Clients have embraced technology in a big way. Their expectations have risen and designers, engineers, and material suppliers have to collaborate even more closely to bring their visions to life.”

More than just helping improve the look and feel of a building, technology applied to facades also plays a crucial role in terms of sustainability and operational cost-effectiveness. According to Nicky Dobreanu, Senior Quantity Surveyor at C-Quest - KEO International Consultants, facades in the future will increasingly integrate dynamic shading, while facilitating ventilation and weather protection.

Presenting the key note for Procurement of Cost Efficient Facade systems and a panel discussion on Advancements in boosting Building Envelope Performance, Dobreanu will be one of the 20 top industry experts discussing the future of facades at the Middle East Facades Summit.

Under the theme “Future forward: Revolutionizing the next Generation Facades”, the Summit is part of a broad educational program offered by the Windows Doors & Facades Event (WDF). Held on September 23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, it will be followed by over 20 educational sessions from the CPD-Certified Facades Seminar Series on 24-25 September.

Dedicated to architects, consultants, contractors and engineers, the program will address hot industry topics, spanning from facades’ sustainability and energy efficiency to fire safety, BIM, technological innovation and smart design, among others.

Naoki Woodward, Associate at Koltay Facades, who will present a session on Window and Door performance in High Rise Buildings, comments:

“These types of events are critical to the development of the local market and an excellent opportunity to catch up with industry colleagues.”

Rebecca Lockwood, Event Director of WDF, says:

“As a platform developed to support the windows, doors & facades industry, we are extremely proud of the outstanding lineup of speakers presenting at both the Middle East Facades Summit and the Facades Seminar Series this year. The educational program will perfectly complement the exhibition, which will offer a unique display of the latest and most innovative products from both local and international, world-class manufacturers.

“Future developments will need to improve existing standards of living while providing energy efficient and sustainable solutions. The proper integration of advanced technology is the only way for industry players in the region to meet the clients’ growing expectations and stay on top of the game in an increasingly competitive market,” Lockwood adds.

More than 150 companies will exhibit at the Windows Doors & Facades Event 2018, running from 23 to 25 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The third edition of the exhibition will display products and services from eight product sectors: Aluminium Composite Panel, Doors, Hardware, Machinery, Raw materials, Rollers & Shutters, Service Providers & Windows.

Supported by Schüco (Founding Partner and Titanium Sponsor), Orgadata, and Elumatec as Founding Partners, the show will gather thousands of decision makers and industry experts for three days of networking business and learning opportunities. A brand new Architects Club on the show floor will host top-level architects, directly involved in decision making for leading consultancy firms, architectural & design companies, master developers and contractors.

Access to the exhibition is free. Registration is now live at https://register.windowsdoorsandfacadeevent.com/. 

To know more about the event, visit www.wdfevent.ae.