CallisonRTKL Vice President Brendan O’Grady views Dallas‘ hot climate as an opportunity, rather than a challenge, when it comes to facade design. “With the intense summer heat there are numerous opportunities to integrate both passive and active facade design solutions that can reduce the overall environmental impact our buildings have,” said O’Grady, who will co-chair October’s Facades+ Dallas conference on high performance building design. The city’s architects working abroad, moreover, are able to bring lessons learned in other high-heat areas to bear on the local AEC industry. “These firms have the opportunity to take this global perspective and intelligence and apply it to local problems related to facade design and fabrication,” he said.

Architects, engineers, fabricators, and builders working in the Dallas area excel in digital design and analysis, explained O’Grady. “I would say this is a direct result of the emphasis we are seeing on building performance over pure aesthetics in facade design,” he said. On the flip side, “Hearing comments from a recent design awards jury, I would have to say that there is room for improvement in the way a building’s program or specific use is reflected in the design of its facade,” said O’Grady. “When you look at a building you should be able to tell if it is a hospital versus an office building or an apartment tower.”

Network with O’Grady and other movers and shakers in the facades world at Facades+ Dallas, October 13-14. Learn more about the first day symposium and the workshops offered on the second day at the conference website. Register today!