For decades, building performance in architecture was defined primarily by energy performance and material selection. Today, the conversation is far more complex. In New York City, sustainability now encompasses carbon emissions, resilience, electrification, circularity, housing affordability, and the long-term performance of our buildings. As regulations evolve and technologies mature, architects are challenged not only to comply with new requirements, but to reconsider what high-performance design truly means.
The 2026 AIANY Building Science Committee Summit explores this evolving landscape through the lens of building science, offering a snapshot of how "building science in architecture" looks like today. Featuring discussions on emerging energy regulations, next-generation material systems, and lessons learned from built projects, the symposium brings together practitioners to examine how sustainable design is being redefined—and how those ideas are being translated into practice—in one of the world's most demanding urban environments.
Session schedule to be announced soon. Attendees must sign in to each session to receive 1 LU each (pending approval).
Schedule:
8:15-8:45AM – Breakfast
8:45-9:00AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00-10:15AM – Session 1: AI in AEC
Theme: AI, Digital Tools. Process
Speakers:
Nitsan Bartov, Industrial PhD Fellow, Henning Larsen
Jon Ehrlich, CEO, T2D2.ai
Jim Dray, Chief Information Officer, Thornton Tomasetti
Dan Reynolds, AI Leader, Walter P Moore
10:20-11:35AM – Session 2: Small Details, Big Impact: Structural Thermal Breaks in Facade Design
Theme: Energy, NYC Code, Facade Design
Speakers:
Angela Tarng, Consulting Engineer, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH)
Emma Ramsden, Project Consultant, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH)
Joey Gentille, Senior Project Consultant, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH)
Cheryl Saldanha, Associate Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH)
11:40-12:55PM – Session 3: Circular Economy: Pilots in NYC
Theme: Circular Economy, Materials, Embodied Carbon
Speakers:
Bobby Johnston, AIA, CPHD, Principal, Co-Adaptive
Gizem Karagov, Assistant VP, Green Economy, NYCEDC
Chris Van de Voorde, Co-Founder, Circular Value Institute (CVI)
Melody Stein, Co-Director, External Affairs
1:00-2:00PM – Lunch
2:00-3:15PM – Session 4: Achieving Sustainability at Scale: 2 Case Studies Demonstrate High Performance.
Theme: Affordable housing, passive house, Waste heat recovery
Speakers:
Liz Resenic, Senior Associate, Sustainability Director, Gensler
Jen Switala, Associate Principal, Dattner Architects
Lauren Alger, PE, ENV SP, M.ASCE, M.SEI, National Director of Sustainable Design, STV
3:20-4:35PM – Session 5: Designing the Building Envelope: Prefabricated vs. Site-Built Enclosure Systems
Theme: Prefabricated Envelope systems, Envelope Details
Speakers:
Marc Simmons, Founding Principal, Front Global
Joseph Rakowski, AIA, Engineering Manager, New Hudson Facades
Magnus Westergren, AIA, Associate, Marvel
Peter Arbour, RA, Founder, Arbour Group LLC
Read the speaker bios here.
AIANY Building Science Committee
