The SFE Hubs have had a busy end to 2024, providing the global façade engineering community with high quality technical content and a platform to network with individuals from across the supply chain. In 2024, the SFE hosted 23 events in 7 countries amassing over a thousand registrations with hundreds of attendees.
SFE Birmingham
At the start of October, The SFE Birmingham Hub organised a tour of the Octagon, the tallest residential building in Birmingham. We would like to give a huge thank you to JRL, Midguard, ASFD, McMullen and Karlheinz Beck of Schueco for making the visit possible. 
SFE Italy
In October, the SFE Italy Hub hosted a technical talk on Façade Access and Maintenance. Silvia Ilardi, Senior Architect and Façade Access and Maintenance expert from Arup and Fallprotec, international access & maintenance supplier, explored key principles for developing effective façade access strategies since early design stages, with a strong focus on safety principles. The event featured insightful case studies, followed by an interactive Q&A session.
To round off a successful and busy year, the SFE Italy Hub hosted their Christmas façade-themed Quiz at Faces Engineering S.r.l. in Milan followed by networking drinks. The event was a great chance to connect with fellow professionals and enjoy holiday cheer with industry colleagues.
SFE ANZ
After their successful launch, the SFE ANZ Victoria Hub hosted, ‘The Importance of Facades in Passivhaus design’, joined by Johanna Trickett – Associate, Australasia Education Leader Arup, Pablo Sepulveda – Associate, Sustainability & Integrated Design at Aurecon, Michael Crowley – Senior Associate Inhabit, Chris Nunn – General Manager of ESG at Scape and Clare Parry – Sustainability Director, Development Victoria. The following panel discussion covered questions such as, ‘What are the top 3 challenges to achieving Passivhaus in Australia?’, and ‘What are the financial considerations of Passivhaus design?’.
In October, the Society of Façade Engineers ANZ New Zealand Hub hosted their Inaugural Event in Auckland. Hosted by Jon Robinson, CIBSE SFE New Zealand Chair, Associate at Arup, the event was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals. With the requirements on facade engineers becoming more complex the Hub invited key industry stakeholders to discuss the need for regulation and definition, the legal and insurance framework and the evolving scope in the context of the design team and the contractors. The event covered the proposed practice standard for professional engineers, the increased scope and what to think about regarding insurance, the evolving requirements and where this interfaces with the design team and the facade engineering process through construction.
Building on the success of their previous event, the SFE New South Wales Hub organised a panel discussion looking at the evolving requirements of facade engineers in NSW.
To finish off the year, SFE NSW hosted Christmas Drinks and Learn event at Pro Clima Australia Pty Ltd. This was a great opportunity for members and non-members alike to network and learn more about the Society.
SFE London
In October, the SFE London Hub hosted their Alumni networking event. This event was primarily directed at alumni from the following postgraduate courses who are currently working in, or are curious about, the Facade Engineering sector: University of Bath: MSc Facade Engineering, MSc Modern Building Design, MSc Environmental Design, University of the West of England, MSc Facade Engineering and EFN Approved Facade Engineering courses.
The SFE London Hub hosted their first ever SFE Façade Quiz and Christmas Networking Event, hosted by David Entwistle, Director of Major Projects at Saint-Gobain Glass. SFE Board members submitted their façade related questions to put competing teams to the test.
SFE Scotland
In November, the SFE Glasgow Hub hosted their first ever technical presentation followed by networking drinks. The event was titled, ‘A Fire engineer’s view on Modern Facades’, Angus Elliott, Senior Fire Engineer at Arup presented some of the challenges that are commonly experienced within façade design and a practical approach on how to achieve compliance with the fire regulations.
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