Curtain Wall Conversations - GlasCurtain

GlasCurtain

GlasCurtain’s Managing Director, Peter Dushenski, interviews industry experts and will explore new ideas of what’s possible with glazed facades.

Episodes

  1. 03/24/2025

    Episode 10 - feat. Fadi Yasin & Ashwin Bankar

    Curious what kind of conversations happen behind the scenes at one of the world’s leading curtain wall manufacturers? In this video and podcast series, GlasCurtain Managing Director Peter Dushenski will share an inside perspective on this fascinating industry through a series of in-depth conversations with industry leaders. Together, we’ll explore new ideas of what's possible with glazed facades. Join us for Curtain Wall Conversations!   In Episode 10 of Curtain Wall Conversations, we’re flipping the script! Joined by two aspiring curtain wall entrepreneurs - Fadi Yasin and Ashwin Bankar - this episode sees Peter recount his 10+ year journey with GlasCurtain, what it really takes to start and grow a curtain wall business, and what makes fiberglass (FRP) such an exciting material to work with. Combining backgrounds in engineering and a keen interest in high-performance facades, Fadi and Ashwin help Peter to explore what it takes to break into this industry and build a business from the ground up. Stay tuned for this lively and insightful discussion! With plenty of back-and-forth, this episode is part mentorship, part industry deep-dive, and all-around a great time. Whether you’re new to curtain walls or a seasoned professional, there’s something in this discussion for everyone. Fadi and Ashwin, welcome to Curtain Wall Conversations, thanks so much for joining us! To our audience, we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did

    1h 5m
  2. 02/13/2024

    Episode 9 - feat. Ken Levenson (Passive House Network)

    Curious what kind of conversations happen behind the scenes at one of the world’s leading curtain wall manufacturers? In this video and podcast series, GlasCurtain Managing Director Peter Dushenski will share an inside perspective on this fascinating industry through a series of in-depth conversations with industry leaders. Together, we’ll explore new ideas of what's possible with glazed facades. Join us for Curtain Wall Conversations! In Episode 9 of Curtain Wall Conversations, Peter is joined by Ken Levenson, Executive Director at Passive House Network (PHN) and a pivotal figure in the world of sustainable architecture. Ken's career took a significant turn towards sustainability after embracing the Passive House concept in 2009, leading to his certification as a Passive House Designer.  Ken has played a pivotal role in advancing Passive House standards through founding New York Passive House, the National Passive House Alliance, and NAPHN. His contributions to energy efficiency standards, including advisory roles for Urban Green’s 90 by 50 report and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, highlight his broad impact. This episode delves into critical topics at the heart of sustainable design. We discuss the unique advantages of Passive House standards, public policy and its critical role in promoting sustainable building practices, and New York City's Local Law 97. We also take a closer look at the Winthrop Centre, the world’s largest commercial Passive House building and chat about the significance of the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) as a tool for architects, and the crucial conversation around embodied carbon and its impact on the environment. Ken, welcome to Curtain Wall Conversations! We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversation as much as we did!

    52 min
  3. 12/12/2023

    Episode 8 - feat. James Satterwhite (Advanced Glazings Ltd.)

    Curious what kind of conversations happen behind the scenes at one of the world’s leading curtain wall manufacturers? In this video and podcast series, GlasCurtain Managing Director Peter Dushenski will share an inside perspective on this fascinating industry through a series of in-depth conversations with industry leaders. Together, we’ll explore new ideas of what's possible with glazed facades. Join us for Curtain Wall Conversations! In Episode 8 of Curtain Wall Conversations, Peter is joined by James Satterwhite, who is at the helm of Advanced Glazings Ltd., a frontrunner in North American daylighting technology. As CEO and Vice President of Global Business Development, James has played a pivotal role in transforming the approach to daylight management in architectural designs, ensuring an optimal balance of human comfort and thermal performance. James' leadership has been vital in a multitude of prestigious projects, notably enhancing both the environment and the living experience of occupants. One of the standout collaborations is the Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, Northern Canada, developed jointly with Teeple and Cibinel, a prime example of our commitment to innovative and sustainable architectural design! It was a pleasure chatting with James about a range of engaging topics. We explored the evolving trends in facade and glazing performance, delved into the unique aspects of his company's Solera product, and discussed the impact of global challenges on manufacturing, highlighting the increasing importance of local production. The conversation also touched on the exciting developments in vacuum insulated glass in North America and the innovative responses in Massachusetts driven by stretch codes. We wrapped up with a look into the future prospects of these technologies and their potential influence on the industry. An insightful and enjoyable dialogue throughout! James, welcome to Curtain Wall Conversations! We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversation as much as we did!

    45 min
  4. 07/04/2023

    Episode 7 - feat. Tony Crimi (A.C. Consulting Solutions Inc.)

    In Episode 7 of Curtain Wall Conversations, Peter discusses the complex area of fire standards and codes with Tony Crimi. Tony serves as a member and past Chair of NBC Standing Committee on Fire Protection and was also Chair of Ontario Building Code Conversation Advisory Council. Additionally, Tony is a distinguished member of the International Codes Council (ICC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), and more, for which his contributions have garnered him several notable awards. If that weren’t enough, Tony is also the President of A.C. Consulting Solutions Inc. where he assists companies in navigating the regulatory landscape. He specializes in providing services related to building and fire protection codes and standards, including assisting clients in achieving successful testing and product approval and recognition from regulatory authorities, advocating for U.S. codes & standards changes, researching product and/or regulatory information, and facilitating product testing and evaluation. It’s been a privilege for all of us on the GlasCurtain team to work with Tony over the last couple of years on the NFPA-285 certification for our new Thermaframe system, which we successfully completed in September 2022, and which opens the door for Thermaframe to be used on non-combustible buildings in the US market. We had a great time chatting with Tony about his background and career trajectory, reflections on codes and standards developments, what exactly "combustibility" really means, innovation in curtain wall materials, future harmonization of fire standards, the difference between Canadian and American standards, the future of North American fire safety, and so much more! Tony, welcome to Curtain Wall Conversations! We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversation as much as we did.

    30 min

About

GlasCurtain’s Managing Director, Peter Dushenski, interviews industry experts and will explore new ideas of what’s possible with glazed facades.