SFE News

Article category: News
Published on: 06 Mar 26

Spotlight Facade Awards - Seele Prada Shop Ion Orchard

In the heart of Singapore’s renowned Orchard Road, the Prada Shop at ION Orchard stands as a compelling example of how engineering ingenuity can redefine architectural expression. Delivered by seele, the project transforms a traditional retail façade into a unified, sculptural system where structure and design become inseparable.

Article category: News
Published on: 06 Mar 26

Spotlight Awards: Reimagining Heritage: The Façade Transformation of The Whiteley

In the heart of Bayswater, The Whiteley now stands as a landmark example of how heritage buildings can be reinterpreted through careful refurbishment and contemporary engineering.

Article category: News
Published on: 06 Mar 26

Spotlight Interview: Chrysanthi Anastasiou

I am a Façade Engineer with 10 years experience. After earning my diploma in Civil Engineering, I combined my passion for physics and building technology with my respect for architecture by pursuing a Masters degree in Building Engineering from Delft University of Technology, specializing in façades. Following the MSc, I worked for 8 years as a façade consultant in London, as part of Buro Happold façades team. I had the chance to lead iconic, multidisciplinary, complex projects in the UK and worldwide, including Malaysia Square of Battersea Power Station (UK), Manchester Airport (UK), Oxagon, NEOM (Saudi Arabia), among others. Since September 2024 I am based in Athens, Greece, continuing my façade career as a façade specialist, providing services to Greek façade contractors (F-Nous) as well as international façade consultancies (Thornton Tomasetti, Meihardt). My career growth envisages Greek and international collaborations, with values of sustainability and innovation.

Article category: News
Published on: 06 Mar 26

Spotlight Facade Awards: Cadence, King’s Cross Masterplan

Cadence is a landmark mixed-use building within the King’s Cross Central Masterplan, one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. With its unique position framing the axis of Lewis Cubitt Park and its idiosyncratic arched language, this quietly flamboyant ‘courtyard tower’ celebrates the concept of threshold while reinforcing King’s Cross’ sense of place. Comprising 113 dwellings and 50 affordable apartments above two stories of commercial and service spaces, Cadence is recognized as one of King’s Cross most memorable buildings and a demonstration project for offsite manufacturing techniques.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

In conversation with Neesha Gopal

Neesha Gopal joined Foster + Partners as a Façade Specialist for the Technical Design Group in July 2023. She is a chartered Architect, studying at Nottingham, Brighton and Kingston Universities. Following several years as a project and site-based architect, she specialised in Façade Engineering joining Whitbybird in 2003. Her career has included Façade Team Director of Ramboll UK and Regional Director for Meinhardt Façade Technology, UK and Europe. Before joining F+P, Neesha was Head of Façades for Europe at Lendlease. Neesha has also chartered as a Project Manager and has an MSc in Façade Engineering with distinction from Bath University. Neesha is active within the industry, as a member of the Technical Committee for CWCT and committee member for the Society of Façade Engineering. As an advocate for Women in Construction, she is active in judging several awards for different facets of the Built Environment.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

Spotlight Academia: Brick Soleil- Exploration of a high-performance façade strategy

The MEGA 2025 course at TU Delft is a multidisciplinary design studio focused on the integrated development of complex and large-scale urban architectures in response to the current climate and material crises. The Canyon’s façade strategy was honoured to receive the award for Most Innovative Façade Design among a studio filled with many outstanding and creative façade proposals. It was truly inspiring to see the diverse ideas and dedication of all peers throughout the process.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

Spotlight Facade Awards: The Deep Veil: The Architecture of a High-Performance Equatorial Façade

The adaptive reuse of SDE1 and SDE3 at the National University of Singapore—collectively the Equatorial School of Architecture—advances a façade strategy that redefines building envelopes for equatorial performance including netzero energy operations (Figure 1). Where the conventional curtain wall is sealed and mechanically dependent, this project introduces a seven-metre-thick façade system—termed the Deep Veil—that operates simultaneously as shading device, daylighting infrastructure, maintenance access, and pedagogical surface calibrated to its urban equatorial context.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

Spotlight Awards: Northcliffe House – A Refined Fusion of Heritage, Performance, and Sustainability

Located in London, Northcliffe House is an exemplar of sensitive renovation and ambitious engineering. Originally constructed in the 1920s–30s for the Daily Mail printing press and offices, the building underwent various adaptations—including a conversion into commercial offices in the 1970s and a refurbishment in the early 2000s. Thornton Tomasetti joined the project at Stage 3 in November 2020, supporting construction through its practical completion in 2024, following planning approval in December 2020. The project was delivered by John Robertson Architects, and main contractor ISG, with OAG supplying the curtain walling.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

CWCT Update Autumn 2025

The latest CWCT update including sustainability and fire guidance.

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

SFE Building Safety Act Committee Spring 2025 Update

Article category: News
Published on: 11 Sept 25

SFE Hubs: What we have been up to Autumn 2025

Article category: News
Published on: 13 Mar 25

Spotlight Interview: John Downes

John founded EFAS in 2024 after an 11-year tenure with Lendlease as Global Head of Façades. Through EFAS he offers strategic façade advice to businesses, government agencies and trade bodies across the globe. He has 40 years’ experience in the façade industry and has had the privilege to be involved in façades across the globe. John particularly likes volunteering some of his time to the CWCT, SFE and some guest lecturing on the MSc Façade Engineering course.