Wednesday Schedule

The first day of the conference, Wednesday, March 26, will focus on topics related to construction materials & methods, high-performance housing and land development & planning. Continuing education available.

Keynote

You won't want to miss our opening keynote! Hear from a panel of experts on Universal Design & Visitability in Our Homes from the Curb to the Closet.

This insightful keynote session will explore the principles of universal design as applied to adaptive reuse housing projects and new construction. This discussion will highlight how thoughtful design can create inclusive environments that cater to diverse needs. Learn how to effectively integrate universal design features, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions into both existing structures and new construction, ensuring that spaces are welcoming and functional for everyone—from the curb to the closet. Case studies and expert insights will demonstrate successful transformations and new design features, which emphasize the balance between preserving existing elements and embracing new, modern guidelines. Whether you are an architect, designer, community planner, developer or municipal official, this session will equip you with practical strategies and inspire new ideas for making adaptive reuse functional and universally accessible from the site to the structure. Join in to reshape how we think about the spaces we inhabit!

Agenda

Day 1 conference sessions on Wednesday will feature three concurrent tracks: Construction Materials & Methods, High-Performance Housing, and Land Development & Planning. 

• 7:00am ET
  • Registration opens
  • Breakfast buffet begins
• 8:15-10:00am ET
  • Welcome & Opening Remarks by Chris Hine, PHRC
  • Keynote - Universal Design & Visitability in Our Homes from the Curb to the Closet by Dorothy Gerring, Pennsylvania College of Technology; Dina Snider, Strada LLC; & Rob Gladfelter, Simone Collins Landscape Architecture
• 10:00-10:30am ET
  • Break with snacks & Exhibitor Plus sponsors
• 10:30am-12:00pm ET
  1. Residential Wood Detailing by Marvin Strzyzewski, MiTek
  2. Breathing Easy: HVAC's Role in Healthy and Comfortable Indoor Environments by Voya Milasinovic, LG Electronics
  3. A Blueprint for Compliance: Understanding Chapter 102 Regulations and the 2024 PAG-02 General NPDES Permit by Krystal Bloom, PA DEP; Krista Brown, PA DEP; and Sharon Geskey, PA DEP
• 12:00-1:00pm ET
  • Lunch 
• 1:00-2:30pm ET
  1. Managing Moisture in Residential Construction by Keenan Watson, DuPont Performance Building Solutions
  2. What is it Really Worth: Green and Real Estate Values by Woody Fincham, Fincham & Associates, Inc.
  3. Housing Advocacy Trends: An AARP Perspective by Samar Jha, AARP; Yocasta Lora, AARP PA; Nora Dowd Eisenhower, AARP PA
• 2:30-3:00pm ET
  • Break with snacks & Exhibitor Plus sponsors
• 3:00-4:30pm ET
  1. Best Practices for Installation of Adhered Masonry Veneer by Chris Little, ClarkDietrich Building Systems, and Dell Nolt, Westlake Royal Stone
  2. How High-Performance Windows Can Help You Get Tax Credits, ENERGY STAR & DOE Zero Enery Ready Home Certifications, and Five-Star Customer Reviews by Robert Hart, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Steve Sylvestre, Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment; and Brad Begin, Alpen High Performance Products
  3. Management of the Municipal Floodplain through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by Tom Hughes, PEMA, and Kenneth Roberts, PEMA
• 5:00-7:00pm ET
  • Networking on the Exhibit Floor -- Connect at the end of Day 1 to network with exhibitors, attendees, speakers, and the PHRC team.