The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile will be the Guest Academic Institution of Honor at FEVENT MÁS 2027

The School of Civil Construction at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile confirmed its participation as an Official Sponsor and Guest Academic Institution of Honor for FEVENT MÁS 2027, leading part of the International Seminar's technical content. In an exclusive interview, its director, Felipe Ossio, addressed the main challenges facing the industry and the impact the new Thermal Regulations will have on the future of construction.

The third edition of FEVENT MÁS 2027 continues to forge strategic alliances with the country's leading institutions.

For this edition, the School of Construction Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile has joined as an Official Sponsor and Guest Academic Institution of Honor. The school brings its expertise and knowledge to the International Seminar, which will address key topics such as energy efficiency, building envelope performance, innovation, sustainability, and the industrialization of construction. ​ ​

In an interview with FEVENT MÁS 2027, Felipe Ossio, Director of the School of Construction Engineering, highlighted that one of the industry's major challenges is understanding the building envelope as an integrated system.

"We must stop viewing windows and facades as isolated elements and understand the building envelope as an integrated system that defines the quality of a building."

Regarding the new thermal regulations, Ossio stated that the landscape will require a profound shift in design and construction methods.

"Meeting minimum requirements will no longer suffice. It will be necessary to demonstrate the building's overall performance, with windows, facades, and building envelopes playing a decisive role."

He emphasized the need to strengthen professional training and innovation, as well as the adoption of new technologies. The director also highlighted the value of FEVENT MÁS 2027 as a forum bringing together academia, industry, and the public sector.lico.

"It will be much more than a trade fair; it will be a space where academia, industry, and the public sector can build the future of construction in Chile together."

The participation of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile reaffirms the technical and international nature of FEVENT MÁS 2027, an event that will bring together leading companies, specialists, authorities, researchers, and professionals to analyze the challenges shaping the future of the window, façade, enclosure, and building envelope industry.

Over the coming weeks, FEVENT MÁS 2027 will continue to announce new sponsors, international speakers, and strategic partnerships that will strengthen the event's program of activities.

Full Interview:

1. ​ What motivated the School of Construction Engineering at the Catholic University (UC) to become an Official Sponsor and Guest Academic Institution of Honor for FEVENT MÁS 2027?

Our participation stems from a clear conviction: the challenges facing the construction industry can only be addressed through close collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector. FEVENT MÁS serves as a high-level forum for discussing critical contemporary issues such as energy efficiency, building envelope performance, material innovation, and sustainability. For our School, it represents an opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen our ties with the industry, and help translate technical discussions into best practices for the sector.

2. From your perspective, what are the main technical and professional challenges currently facing the window, façade, enclosure, and building envelope industry in Chile?

The main challenge is a shift in mindset: moving from viewing windows or façades as isolated elements to understanding the building envelope as an integrated system that determines—for better or worse—the quality of a building. Today, we must solve a complex puzzle involving energy efficiency, thermal and acoustic comfort, durability in the face of a changing climate, and, of course, a reduced environmental footprint. This requires further professionalization across the entire value chain—from design and technical specifications to installation and on-site quality control. Above all, however, we need professionals with an interdisciplinary perspective who speak a common language across construction, architecture, engineering, and other specialties. That is the hallmark approach we are championing at UC.

3. What value does a university add by actively participating in defining the technical and academic content of an international seminar like FEVENT MÁS 2027?

We bring an independent perspective and a long-term outlook. Our role is not to sell a specific solution, but rather to ask whether that solution works, why it works, and how it adapts to our specific context. In defining the content, we ensure that the debate not only showcases new technologies but also provides scientific evidence and practical applications. Furthermore, we bring an international perspective and research findings that often take a long time to reach the construction site.

4. What topics do you consider essential for the International Seminar program, given the challenges regarding construction, energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation?

For our School, there are four indispensable pillars. First, the holistic performance of the building envelope: simply insulating isn't enough; we must ensure comfort and long-term durability. Second, reducing the carbon footprint: discussing low-impact materials, recyclability, and the circular economy, since the construction sector is responsible for a significant portion of emissions. Third, digitalization and industrialization: simulation, BIM, and prefabrication are no longer optional; they are necessary tools to meet new requirements. And fourth, including real-world case studies with lessons learned. One learns just as much from mistakes and successes on the job site as from published research in scientific journals. We need that practical counterpoint.

5. What opportunities does FEVENT MÁS 2027 offer students and alumni of the Universidad Católica in terms of learning, industry engagement, and professional development?

It is a golden opportunity—I say this with conviction. For our students, it offers a live glimpse into their professional future: interacting with business leaders, global specialists, and cutting-edge researchers. No classroom can replace that kind of immersion. For our alumni, it serves as an indispensable platform for staying up to date. In a sector where regulations and technologies change so rapidly, those who don't keep up get left behind. FEVENT allows them to refresh their knowledge, validate their practices, and, above all, build the collaborative networks that constitute true capital for growth within the industry.

6. What message would you convey to companies in the sector regarding the importance of strengthening collaboration between academia and industry to drive innovation and the country's development?

I would tell them that innovation does not happen in a vacuum. It occurs when university knowledge intersects with the experience and needs of the business world. Universities need input regarding real-world project challenges to conduct relevant research, while companies need academia—and the young talent we train—to solve those problems. This is not merely a transactional relationship, but a long-term strategic alliance. By working together, we accelerate the development of solutions, train better professionals, and—most importantly—make the Chilean construction sector more competitive, sustainable, and prepared for the challenges ahead.

7. The new Thermal Regulations raise energy performance requirements for buildings, assigning an increasingly important role to windows, facades, and building envelopes. How do you think this new landscape will impact the industry, and what technical and professional training challenges must both companies and academia address to meet these new demands?

The new Thermal Regulations represent a significant shift for the sector. Meeting minimum requirements in isolation will no longer suffice; it will be necessary to demonstrate the building's overall performance, a process in which windows, facades, and envelopes will play a decisive role. This will drive demand for more technically sophisticated solutions, better quality control, more rigorous installation processes, and an increasing use of simulation and performance assessment tools. ​ As the academic community, we have a responsibility to train professionals capable of understanding these challenges from a holistic perspective, incorporating knowledge of building physics, hygrothermal behavior, energy efficiency, materials, regulations, and performance assessment. At the same time, it will be crucial to strengthen continuing education so that practicing professionals can update their skills in light of this new regulatory landscape.

8. Finally, what invitation would you extend to professionals, companies, students, and industry stakeholders to participate in FEVENT MÁS 2027?

I would invite them to participate actively because FEVENT MÁS 2027 will be much more than just a trade fair or a technical seminar. It will be a space for sharing experiences, discovering the latest trends, forging new collaborations, and reflecting on how we want to build the buildings of the future. The challenges facing our industry are too complex to tackle individually. We need to create spaces where academic knowledge, professional experience, technological innovation, and the capacity of companies to turn ideas into concrete solutions all converge. I am convinced that FEVENT MÁS 2027 will be one such space, and we look forward to meeting there to continue building—together—an industry that is more innovative, sustainable, and prepared for the challenges of the future.