2026 Waterproofing Symposium
Prevent Costly Waterproofing Failures
A full-day symposium for architects and building professionals who need to get waterproofing right the first time.
Thursday, September 3rd, 2026.  10am – 4pm   David Brower Center
 6 Expert Speakers  AIA LU|HSW Credits
Avoid Costly Failures Before They Happen
A full day of real-world waterproofing lessons from experts who diagnose, design, and fix what goes wrong.
Why This Matters
Waterproofing failures are expensive, disruptive, and often avoidable. This symposium focuses on what actually goes wrong in the field and how to prevent it.
- Learn from real project failures
- Understand where design decisions break down
- See what works in practice, not theory
- Protect your projects and your reputation
What You’ll Get
For Architects and Design Professionals
Reduce risk on your projects
Improve detailing decisions
Avoid costly failures
Earn CE credits
For Vendors and Sponsors
- Direct access to architects and decision-makers
- Extended face time throughout the day
- Highly targeted audience actively specifying products
- Limited sponsor spots for maximum visibility
What the Day Looks Like
- Morning: Expert-led sessions on real failures and solutions
- Midday: Networking + vendor engagement
- Afternoon: Deeper dives into systems and detailing
- Throughout: Direct access to consultants and experts
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Presentations + Speakers
The Triple Threat: How Poor Design, Weak Materials, and Low Maintenance Undermine Building Longevity
Speaker: Joe Piñon, M.S., P.E., Principal, RDH Building Sciences Inc.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
   – Why good projects fail when design, materials, and maintenance are misaligned
   – Real examples of enclosure failures and what could have prevented them
   – Practical strategies for extending building service life
Joe Piñon, M.S., P.E. (CA), RDH Building Science, brings over 20 years of experience in the design, investigation, rehabilitation, and commissioning of building enclosure systems, including roofing, waterproofing, cladding, and glazing systems. He holds an advanced degree in Building Science and combines practical research, hygrothermal modeling, and forensic testing to optimize the durability, thermal performance, and cost-effectiveness of building enclosures.Â
Building Science Failures of Stucco in Warm Climates
Speaker: Andrew Bishop, Associate Principal and Unit Manager;Â Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
   – Why seemingly successful stucco assemblies continue to fail
   – Common design and detailing mistakes
   – Lessons learned from forensic investigations and repairs
Andrew Bishop leads a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to exceptional service and technical excellence. He specializes in the design, assessment, and repair of exterior envelopes, including waterproofing. His focus ranges from evaluating design ideas for new construction, to identifying the cause of failures, and designing practical solutions for rehabilitation. He has been an enclosure consultant with WJE for the past 14 years.Â
Foundation Waterproofing Disasters: Lessons for Design and Construction
Speaker: Jeff Chen, President, McGinnis Chen Associates, Inc.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
– Why foundation waterproofing systems fail, even when they appear correctly designed
– Real project case studies showing costly mistakes and the lessons they teach
– Proven strategies to improve durability, reduce callbacks, and avoid expensive repairs later on
Jeff Chen is the President of the A/E firm McGinnis Chen Associates, Inc., founded in 1963, where he leads and mentors a team of diverse Architects, Engineers and Contractors that specializes in building enclosure design, waterproofing consultation and remedial architecture throughout California. Pioneer in the building enclosure industry and with experience accumulated over 44 years of professional practice and celebrating 44 years with McGinnis Chen Associates, Inc., Jeff Chen brings a high level of technical and design expertise in exterior building enclosure technology.
Leveraging Design and Testing to Avoid Enclosure Failures
Speaker: Rod Calkum, Quality Control (QC) Division Manager, Aquatech Consultancy, Inc. (ACI)
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
   – Where enclosure failures begin long before occupancy
   – How mock-ups and testing reveal problems before they become lawsuits
   – Case studies showing the cost of getting it wrong
Rod Calkum is the Quality Control (QC) Division Manager at Aquatech Consultancy, Inc (ACI). He has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry as a designer, supervisor, and multi-discipline tradesman. Rod’s current responsibilities focus on management, scheduling, and development of the QC Division, in direct charge of ACI’s accredited AAMA Field Testing Agency, and overseeing estimating, scheduling and compliance for that group.Â
Waterproofing Aloha: From Failure to Fix — Updated Outcomes and Lessons from the Hawaii Convention Center Plaza
Returning Attendees: this is the follow-up you asked for!
Speaker: Gerson S. Bers, Sr. Principal, Vice President, Allana Buick & Bers (ABB)
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
   – What went wrong at the Hawaii Convention Center Plaza and how they fixed it.
   – How the repair strategy evolved during construction
   – Updated findings and lessons learned since the original presentation
Mr. Bers is named principal and leads ABB’s building sciences staff. Mr. Bers is a University of Maryland, College Park alumni in Physical Science with a focus in Geography. He is a certified ORNL-WUFI hydrothermal modeling instructor, a frequent lecturer in building science and building enclosure, and a guest lecturer at the Stanford’s Graduate School. Mr. Bers is a recognized building enclosure expert with experience in all forms of roofing (with a special love for slate), wall cladding systems, fenestration, weather resistive barriers, and waterproofing assemblies. Recent notable projects include building enclosure consultant for the New Stanford Hospital (Palo Alto), Apple Campus Visitor’s Center (Cupertino), Apple Retail Union Square (San Francisco), Google Caribbean (Sunnyvale) Army Museum of the Pacific (Waikiki), University of Chicago New Hospital Pavilion (Chicago), the Atlantic Building (Philadelphia) and the Getty Museum (Los Angles).
Seats Are Limited
 This event sold out last year! Early registration is recommended.