The organizing committee, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider from Technische Universität Darmstadt and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Weller from Technische Universität Dresden chose the heading keywords »glass – facade – energy« for the current conference. From the 21st through 22th October 2014 the internationally renowned personalities of science and research debate about development and innovations in structural glazing. Modern architecture demands for transparency and dematerialization. The bearing structure and the building envelope should be as transparent and spread as possible. To fulfill these requirements, it´s necessary to use hidden potentials for new applications and develop hybrid structural systems. While glass is used in combination with steel and aluminium, novel hybrids with glass and timber or glass and concrete are future trends to be discussed today. The topic timber-glass composites with 11 lectures is the focus of Tuesday, 21st October. In addition, the focus is on material properties of glass in architecture and on innovative facade concepts. Subsequently to the lectures there is the possibility to take part in an exclusive guided tour through the »glass technology live« area. Here two projects (URBAN WOOD and prestressed spannglass beams) of Technische Universität Dresden are ready to hand and walkable before the days ends with an informal get-together.

The next day, Wednesday 22nd October, broaches the issue of façade construction and structural glazing. International authors explain case studies of extraordinary glass- and façade projects. Next to the structural and esthetic requirements, the speakers will address energy efficiency, sustainability and protection of resources. Technical details of solar technology and adhesives glass bonds are going to be discussed in further lectures. After each lecture, there is time for questions and answers.

Exceptional keynote lectures
Outstanding keynote speakers, such as Prof. Jan Knippers, founder and co-owner of Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and John Kooymans, head of the structural Glass and Façade Engineering – Group of Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd, Canada will give exclusive insights in their work. Furthermore, from the architectural point of view, Christoph Timm, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, USA, one of the world largest architect's office, and Dr. Winfried Heusler, Senior Vice President Engineering SCHÜCO (Bielefeld, GER), as a representative of the industry, will emphasize on future facade design. They will complete the schedule of more than 70 presentations held by scientists, architects and engineers.

Glass technology live and get-together
Furthermore, the developers present latest mock-ups of the scientific work at the »glass technology live« area. Special mention should be made of the objects of URBAN WOOD and the spannglass beams Bridge. Technische Universität Dresden developed both exhibits in close cooperation with international project partners. The observer may gain an insight into the potential of the material glass: products and vision of research and practice materialize into an impressive and visible exhibition. Participants may join a special guided tour around the area including the possibility of discussing live with the respective inventors and developers followed by an informal get together at  gtl-café.

Conference proceedings
As a matter of course, all presentations will be accompanied by high value reports and scientific papers in a book of conference proceedings, which will be distributed, to every participant. At present, there are more than 70 contributions from internationally renowned authors. All articles are peer-reviewed by a distinguished scientific board in order to ensure a high value content. Universities and research facilities contribute about one-half of the articles. The industry as well as engineering and architectural companies provide the remaining content. Therefore, the conference will account for networking and a close transfer of results from the sciences to practice. The attendance is included in the conference fee.

Registration and further information
The conference addresses engineers and architects from a broad field of expertize for an interdisciplinary exchange of thoughts and concepts in

• Projects and buildings
• Energy and sustainability
• Structures and structural design
• Research and development in structural glazing

The participation of glass producers and processors as well as interested clients will complete the global approach of this event.
The total conference fee of 350 € includes:

• Attendance 21st and 22nd October 2014 engineered transparency
• Conference proceedings with 72 scientific papers
• Two-day- ticket for glasstec2014, world‘s largest trade fair for the glass industry and its suppliers, including the free use of public transport
• Special guided tour glass technology live
• participation at the exclusive get-together 21st  October 2014 at the glass technology live area
• Soft drinks and snacks during the breaks

The online registration desk is accessible via www.engineered-transparency.eu.
We are able to provide a limited number of special student discount tickets. Enrolled students from national and international universities may visit the engineered transparency conference for a reduced fee of 100 €. Please register as a regular participant and send a valid proof from your university as well as your invoice number to info@engineered-transparency.eu. After acceptance, we will adjust your registration details and invoice.

URBAN WOOD - Load-Bearing Timber Glass Composites
The aim of the international project URBAN WOOD is the advancement of adhesive wood timber composites as load bearing elements in the building envelope. New fields of application open up for the sustainable material wood in structural connection with glass.
Numerous research facilities and industry partners from seven countries work interdisciplinary and across all industries to increase the service capacity of wood, as a renewable building material.
The main task for the Technische Universität Dresden is the optimization of the adhesive bond. Therefore, the engineers are looking for suitable and solid industrial adhesives. To determine the durableness and the capacity to withstand stresses experimental tests are used.

Spannglassbeams
Post-tensioned glass beams – also0 known as Spannglassbeams – combine innovative glass structures with modern architecture. The Institute of Building Construction at Technische Universität Dresden conducts research on those Spannglassbeams in close cooperation with Thiele Glas Werk GmbH and KL-megla GmbH within the Central Innovation Programm for SMEs, sponsored by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Glass roofs and transparent facades are typical areas of application of the novel technology. Additionally, those high-load-bearing elements form a vitreous pedestrian bridge, which underlines the practical applicability.

The nine-meter spanning bridge is reinforced and post-tensioned using a 24 mm spiral strand. High-performance plastic blockings transfer the occurring cable load directly into the laminated glass, which creates an additional favorable compressive stress within the glass edge. This increases its load bearing capacity. In case of glass failure, the steel cable holds the whole structure in places and allows for an additional, safe post-breakage load transfer.