Meeting/Event Information

Building Controls Panel Discussion - Balancing Energy Efficiency and Occupant Productivity

 

November 06, 2025
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
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AIASF Center For Architecture + Design
140 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
https://centersf.org/
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Building Controls Panel Discussion - Balancing Energy Efficiency and Occupant Productivity

This session, created in collaboration with BIG (Building Intelligence Group) SF Chapter, will explore ASHRAE Society President McQuade’s 2025–26 theme, “Healthy Buildings: Designing for Life,” with a focus on advancing occupant health and productivity while maintaining building energy efficiency goals. Our panel will showcase how engineers, contractors, and owners collaborate to deliver buildings that balance sustainability with occupant productivity. Through real-world perspectives, we will highlight practical strategies to enhance air quality and thermal comfort in both new construction and existing facilities, ensuring healthier, more efficient spaces. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors Sigler Carrier, Siemens, Syserco, Reliable Controls and Tridium! All our sponsors will also join us for a mini product show during the event—don’t miss the chance to check out their latest innovations!

Agenda
  11:00AM   Product Show/Lunch
  12:00PM  Introductions
  12:15PM Panel Discussion
    1:30PM   Product Show
2.00PM Meeting Adjourn

 

Speaker(s)  

Behzad Torabifar
Senior Director - Head of Sustainability, Site Services @ Genentech (Roche)

Behzad Torabifar is Executive Director and Head of Site Services Sustainability at Genentech, where he leads the company’s strategy to achieve Roche’s 2029 and 2045 environmental goals. With more than 20 years of global experience in engineering and sustainability, he is widely recognized for his strategic vision and proven ability to deliver innovation at scale.  

Gabriel Sandoval
Senior Controls and Commissioning Engineer @ UCSF

Gabe Sandoval is a Controls and Commissioning Engineer with over 20 years of experience in building automation systems. At UCSF Health, he manages complex automation systems across multiple hospitals and medical facilities, ensuring operational reliability in mission-critical environments while optimizing energy performance. His expertise spans the complete system lifecycle—from control system design and installation through comprehensive commissioning and ongoing optimization. He specializes in translating complex technical requirements into practical automation strategies for healthcare, research facilities, and high-performance computing environments, with a focus on all-electric building solutions that balance sustainability goals with operational demands.

Sergey Gutkin
Sr. Principal, Smart Building Technology @ Alfatech

Accomplished leader in digital transformation and smart building solutions with over 12 years of experience in business development and executive leadership. He is an expert in guiding high-profile clients through their smart building journeys, implementing enterprise-level strategies, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, technology-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability. A dynamic communicator and respected industry thought leader, Sergey excels at building impactful partnerships and achieving results in fast-paced, client-focused environments.

Marc Annichero 
Branch Manager, Bay Area @ Sunbelt Controls

Sabine Lam
Senior Director Product Management @ Acuity

Sabine is a seasoned leader in strategic product management, currently serving as Senior Director of Product Management at Acuity Intelligent Spaces, where she drives the development and execution of Atrius DataLab’s product strategy. With over a decade at Google pioneering cutting-edge technology for workspace optimization, cybersecurity, sustainability, and operational excellence, she has a proven track record of advancing digital transformation in the built environment. A recognized industry leader, Sabine is committed to revolutionizing real estate through automation, AI, open-source collaboration, and standardized protocols, enabling fully integrated intelligent spaces that are safer, smarter, and greener.

Tickets

$45.00 Chapter member price
$55.00 after 5:00 pm October 30

$65.00 Non-member price
$75.00 after 5:00 pm October 30

$45.00 AIA Member Ticket
$55.00 after 5:00 pm October 30

$65.00 BIG Member tickets
$75.00 after 5:00 pm October 30

$20.00 Students

$320.00 Chapter meeting voucher

$1,500.00 Title Sponsor

$1,000.00 Sponsor (Only 5 spots available!)