That is one reason the September 17, 2025 IIBEC Metro New York Chapter Building Smarter with AI Conference was such an important event. The conference brought together industry professionals to discuss how technology, innovation, and smarter planning are shaping the future of building performance.
During the event, our president, Josh Thompson, joined hosts Kenneth Shultz and Carter Huddleston for a live-recorded episode of The Blueprint Tour to talk about the real-world challenges behind building envelope maintenance and facade access. Watch the full episode below.
Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in major urban markets like New York and Miami, Josh shared insight into some of the most common and costly building issues today, including water intrusion, deteriorating sealants, facade failures, and ongoing maintenance concerns. He also explained that routine services like window cleaning often serve as an early warning system, helping identify signs of deterioration before they turn into larger failures.
A major focus of the conversation was access. Before any repair begins, the first challenge is often figuring out how to safely reach the problem. Whether the solution involves rope access, suspended scaffolding, or other specialized equipment, access planning is a critical part of high-rise repair and restoration work.
The episode also featured Rubén Alexis Aguilera Hormazabal, our IRATA Rope Access Level 2 technician and Architectural Glass Restoration Specialist. Rubén shared his path into rope access work, along with perspective on the training, certifications, and safety procedures required to perform specialized exterior work hundreds of feet above the ground.
The conversation reinforced something we see every day: proactive inspections, proper access strategy, and experienced field teams are essential to protecting buildings over time. As new technologies continue to influence the industry, strong diagnostics, preventative maintenance, and skilled execution remain at the core of what we do.
A big shout out and thank you to Kenneth Shultz and Carter Huddleston for featuring Thompson Exterior Services on the The Blueprint Tour.
