When
Feb 17, 2026 - Feb 18, 2026
Where
,Premier Sponsors
PRICING AND REGISTRATION
$3,000
Non-members interested in membership can learn more here.
1 MEMBER TICKET
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PRICING VARIES
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The AEC Industry's Premier AI Event
The annual AI/ML Conference explores the growing and increasingly complicated landscape of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in the AEC/O industry. The event provides context to the evolving role of AI/ML technologies in the space, including details on existing and emerging solutions and use cases across all areas of the construction, building and operation process; strategies for how solutions are being implemented at the project and enterprise levels; and case studies that illustrate how companies are utilizing specific solutions and the lessons learned from their experiences.
Insiders Share Their Experience at a BuiltWorlds AI Conference
2026 Speakers Include:
Agenda
Day 1 Schedule
Working Group Registration & Check In
**ONLY MEMBERS OF BUILTWORLDS' RESEARCH TRACKS SHOULD CHECK IN AT THIS TIME**
Research Track Working Group Lunch
**CLOSED TO BUILTWORLDS AI/ML & EQUIPMENT & ROBOTICS TRACK MEMBERS ONLY**
AI/ML Preparedness Research Track Working Group Meeting
**CLOSED TO BUILTWORLDS AI/ML PREPAREDNESS RESEARCH TRACK MEMBERS OR BY SPECIAL INVITATION**
The AEC industry entered a transformative era where artificial intelligence and machine learning are no longer optional, they are essential for driving efficiency, competitiveness, and innovation. This group discussion will provide examples of how Mortenson has been preparing for and enabling AI and encourages open dialogue on how organizations can approach foundational capabilities to strategically adopt AI/ML technologies.
Speakers:
Brian Nahas, Director of Artificial Intelligence, Mortenson
David Grosshuesch, Senior Manager, Data Analytics, Mortenson
Networking Break
Equipment & Robotics Research Track Working Group Meeting
**CLOSED TO BUILTWORLDS EQUIPMENT & ROBOTICS RESEARCH TRACK MEMBERS OR BY SPECIAL INVITATION**
The first time a new tool deploys, everyone watches it cautiously. Sundt’s first use of autonomous heavy civil equipment this summer was extremely successful. The success wasn’t just in the technology, but in the partnership. Bedrock Robotics & Sundt Construction will debrief about what drove success on this first deployment.
Speakers:
Eric Cylwik, Director of Innovation, Sundt Construction
Brian Smith, Business Development Partner, Bedrock Robotics
Networking Break & General Registration
Investing in the AI Era: A VC Perspective
Panel Discussion
As AI matures from a "frontier experiment" to a foundational layer, this panel examines the potential of Vertical AI within the construction sector. Our experts will define AI’s transformational role while tackling challenges entrepreneurs experience when deploying this type of solution. Covering the full spectrum from seed to growth, we will discuss the shifting VC dynamics of 2026: ballooning round sizes, "AI premiums" on valuations, and the rigorous revenue expectations required to survive the "Series B air gap."
Speakers:
Mayra Arntz, Principal, Building Ventures (Moderator)
Isabelle Granahan-Field, Principal, Camber Creek
Mary Kenney, Principal, Heartland Ventures
Margarita de la Peña, Principal, Zacua Ventures
Anya Malik, Investor, Vista Equity Partners
Networking Break
Startup Demo Day Competition
All conference attendees are invited to attend the Startup Demo Competition on February 17th ahead of the general sessions on February 18th.
Presenting Companies:
Arbel.ai, Articulate, Boon, Bynaus, Erand, Karmen, Knetyc, Macadamia Labs
Judging Companies:
ARCO/Murray National Construction, Diverge (Hensel Phelps), Kajima Corporation, LiveOak Ventures, Stellifi VC, Unorthodox Ventures
Networking Reception
Day 2 Schedule
Registration & Breakfast
Welcoming Address
Speaker:
Rosemarie Lipman, CEO, BuiltWorlds
Keynote Presentation: Scales of Intelligence: AI, Agency, and AECO
Keynote Presentation
Artificial Intelligence is developing at a fevered pace, and it’s hard to believe that we will be the subjects of our robot overlords before the next design and construction project begins. This talk will try to contextualize AI technology for the AECO market, frame strategic questions about its development, and frame both the opportunities and risks of the emergence of autonomous algorithms in the built environment.
Speaker:
Phillip Bernstein, Deputy Dean and Professor in the Practice, Yale University School of Architecture
The Data Center Boom
Panel Discussion
As AI adoption accelerates, the demand for hyperscale and edge data centers is reaching unprecedented levels. 'The Data Center Boom' brings together leaders from the data center space to explore the 'why' behind data centers, specifically how design, construction, and operations are evolving to meet the compute needs of the future. Panelists will discuss innovations in power, cooling, and sustainability, as well as the challenges of scaling infrastructure at record speed.
Speakers:
Eric Wages, Founder & CEO, Idealem Solutions Group (Moderator)
Alfonso Oliva, Senior Manager DevRel AECO AI, NVIDIA
Kushal Dagli, AI-Optimization Lead, Data Centers, Microsoft
Ryan Krogstad, Central Core Market Leader - Advanced Technology, DPR Construction
Barak Gur-Arie, VP, Mission Critical, Buildots
AI for Subcontractors & Specialty Trades
Breakout Session
AI adoption looks different in the field than it does in the boardroom, and no one knows that better than the trades putting it to work. This discussion-based session invites subcontractors and specialty trades to share their unique experiences, challenges, and success stories around implementing AI on jobsites. From estimating and scheduling to materials management and QA/QC, we will explore where AI is delivering real value and where it still falls short. Participants will exchange ideas, compare tools, and surface practical insights on how to make AI work in hands-on construction environments.
Speakers:
Dave Brown, Chief Estimator, EC Electric
Den Lavrik, CEO, Drawer AI
Networking Break
Implementing AI in Planning & Design: Managing Risk and Quality
Panel Discussion
In this forward-looking session, industry leaders will explore how AI is reshaping planning and design, and how firms can manage the attendant risks while safeguarding quality. The speakers will unpack proven strategies for embedding AI responsibly into workflows, ensuring trust, traceability and alignment with design intent in today’s complex project ecosystems.
Speakers:
Pierce Reynoldson, VP, Technology & Innovation, EnTech Engineering
Tonya Custis, Senior Director, AI Lab, Autodesk
Stefani Guerra, CTO, The Falcon Group
Jean-Pierre Trou, CEO & Founder, mbue
Partnering with AI-Enabled Tech Startups in AECO
Breakout Session
This session will focus on how general contractors can partner with AI startups purpose-built for construction - not generic tools adopted for it. Discussion will cover what to look for in a partner that helps move AI efforts forward, illustrate the pitfalls of generic solutions and how to avoid them, and address common barriers to adoption. The conversation will highlight how AI supports experienced builders by taking on repetitive, time-consuming tasks so their expertise can be focused on strategy and informed decision-making.
Speakers:
Trent Miskelly, Strategic Advisor, AI & Innovation, Satterfield and Pontikes
Steve Dell'Orto, Founder & CEO, ConCntric
Building Ventures Spotlight - Quick Wins, Lasting Change: Founders Showcasing AI's Practical Power in Construction
Spotlight Session
Join the founders of three pioneering construction tech companies as they show how AI isn't a complicated overhaul, but an accessible tool that provides immediate improvements and enables you to win more business faster. The discussion will be grounded in reality by moderator Brian Nahas (Director of AI at Mortenson), who will use his perspective as a large scale contractor to address real world challenges, data security concerns, and the necessary steps to integrate these technologies into your business today. Walk away with clear, actionable steps toward substantial long term transformation.
Speakers:
Brian Nahas, Director of Artificial Intelligence, Mortenson (Moderator)
Forest Flager, Founder and CEO, Parspec
Britton Langdon, Founder and CEO, BuildFactory
Rohan Jawali, Founder and CEO, Joist AI
How AI Reviews Drawings: Foundation Models for Automated Multi-Sheet Drawing Review
Breakout Session
Traditional document AI struggles with construction drawings - hundreds of sheets containing dense visual information, technical annotations, and domain-specific notation that frontier foundation models cannot reliably interpret.
This talk explores the technical architecture enabling AI to automatically review multi-page drawing sets. We'll examine how custom-trained vision language models combine layout detection, OCR, and domain-specific understanding to transform visual drawings into structured, queryable knowledge. The discussion covers vision-language models trained on architectural drawings and building codes, multimodal parsing pipelines for complex PDFs, and embedding models that capture geometric relationships and layout structure - not just text.
As foundation models advance, designers and engineers will be able to automatically review entire drawing sets for compliance, coordination, and quality control. This talk focuses on technical implementation details, architectural decisions, and model training approaches for building automated drawing review systems.
Speaker:
Andriy Mulyar, CEO, Nomic
Lunch
Demo Day Winner Announcement
Join us in Salon C to hear who came out on top after yesterday's intense showcase of innovative AI/ML-driven solutions!
Afternoon Fireside Chat
Speakers:
Rosemarie Lipman, CEO, BuiltWorlds
Beena Ammanath, Executive Director, Global Deloitte AI Institute, Deloitte
The Power of Internal Incubation - CORE Studio & Thornton Tomasetti
Presentation
For more than a decade, CORE studio has advanced the frontier of AI/ML within the AEC industry, transforming Thornton Tomasetti’s 70-year legacy of structural engineering expertise into powerful, scalable digital tools. This presentation by Rob Otani will trace CORE’s evolution—from early generative design work that informed applications like Skipper for rapid floor framing design and Asterisk for ML-powered building-scale structural optioneering, to cutting-edge computer vision systems that automatically detect damage and defects from inspection imagery and video.
The session will also feature a brief highlight of T2D2, one of Thornton Tomassetti's early R&D initiatives that has matured and spun out into a commercial platform, redefining façade and infrastructure inspection.
Speaker:
Robert Otani, Chief Technology Officer, Thornton Tomasetti
BuiltWorlds Research Presentation
Presentation
This presentation will share findings from BuiltWorlds’ 2025 AI Benchmarking Survey, highlighting how AEC organizations are approaching AI adoption. The session will present data on the percentage of firms building in-house AI capabilities versus buying AI-enabled solutions, along with the factors driving each approach. It will also cover the top current use cases, key benefits reported, and the main challenges organizations face, based on input from industry decision makers and stakeholders.
Speaker:
Audrey Lynch, Director of Research, BuiltWorlds
Networking Break
Can AI Solve Construction's Efficiency Challenges?
Panel Discussion
Construction has long faced productivity and efficiency hurdles, from fragmented workflows to labor shortages and schedule overruns. This panel brings together industry leaders to examine whether AI can move the needle—exploring real-world applications in project planning, scheduling, resource optimization, and predictive analytics. Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of where AI delivers measurable efficiency gains, the limitations it currently faces, and strategies for integrating these tools into complex construction operations without adding risk or complexity.
Speakers:
Miguel Urquía, Global AI Program Lead in Construction, Ferrovial Construction
Dr. Sarah Buchner, CEO & Founder, Trunk Tools
Robin Patra, Head Data, Analytics & AI, Keeley Companies
Rob Leon, Chief Innovation Officer, STO Building Group
Cutting Through the Noise: How Will AI Influence Existing Workflows?
Panel Discussion
As AI tools proliferate across design, construction, and operations, the critical question shifts from what AI can do to how AI actually reshapes how we work. This session will spotlight real-world workflow transformations, how AI is being embedded into planning, modelling, handover, and field execution, and examine the practical implications for roles, decision-making, collaboration, and process governance in AECO.
Speakers:
Andrew Stanger, Senior Corporate Counsel, Acciona Construction (Moderator)
Anna Chaney, Director of Engineering, Procore
Christopher Velguth, Senior Business Development Manager, Orion Construction
Chris Bruner, VP of Product, Document Crunch
Building an AI Roadmap for Your Organization
Breakout Session
As AI matures from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment, organizations need a clear, actionable roadmap—not just a collection of pilots. This hands-on workshop will guides participants through defining high-value use cases, assessing organizational readiness, setting governance and data foundations, and creating a phased adoption plan aligned to business outcomes. Attendees will leave with a practical framework they can immediately apply to steer AI strategy within their own teams.
Financing & ROI of AI in Large Projects
Breakout Session
At an inflection point for the built-environment industry, this session will explore how organizations can evaluate and capture the business value of artificial intelligence initiatives in major projects. The group will share frameworks for quantifying return on investment, aligning AI funding with project KPIs, and de-risking large-scale deployments — giving owners, contractors and technologists a blueprint for investment that moves beyond techno-optimism to measurable business outcomes.
Speaker:
Ezequiel Machabanski, VP of Insights and Analytics, EllisDon
Ethics & Data Ownership in AECO
Breakout Session
As digital collaboration and connected technologies reshape the AECO industry, data has become one of the most valuable — and most contentious — assets on the jobsite. Who truly owns the data generated across a project’s lifecycle? How should it be shared, protected, and used responsibly? “Ethics & Data Ownership in AECO” will bring together a diverse group of participants — including leading general contractors, specialty trade contractor, investors, technology solution providers, and an independent consultants — to unpack the complex ethical, contractual, and operational challenges surrounding project data. From questions of transparency and competitive advantage to evolving standards for consent and cybersecurity, this discussion will explore how organizations can collaborate more effectively while safeguarding both their proprietary information and the trust that underpins every project partnership.
Speaker:
Alan Mosca, Co-founder & CTO, nPlan
Closing Remarks & Reception
Member Registration
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