As the 2024 calendar year comes to a close, it is important to reflect on the conversations had, lessons learned, and connections made to effectively grow both personally and professionally. Given BuiltWorlds’ 10-plus Research Tracks, it can be difficult to stay on top of the latest trends and innovations relative to building, construction, and infrastructure technology that we cover every day.
With that said, I thought it might be helpful to recap some of the associated content and lessons learned from the tracks that I oversee: Building Tech and Offsite Construction.
About the Research
As many of you likely know, BuiltWorlds segments our research efforts into ‘Tracks,’ which are hyper-focused add-ons to our base memberships, allowing users to dive deep into the topics in which they are most interested. By joining a research track, you enroll in a working group that will educate and challenge your understanding and use of various technologies that have the potential to disrupt the industry.
The Building Tech Track, specifically, looks at building products and materials, with a particular focus on technology and innovation relative to how we plan, design, and operate the built environment. Increasingly, this is an opportunity for architects, engineers and the like to explore the possibilities of designing efficient, smart, and resilient structures as well as what is needed to achieve them, whether it be new design software or greener building materials, among other innovations.
Similarly, the Offsite Construction Research Track hones in on prefabrication and modularization, which formerly fell under the Building Tech umbrella. We decided to formally split the two into their own dedicated offerings, with unique reports and events, as a result of increased interest in each particular field of study. This split catalyzed the launch of our inaugural Offsite Construction Conference in December, which garnered considerable participation, with more than 100 attendees, representing general and specialty contractors, engineering firms, architects, manufacturers, developers, material suppliers, and several other solution providers from eight different countries.
For more information on BuiltWorlds events, research, and other content, please reach out to research@builtworlds.com.
2025 In-Person and Virtual Forum Meetings:
*Refers to joint-track meetings. Forum meetings are closed-door sessions reserved for members of the respective research tracks.
Building Technologies in Practice
While the Building Tech focus area is not 'new' to BuiltWorlds, it saw a notable increase in interest in 2024. This was especially true as it pertained to AI/generative design solutions and alternative building materials, both of which have and continue to see increases in efficacy.
At the 2024 Buildings Conference, we heard presentations from Thornton Tomasetti's Chief Technology Officer Rob Otani, who was a 2024 BuiltWorlds Maverick Award winner, and T2D2's CEO Jonathan Ehrlich on how they identified and leveraged terabytes of unstructured data to create T2D2—an innovative AI-powered inspection cloud software—within TT's CORE Studio incubator. The discussion highlighted the potential for AEC firms to finally utilize the vast amount of data collected on every project in a meaningful way and how AI plays into that exploration.
Another noteworthy takeaway from that event was that a material science company, Heartland Industries, won the Demo Day Competition, besting software providers, robotic solutions, and building product suppliers. The other participants included Algoma, Apellix, INOVUES, Kaya AI, Lamarr.AI, Pathways, Pinpoint Analytics, and Sapient Industries. Heartland's win underscores the industry's growing interest in next-generation building products and materials. While the competition was close, the win could indicate a shift in focus toward tangible, physical innovations that can directly impact building performance, sustainability, and construction methods.
Watch the former CEO and Co-Founder of Heartland Industries, Jesse Henry, pitch at the 2024 Buildings Conference Demo Day.
Offsite Construction's Growing Presence in the Industry
The construction industry, while notoriously slow to adopt some new technology, has seen increased adoption of offsite fabrication/manufacturing techniques. While traditional stick-built construction remains dominant, benchmarking data and conversations at BuiltWorlds events throughout 2024 indicate modular and prefabricated methods could redefine the optimal project delivery framework. From supply chain disruptions to labor shortages, offsite construction has proven an effective answer to some of the industry's largest challenges.
Insights from BuiltWorlds’ 2024 Offsite Construction Report
BuiltWorlds’ second annual Offsite Construction Benchmarking Report revealed three critical takeaways for 2024.
- Offsite construction is no longer a 'niche' market. It’s increasingly becoming common practice to assemble whole modules or individual components on-site after their fabrication in a factory setting. Large-scale developers, public institutions, and other owners are mandating that varying amounts of their projects should be prefabricated or manufactured at an offsite location for its speed, safety, and sustainability benefits.
- Technology is a catalyst for growth. Automation, robotics, and advanced software platforms are driving efficiency and scalability. Companies are embracing AI/ML to forecast project timelines, optimize production schedules, and improve risk management.
- The workforce will be shuffled. Offsite fabrication requires a different skill set compared to traditional construction, and often they're skills that can be learned much quicker than historically possible on the jobsite. Skilled trades are being supplemented by green fabricators and assemblers who can manage and operate advanced manufacturing systems.
As you can see from some of the information shared above, the shift toward offsite construction in 2024 has been significant, and we're not the only ones seeing it. Below are three interviews we conducted with longtime BuiltWorlds member organizations leading up to the Offsite Construction Conference.
- Mass Timber, Offsite Construction, and Other Sustainable Building Practices: Q&A with Swinerton’s Lisa Podesto
- Building an Offsite-Ready Organization: Q&A With The Boldt Group’s New Leaders in Modular
- Offsite Construction to Drive Sustainable and Scalable Urban Development: A Q&A With Assembly OSM CEO, Andrew Staniforth
The construction industry’s adoption of modular, mass timber, and prefabricated building systems is not only driving efficiency but also supporting sustainability goals. As groups like Boldt and Swinerton continue to pioneer new methods, and as technology and policy align, the sector is well-positioned for future growth.
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