Building and Designing for the Future

Last week, we logged 10,000+ steps walking around McCormick Place at Chicago Build, the annual construction and design show. We had the chance to connect with several companies while walking the show floor and there was so much excitement around how the industry is leveraging new technology.

Unsurprisingly, AI was the buzzword on the tip of everyone’s tongue. This is one industry that we personally think will have the most success with leveraging AI in new ways to transform how work is done. Using it for quality checks and scheduling and bringing what lives on pieces of paper and spreadsheets into a modern workflow to improve accuracy and efficiency.

The speed at which this technology is reshaping the industry is remarkable. These companies are using technology to build better buildings and uncover ways to maximize output on projects. Not just for the sake of using AI or a robot, but because these tools actually make the job site more efficient and minimize human error. For example, we saw an autonomous robot draw an architectural layout up to 10x faster than the tape measure and laser level method layout crews have relied on for decades. The conversation is clear: using technology (in this case, AI) for repetitive tasks will free teams to focus on human-centered tasks on the job site, overcoming various labor shortage challenges in the workforce.

Many of the sessions and exhibitor conversations reinforced this shift. Digital first is the future of the industry and implementing technology that drives efficiencies and keeps budgets on track, not just chasing buzzwords.

And what’s a building tradeshow without sustainability conversations? We overheard discussions around carbon tracking and reporting, material transparency and supply chain tracing – all focused around the intersection of AI and data that helps improve reporting efficiency.

One of the sessions we attended was ‘Strategic Storytelling: Crafting Authentic Narratives That Drive Awareness and Win Work’ as part of the Skills & Marketing Hub. The communications world is going through a massive shift when it comes to storytelling too – thanks to the buzzword we all know too well – and we wanted to hear how leaders in this space are navigating sharing their stories through transparency and authenticity.

We love the “City of the Big Shoulders,” and seeing so many conversations around the future was a great way to close out the month. We always love attending industry events to keep our finger on the pulse of innovation and “what’s next.” See you in 2026!