Coffee and exhibition (11.00am – 11:30am)
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
NXT BLD Stream #1 - Mountbatten (6th floor)
Keynote sessions (9:30am - 11:00am) BST
Martyn Day // AEC Magazine & NXT BLD

Martha Tsigkari, Sherif Tarabishi and Adam Davis // Foster + Partners



Data has become the currency of the modern society. It is, in many ways, the most abundantly generated product of the 21st century. Every single action in our life is underscored by the production of data that is being mined and used in a variety of ways – and the AEC will be no different.
There is a huge amount of data produced during the design, construction and operation of the built environment. The question is how can we collect, organize and process it across disciplines in a meaningful manner? Martha Tsigkari and the Applied R+D group will discuss all the technological advancements that are allowing us to produce the data that not only drives our design decisions and enhances collaboration, but can also be harnessed and leveraged to optimize the future of the AEC.
Greg Schleusner // HOK
Cathal Loughnane // Aston Martin & Jenni Ramsay // Lenovo


Stream #1 AM (11:30am - 1:00pm) BST
Chun Qing Li // KREOD

What factors contributed to the erosion of the integrated role of architect, engineer, and contractor over time? In what ways is technology enabling the reunification of architects, engineers, and contractors in ways that were previously not achievable through traditional methods?
Chunq Qing Li (AKA Lee), the founder of KREOD companies, will share his experience in architectural design, KREOD Integrated DfMA Intelligent Automation (KIDIA) software development and construction. He will showcase how technological advancements that have enabled property developers, architects, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors to collaborate more seamlessly.
Li will also address the limitations of Building Information Modeling (BIM), highlighting that it is insufficient for the needs of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries, particularly in the construction sector. Instead, he will advocate for Integrated DfMA (Design for Manufacturing & Assembly) Intelligent Automation workflows and business models as the way forward. These integrated approaches offer enhanced efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness in construction, fostering harmonious collaboration among various disciplines.
Michael Drobnik // Herzog & de Meuron

Marc Goldman // Esri

Using a combination of real-world examples and research projects, learn how the convergence of GIS with the current wave of transformative technologies is reshaping the AEC landscape.
- Witness the power of AI and deep learning models leveraging GIS to unlock valuable insights.
- See examples of the potential of knowledge graphs, which seamlessly connect vast amounts of information in the AEC industry.
- Experience the game-changing capabilities of remote imagery and its integration with GIS, allowing for accurate site analysis, progress monitoring, and precise measurements.
- Discover how GIS, when combined with IoT, changes the way we collect and analyze spatial data in real time.
- Learn how BIM, when coupled with GIS, provides a data-rich foundation for designing, visualizing, and managing complex projects.
Through captivating and practical examples, you will gain insights into how GIS-driven solutions are transforming urban planning, infrastructure development, interiors planning, and sustainable design practices. Discover how the integration of these technologies enables professionals in the AEC industry to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively
Lunch and Exhibition (1.00pm – 2:00pm)
Stream #1 PM (2:00pm - 5:30pm) BST
Senthil Kumar // Slate Technologies

We are experiencing a seminal moment in the evolution of computational science. Intelligence Real and Artificial and Human, Machine convergence. With such promises, A vision for the future has the allure of grandeur and a disregard for the world of impossibilities.
In this session, I will go over some of the challenges, the solutions, avenues to watch out for, and a vision for the future fueled by these empowering technologies.
Martin Bach // aurivus

Discover how AI will change the information retrieval from reality capture data in the future, empowering professionals to unlock valuable insights directly from their scans. From AEC and MEP objects to industrial components we showcase real-world examples and discuss its impact on the industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how you can accelerate your reality capture process from laser scanning to the digital twin.
The Emperor's New Clothes in the World of BIM?
Jens Majdal Kaarsholm // BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)

Drawing inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale, Jens will unveil the invisible threads of bureaucracy that have ensnared the BIM landscape, presenting an illusion of progress while hindering its true potential. We explore how the once-revolutionary concept of BIM, with its promises of streamlined collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and improved project outcomes, has been encumbered by complex regulations, standards, and compliance requirements.
Through engaging anecdotes and insightful honesty, this presentation reveals the consequences of excessive bureaucracy on BIM projects. Jens will shed light on the paradoxical situation where BIM, intended to enhance efficiency, can paradoxically lead to delays, cost overruns, and frustration. By examining real-world case studies, Jens will expose some of the underlying causes and manifestations of bureaucratic bottlenecks that impede the realization of BIM’s transformative power.
Coffee and exhibition (3.30pm – 4:00pm)
Adi Shavit // SWAPP

We will get a sneak peek at how SWAPP leverages techniques like machine learning and advanced algorithms to automate the Design Development and Construction Document phases of architectural planning. This automation drastically reduces manual labor and accelerates project timelines. By enabling firms to handle more projects effectively and consistently, these AI-driven strategies are not just streamlining processes – they’re reshaping the industry. Join us to understand how this AI-driven revolution is setting the stage for the future of the AEC industry.
Pamela Nunez Wallgren & Jesper Wallgren // Finch


Johan Hanegraaf and Hilmar Gunnarsson // Arkio

Mixed reality has the potential to transform design and collaboration in the AEC industry, unlocking groundbreaking new workflows to get any job done faster and with less misunderstanding.
Overlay the real world with Revit and Rhino models using mixed reality headsets to visualize the future in context. Modify reality to instantly explore new design options on site. Collaboratively review virtual models that feel as tactile and interactive as physical scale models.
Join the Arkio team for a mixed reality presentation where the boundaries between physical and digital will blur!
Networking and drinks (5.30pm - 7.00pm)
NXT BLD Stream #2 - Rutherford (4th Floor)
Coffee and exhibition (11.00am – 11:30am)
Stream #2 AM (11:30am - 1:00pm) BST
Maria Yablonina // University of Toronto

Charlie Dunn // DPR Construction
Mike Leach & Mark Hirst // Lenovo


Learn from Lenovo subject matter experts both what these announcements mean to you and to the wider AEC community. From ProXR and Digital Twins to High Performance Compute and connecting remote workflows; join us to see how new hardware innovations can help you explore new workflow possibilities.
Lunch and Exhibition (1.00pm – 2:00pm)
Stream #2 PM (2:00pm - 5:30pm) BST
Tim Fu // Zaha Hadid Architects

Cobus Bothma // NVIDIA

Alvise Simondetti & Giulia Simone // Arup


First Alvise, a computational specialist, will draw on a decade of specialist work from the stakeholder communication of the design for Dongtan, the first sustainable city in China to the wayfinding design validation of Admiralty, Hong Kong’s busiest metro station. Then Giulia, a computational architect, will demonstrate the initial success on a current campus design in the adoption of the powerful high-fidelity workflow made available to all designers by Nvidia Omniverse and by the once unimaginable power of today’s high-spec Lenovo hardware.
Coffee and exhibition (3.30pm – 4:00pm)
Dr. Sarah Surgeoner // Creative Building Performance

In this session we will explore some of the ways technology is evolving to leverage the wealth of available data in making a positive impact.


Most AEC firms still use software that is lacking proper collaboration tools and making the design process difficult for non-experts. The traditional approach to user-centered software design has been to focus on user personas, building software programs for specific target users, but this has led to a lack of cross-functional collaboration and a steep learning curve.
In this talk, we introduce Qonic, a deep collaboration software, offering a unified space for accomplishing a specific cross-functional task, with a heavy emphasis on collaboration.
Deep collaboration software stands out from other collaboration tools in three ways: a specific collaboration toolset, a specific cross-functional task, and robust and granular permissions and approvals. It goes beyond simple file sharing to allow real-time collaboration with all necessary tools and features at users’ fingertips, streamlines workflows catered to a specific customer segment, and provides customized permissions to improve security and make it easier to manage sensitive data and information. The deep collaboration approach could significantly impact the AEC industry, where true collaborative design tools that can drive productivity and creativity are needed.
Abhinav Chaudhary, Jenya Andersson, Michael Polisano // PLP Architecture



Over the last two decades, there has been an inching towards these ideas in the fields of architecture and design and as we progress deeper into a fossil-fuel-free future, it is exciting to explore how natural materials and biological processes can be (re)integrated into the architecture and construction industry.
PLP Architecture and PLP Labs, the research group embedded within the practice, have been attempting to shift focus towards this through a series of explorations at various scales, ranging from skyscrapers, to interior installations, to consumer product design. The presented projects will explore the use of timber, mycelium composites and other plant- based materials within the context of design and architecture. These projects examine the evolving relationship between natural materials, habitable spaces and how they can be brought closer together through the constantly developing techniques of hi-tech design and fabrication.
Networking and drinks (5.30pm - 7.00pm)
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