This white paper captures executive insights from Building Transformations' 2026 U.S. Industry Summit, held at the Diverge Innovation Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 21, 2026.
Sixty senior leaders from across the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry convened for an invite-only Executive Leadership Forum featuring expert presentations, panel discussions, and facilitated collaboration sessions. Organized into breakout groups, participants explored how AI is reshaping the AEC software landscape and what AI-driven transformation means for design, engineering, and construction business models. Key themes include data ownership as competitive advantage, platform consolidation, the evolving role of the general contractor, the design automation spectrum, pre-construction opportunities, and the growing gap between technology adoption and legal frameworks. The discussions were frank, unfiltered, and rich with on-the-ground experience from senior executives at DPR Construction, Whiting-Turner, Hensel Phelps, Fortis Construction, Barton Malow, and others. This document synthesizes those insights into a strategic resource for industry leaders navigating the AI transition.
