Category: Industry Insights

In today’s AEC landscape, documentation is no longer just a project byproduct, it’s a firm’s first line of defense.

As claims, disputes, and contractual scrutiny increase across the industry, firms must rethink how they document decisions, communications, and deliverables. This thought-leadership panel brings together industry experts to explore how documentation discipline, process consistency, and technology strategy can reduce risk while strengthening project outcomes.

Panelists will examine the growing legal pressures facing AEC firms, the most common documentation breakdowns that lead to claims, and practical strategies for building defensible, consistent project records. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how disciplined documentation, supported by the right processes and platforms, can mitigate risk without slowing productivity.

In the race to adopt AI, one question often gets overlooked: What is your data worth—and who benefits from it?

AEC firms generate enormous volumes of high-value project data, communications, and institutional knowledge. As AI tools become more embedded in daily workflows, firms must consider how their data is being used, how it may be training external models, and what safeguards are in place to protect intellectual property and client confidentiality.

This session explores the strategic value of firm data in the AI era. Participants will discuss how to balance innovation with protection, evaluate vendor transparency, establish internal data governance standards, and think critically about long-term data ownership. We’ll examine practical steps firms can take to protect their information while still leveraging AI to unlock insights and efficiency.

This session invites attendees to share policies, concerns, and strategies—helping firms move from reactive AI adoption to intentional data strategy.

Innovation in AECO doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because bold leaders are willing to challenge the status quo. In this thought-provoking panel, women leaders who have successfully introduced new technologies and transformative practices inside their organizations share what it really takes to drive change in a traditionally male-dominated industry. From making the business case to earning buy-in, leading with authority, and standing behind ideas that disrupt “the way we’ve always done it,” this session explores how today’s trailblazers are shaping the next wave of AECO innovation, and how others can do the same.

Mergers and acquisitions are accelerating across the AEC industry—but successful outcomes depend on more than the deal itself. Aligning people, processes, and technology is what turns growth into long-term value.

In this customer-led discussion, Chad Speas and Ashley Dunn of Corgan share real-world lessons from Corgan’s recent acquisition of Dyer Brown. Drawing on firsthand experience from both sides of the transaction, they’ll explore how firms can prepare for M&A, manage integration, and make smart technology decisions that support collaboration, continuity, and scale.

Attendees will gain practical insights into what worked, what was challenging, and how the right processes and platforms can accelerate integration while preserving culture and momentum.