Construction
Rob McManamy
DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes

Yesterday, DEWALT, accompanied by Procore, announced their new WiFi Mesh, which promises to increase wireless connectivity on the jobsite. We talked to two DEWALT executives about the new product — here's what they had to say.

DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Data-driven design propelling collaboration

"Data-driven design" suggests an impersonal, robotic process that replaces human creativity with cold numbers. But at our latest BuildIdeas Breakfast, we learned from IBM Watson and Detroit Mercy Hospital that it can mean greater customer satisfaction.

Data-driven design propelling collaboration
Business
Rob McManamy
Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge

Despite wavering venture investment, the clean energy market is still growing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Here, the annual Clean Energy Trust Challenge gives us a welcome opportunity to check in on multiple, vibrant efforts to implement power innovation.

Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge
Cities
Rob McManamy
Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations

If cities will yield the richest data upon which tomorrow's most consequential decisions will be based, then it is no surprise they were a recurring topic at last week's BuiltWorlds Summit. To see some of the actionable insights that were shared, read on.

Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Obamas unveil Presidential Center design

Just days after the former First Lady urged architects not to neglect inner cities, she and her husband came home to Chicago this week to reveal their vision for a $500-million community hub that they hope will reinvigorate a long-struggling community.   

Obamas unveil Presidential Center design

Mortenson Construction

Integrated project delivery saves time, cuts costs, shares rewards

Integrated project delivery saves time, cuts costs, shares rewards

The delivery method contractually puts owner, designer, and builder on equal footing, requiring shared financial risk and reward while promoting collaborative decision-making that shaves schedule and budget.

The future of cost estimation, from BIM to VR and beyond

The future of cost estimation, from BIM to VR and beyond

Estimating is one of the most tedious and revision-heavy aspects of the construction process, but a few new solutions, including model-based estimating, VR, and generative design, offer potential ways to speed it up.

Model behavior: How to optimize BIM during preconstruction

Model behavior: How to optimize BIM during preconstruction

Promoting collaboration, coordination, efficiency, and design intent among owners, designers, and builders during the design phase is critical to laying the foundation for activities that occur in the field. 

Surprising surge in AEC investor confidence

Surprising surge in AEC investor confidence

When the Dow Jones topped 20,000 this week, it only confirmed what many in the AEC sector were already seeing: bullish optimism. Here, Brick & Mortar Ventures' Curtis Rodgers and others explain how that is helping to fund even more next-gen technology.

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Top 16 BW News Stories of 2016

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Top 16 BW News Stories of 2016

When you're a startup, every year is precious. So, this week, we look back on a raucous year marked by notable tech advances, epic engineering feats, and urgent reminders of urban infrastructure needs.

Give Thanks! 5 Reasons To Love the AEC

Give Thanks! 5 Reasons To Love the AEC

'Tis the season for taking stock. This long holiday weekend is the perfect time to step back and give thanks for the exhilarating days in which we live and the vibrant industry that puts a bounce in our a step. Here's one case why the AEC is still the place to be.

Gang: Design-build dorm 'supreme success'

Gang: Design-build dorm 'supreme success'

Hogwarts in Hyde Park? The University of Chicago last week unveiled a new $150-million, 400,000-sq-ft dormitory designed by renowned architect Jeanne Gang, and built by Mortenson Construction. Read about their design-build success story here.

Chicago Hackathon peppered with good ideas

Chicago Hackathon peppered with good ideas

They came to BW from California, Florida, New Hampshire, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and quite likely, the future. Their mission? To improve the AEC industry in some tangible and lasting way. Read on to see how they did.

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Owners want teams to stay, help during closeout

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Owners want teams to stay, help during closeout

As buildings have become more complex, they have become much trickier to turn over to their owner after work is complete. With that in mind, a recent owners workshop in Chicago explored how closeout can be improved.

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Upending convention, design-build dorm pushes style

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Upending convention, design-build dorm pushes style

Long criticized as a project delivery method best suited for cookie-cutter factories, design-build is raising eyebrows with its stunning collaboration between splashy Studio Gang and nuts-and-bolts Mortenson.

Integrating Virtual Reality Into Mortenson's Design

Integrating Virtual Reality Into Mortenson's Design

Director of Integrated Construction at Mortenson Construction, Ricardo Khan has nearly two decades of experience in the architectural and construction industries. As a leader in VDC, he knows his way inside of an actual jobsite and a virtual one. When we sat down with him prior to his AEC Hackathon presentation, he dove into the collaboration process and converting the fellow geeks into his fold.  

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Meet Mortenson's virtual maestro

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Meet Mortenson's virtual maestro

As Star Trek fans know well, anyone named "Khan!" is not to be trifled with. The same holds true in VDC circles, where a much more benevolent Khan is leading one of the nation's largest teams of virtual builders.

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7 Things We Learned @ the AEC Hackathon

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7 Things We Learned @ the AEC Hackathon

BuiltWorlds hosted the first ever Chicago AEC Hackathon over the weekend.  With so many brilliant minds inside our West Loop offices, it was the opportune time to take our brain to the gym.  Here are seven things we learned from the weekend that was.

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Virtues of virtual construction panel just days away

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Virtues of virtual construction panel just days away

BuiltWorlds is working with the Chicago Building Congress on an upcoming luncheon program focused on the wildly evolving world of AEC technology. "Optimizing the Process: CBC's Virtual Construction Panel" will be held Wednesday, March 18.

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Chicago atwitter in wake of 1st AEC Hackathon

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Chicago atwitter in wake of 1st AEC Hackathon

Chicago's first-ever AEC Hackathon took over BuiltWorlds this past weekend, filling our space with creative engineers, architects, coders, hackers, students and volunteers. Teammates eagerly reached across competitive silos to collaborate on solving industry problems. Some took home prizes, but all left energized and blessed with new friends.

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