Day One

• Exploring the principles of TVD and how this impacts traditional preconstruction workflows
• Achieving stakeholder buy-in to TVD and the shift in roles and responsibilities required
• Establishing feasible target budgets to balance scope and quality during the design phase

• Why cost decisions disappear the moment a project closes – and why it’s the most expensive problem in preconstruction
• Why AI is only as powerful as the cost data underneath it
• What a connected cost environment actually looks like from Basis of Design to GMP
• Why the teams building that foundation now will compound their advantage with every project they run

• Structuring design collaboration to reduce inefficiency by alternating architectural/ structural/civil and MEP-focused meetings every two weeks
• Integrating design and trade input early to bridge constructability feedback with design intent
• Keeping files and design documentation updated following the identification of inconsistencies to inform operations teams of design decisions
• Embedding operations and preconstruction teams together in budgeting so project managers co-own estimates from day one

Project Spotlight

Designed to surface the uncomfortable moments when early design coordination failed, this roundtable invites peers to unpack why constructability, cost certainty, or alignment slipped during design. Expect discussion on resource strain and the true cost of late design decisions

• Applying market context and escalation factors to relevant historical data to inform conceptual estimates
• Setting realistic contingencies in line with owner expectations and areas of high-risk
• Coordinating with design teams to ensure that your assumptions are correct and account for any missing details that can impact cost
• Assessing the potential for AI to streamline conceptual estimating, without compromising quality

• Understanding the new generation of estimating
• Exploring the new cloud capabilities and AI-powered bid insights in Sage Estimating’s platform
• Mitigating risk, identifying outliers and applying historical data earlier in the estimating process

• Engaging regional and office leadership to agree on procedures and close gaps in capability or process
• Driving consistency in SOP implementation through robust data governance and dissemination throughout the organization
• Facilitating effective communication and knowledge-sharing across offices to encourage continuous and informed innovation

This peer-led roundtable invites estimators to openly unpack projects where early estimates didn’t perform as expected once the market, design, or scope evolved. Expect honest discussions on contingencies that went wrong and how to improve continuously

• Automating the generation of updated costs and quantities as design changes are made
• Linking quantities generated to estimating software to inform budgets, real time
• Discussing the challenges of scaling model-based estimating across all project types

• Understanding what an intelligence layer built specifically for construction makes possible
• Exploring how AI can reason across drawings, specs, schedules, and scope, not just perform isolated takeoff tasks
• Thinking about accuracy in practical terms
• Understanding what strong model performance means for speed to bid and estimator leverage

• Discussing initial evaluation criteria to benchmark tools against organizational needs
• Working with vendors to adapt tools to existing workflows and make appropriate adjustments where required
• Evaluating and measuring long-term return on investment to inform future process innovation strategies

A candid networking session for teams experimenting with AI, model-based estimating, and automation- this discussion focuses on where advanced tools introduced new risk, friction, or false confidence instead of efficiency so you can make informed decisions with advanced technologies

• Understanding tariffs from a client perspective: How do we manage exposure and risk in a changing market?
• Maintaining project financial feasibility while tariff impacts drive project cost
• Managing volatile vendor and material pricing during final stages of contact negotiations as it relates to pricing
• Exploring challenges of carrying additional contingency to mitigate tariff risk while staying competitive in the market

• Focussing on what humans do best: judgment, tradeoffs, accountability
• Building systems for the capacity crunch: automating the manual, standardizing the repeatable
• Keeping AI in check with human checkpoints: decision moments, clear owners, clear evidence

• Clarifying ownership of schedule development between operations and preconstruction
• Evaluating software tools that can enable efficient completion of simplified bid schedules
• Getting upfront clarity from owners on schedule risks such as land purchasing, utility sourcing and permitting to be accounted for
• Exploring different approaches to holding teams accountable to deadlines

This roundtable focuses on candid discussions around preconstruction management breakdowns- particularly where cost, schedule, scope, or ownership became misaligned as projects moved toward execution

• Educating owners on how excessive bidding requirements reduces trade contractor engagement
• Sharing trade contractor motivations for bidding work to help make projects more attractive
• Balancing owner demands for detailed breakdowns and multiple bids without overextending trade contractor resources and overheads

• Understanding the external factors impacting construction costs
• Exploring emerging trends in the construction industry that are shaping the future of preconstruction
• Leveraging AI enhancements for improving accuracy and agility in cost estimation and project planning
• Learning practical strategies for managing cost volatility and integrating innovative solutions into workflows

• Fostering collaboration with other trade contractors to split workloads or partner strategically
• Interviewing local trade partners to ensure alignment in mindset and establish expectations
• Fostering transparency with partnered trades to build a unified team culture and strong relationships into the future
• Implementing strategies for anticipating long-term staffing challenges despite initial commitments

Case Study

An honest peer discussion about moments when GC–trade collaboration failed- whether through misaligned expectations, bid fatigue, or unclear scope division. Designed to surface lessons that strengthen future partnerships before construction begins