With NXT BLD and NXT DEV fast approaching, we put the spotlight on the key themes of our 11-12 June event—from AI and BIM 2.0 to pioneering perspectives from some of the biggest firms in AEC
AEC leaders
A core element of NXT BLD is the insight shared by leading AEC firms and heads of design technology, who present the real-world workflows and innovations shaping their firms. This year’s line-up includes industry heavyweights from Heatherwick Studio, Perkins&Will, Foster + Partners, HOK, Bouygues, and Buro Happold — with more high-profile names to be announced very soon.
At NXT DEV, many of these same design technology leaders return to help steer the conversation—offering guidance, feedback, and insight to ensure that the next generation of tools directly address the challenges and needs faced by today’s AEC professionals.
Speaker line up
NXT BLD Wednesday 11 June 2025
Queen Elizabeth II Centre Westminster, London
NXT DEV
Thursday 12 June 2025
Queen Elizabeth II Centre Westminster, London
Book your place
Prices start at £102 + VAT
AI – Artificial thinking
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are now impossible to ignore. The pace of advancement is exponential—what seemed like a distant possibility just a year ago has already been surpassed.
Soon, every firm will have access to AI tools as capable as the world’s best software developers, profoundly impacting how software is created and how AEC firms interact with their data.
At NXT BLD, expect thought provoking presentations from leading voices in this space, including Martha Tsigkari, Head of Applied R+D at Foster + Partners; Keir Regan-Alexander of Arka.Works; and Sean Young of Nvidia. You’ll also get a first look at cutting-edge AI-powered tools shaping the future of design and AEC collaboration including Finch3D, Consigli and Tektome.
Meanwhile, NXT DEV will take the conversation even further, hosting a deep-dive panel discussion with AI experts to explore the real-world implications of these technologies across the AEC landscape. Nvidia will also explore how the AEC industry is rapidly shifting from AI curiosity to AI action.
Automatic for the people
Our article From 2D to 3D and back explores the automation of 2D—from converting 2D drawings to 3D models to generating automated documentation directly from BIM. At NXT BLD and NXT DEV, you’ll see live demonstrations of new tools from EvolveLAB (now part of Chaos), Qonic, and Graebert, showcasing both current capabilities and upcoming features.
As these technologies mature, they promise significant productivity gains by reducing the time spent on manual drawing production. They also open the door to more efficient workflows, with fewer high-cost software licences required for documentation tasks.
Let’s get down to business
Investing in software and infrastructure has always been key to driving business value—but with the rise of AI, data lakes, open systems, and productivity tools like autonomous drawings, the return on investment is becoming even more tangible. NXT BLD and NXT DEV offer a unique opportunity to gain insight into these developments, connect with innovators, and see real-world solutions that can directly impact your bottom line.
One standout session will focus on how to negotiate effectively with software vendors and resellers, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how pricing models, metrics, and deal structures actually work.
BIM 2.0 – The new power generation
AEC Magazine has long championed the evolution of nextgeneration BIM tools—alternatives to the traditional, filebased desktop modelling systems that have dominated the industry for decades. This year marks a milestone: for the first time, many of the innovators we’ve followed from early development now have real products in the market.
At NXT BLD, the main stage will host a back-to-back showcase of these groundbreaking platforms: Arcol, Qonic, Motif, Snaptrude, and Hypar — all demonstrating new capabilities and sharing their visions for the future of BIM.
Building a full-featured competitor to something as mature as Revit, now 25 years old, is no small feat. These tools are evolving in phases—some still focused on early-stage or conceptual modelling—but the goal is clear: to deliver comprehensive BIM 2.0 platforms, designed for cloud-native workflows, real-time collaboration, and entirely new ways of working.
Alongside a global lineup of startups, there’ll be presentations from major AEC software developers including Autodesk, Bentley Systems, and Graphisoft. Each will showcase new technologies and never-before-seen applications. The energy and innovation driven by emerging startups is clearly influencing the broader industry, inspiring established vendors to accelerate their own development and push the boundaries of what’s possible in AEC.
Reality Modelling
Capturing buildings and terrain once meant hiring a surveyor with a total station—but the landscape has changed dramatically. Technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry paved the way, and now cutting-edge methods such as NeRFs and Gaussian Splatting are pushing accuracy and realism even further. Add to that the rapid evolution of mobile phones, SLAM scanners, drones, and advanced reality capture software, and it’s clear we’re entering a new era of digital site capture.
NXT BLD will feature speakers from across the industry, while at NXT DEV, don’t miss a dedicated panel session hosted by Robert Klaschka, where the future of reality capture will take centre stage.
Geospatial & city context
GIS and BIM have long been on a path toward convergence—and that future is finally taking shape. Thanks to new tools, growing industry collaboration, and opensource initiatives, integrating GIS data into everyday workflows is becoming faster, easier, and more accessible than ever. Advances in game engine technology, hardware, and graphics now make it possible to explore highly detailed, cityscale models in real time, while AI is unlocking powerful new ways to analyse environmental conditions.
At NXT BLD, a special group session hosted by Esri will spotlight the latest innovations in this space, along with exciting new startups helping to shape the future of geoBIM.
Digital fabrication / automation
Digital transformation in AEC goes far beyond modelling and documentation. The real opportunity lies in connecting design systems with modern, digitised manufacturing—enabling seamless machine-to-machine communication. Achieving this demands a fundamental rethink of current processes. Increasingly, firms are turning to modular construction and kit-of-parts strategies to drive efficiency and scalability in the next generation of buildings and infrastructure.
Don’t miss an exclusive NXT DEV panel discussion exploring the current state of this rapidly evolving space and what it means for the future of design and delivery.
Open source & data lakes
A recurring theme at NXT BLD has been the push for industry-owned open data lakes. AEC firms increasingly want full ownership of their project data—without being locked into paying software vendors to access and manage it. This issue has become even more urgent with the rise of AI, as firms recognise the immense value their data holds for software companies.
This year at NXT BLD / DEV, expect major announcements on new developments in this space—advancing the vision of open, accessible, and AI-ready project data.
Tech demos – digital discovery
The exhibition brings together the very latest technologies for AEC — think browser-based BIM, advanced AI, spatial data integration, visualisation and nextgen collaborative platforms.
You’ll also find brand new workstation hardware from Lenovo, Nvidia, and Intel, built to power the most demanding AEC workflows, including AI.
It’s a rich mix of rising stars and industry veterans — each helping to redefine what’s possible in AEC, and driving our industry into exciting new digital territory.
The BIM 2.0 startups will be out in force and for the first time ever you’ll be able to meet Snaptrude, Motif, Qonic and Arcol under one roof —offering hands-on demos of their commercial platforms and fresh approaches to digital design and collaboration.
Innovation from established players will be equally strong. Expect major updates from Autodesk, Graphisoft, and Esri, as well as a brand-new suite of AEC-focused software bundles from Dassault Systèmes, the developer of Catia. And that’s just the beginning.
Check out the full exhibitor line up at NXT BLD and at NXT DEV.
Workstations – Power play
AEC workflows are evolving at pace, making high-performance workstations more important than ever. We’ll explore how firms can best prepare for the rising demands of AI, visualisation, reality modelling, and other compute-intensive workflows.
A thought-provoking panel of experts at NXT DEV will tackle a variety of topics including AI and sustainability. With AI still in its early stages of adoption, firms must consider how to scale their compute infrastructure — balancing desktop, mobile, datacentre, and cloud. At the same time, rising performance demands bring increased energy consumption. How can firms unlock the full potential of AI while keeping sustainability in focus?
Meanwhile, at NXT BLD, Lenovo’s Mike Leach will offer insight in his presentation – Navigating AI in AECO: balancing visionary potential with real-world practice, while delegates can get hands-on with Lenovo’s latest Intel and Nvidia-powered workstations built for tomorrow’s AEC challenges.
