The gap between academic research and the needs of contractors, owners and engineers in the field has been apparent for some time. The 2025 CIB World Building Congress Industry Forum held at Purdue University in May proved to be that rare bridge: a full-day forum built not just for talking, but for bringing together academic thought and research within the construction industry.

The morning session tackled artificial intelligence, not from the perspective of what’s trendy in Silicon Valley, but what’s implementable in real-world construction workflows. The afternoon panel shifted to workforce development, focusing on how to train, retain and uplift the people who build our world.

Reprinted courtesy of Patrick Scarpati, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.