Start the day by checking in, enjoying a light breakfast, and connecting with fellow attendees before the program begins.

A brief welcome from Building Transformations, outlining the vision for the event and the day’s objectives.

Chet Shah, Senior Executive Vice President of Integrated Delivery at Metrolinx, will deliver the opening keynote for the Main Summit on November 5. With a career spanning infrastructure delivery, P3 partnerships, and large-scale capital programs across Canada, Chet brings a perspective that is both strategic and grounded in the realities of getting complex projects built. His keynote will set the tone for a full day of learning, discussion, and connection across the AECO industry.

Artificial intelligence is challenging everything we thought we knew about how buildings are designed and delivered. From generating complex engineering solutions in minutes to automating entire design workflows, the possibilities are exciting, but the implications are profound.

Are we on the verge of a fundamental shift in the AEC industry, or are we simply adding smarter tools to outdated processes?

Join industry leaders for a thought-provoking discussion that cuts through the AI hype to explore what's real, what's next and what it means for the future of our profession.

The technology is evolving rapidly. The real question is: are we ready to evolve with it?

‍

Take a moment to refuel with coffee and refreshments, visit our Technology Exhibitors, and connect with fellow attendees before the next session gets underway.

This presentation explores the role of interior fit-outs in the push for net zero carbon emissions, both in design and in operations. It will explore this through the lens of an 8,325-SFcase study project –  2 Bloor East, Suite 3220 (Toronto) –  which in August 2026 achieved the Living Futures institute’s Ready designation for their Zero Carbon Certification – one of only three registered projects in all of Canada. This case study will explore in detail the design and construction process leveraged to achieve this result, including 80% embodied carbon reduction, 76% modeled energy use reduction, implementation of multiple evidence-based approaches, and alignment with the client’s CSR and ESG commitments to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. It will demonstrate what is achievable for any interior fit-out project to emulate, as well as how interiors play a crucial role in supporting long-term decarbonization commitments of their host organizations.

AI is transforming how buildings are conceived. Generative design can produce hundreds of layout options overnight, and digital twins model energy, structure and circulation with remarkable precision. What these tools cannot reliably predict is how people will work inside the finished space under real operating conditions. Those answers typically arrive after handover, as workarounds, retrofits and change orders happen. Meanwhile, design decisions stall in meeting rooms as stakeholders debate drawings and renderings based on opinion and precedent rather than evidence, and schedules and budgets absorb the delay.  Immersive design methodology adds the missing human-performance layer to the longstanding traditional process. Using tabletop exercises, full-scale mock-ups and in-situ simulation, the people who will use the space put competing options through real tasks, so decisions rest on what works rather than on what looks right on paper. Grounded in our peer-reviewed work in some of the least forgiving built environments, including emergency departments and trauma rooms, the approach applies to any complex facility where human performance matters, from transit stations and labs to schools and industrial sites. This session will show how recreating authentic work (i.e. simulation) turns stalled deliberation into tested decisions, catches design flaws while they are still cost effective to fix, and increases the likelihood of getting capital decisions right the first time.

Canada is currently advancing its most significant infrastructure initiative in half a century. The Alto  high-speed rail network will transform intercity mobility across the Toronto-to-Québec City corridor.  Operating on approximately 1,000 kilometers of dedicated, electrified tracks at speeds of 300 km/h or higher, the project will connect a region that is home to nearly half of the national population.  Delivering a megaproject of this scale and complexity requires moving away from traditional, siloed  construction methods. To ensure long-term success, the project adopts a progressive, highly  integrated, and collaborative delivery model that incorporates community benefits into its core  strategy. 

This technical presentation will provide an analysis of the collaborative delivery structure that is  central to the development of the high-speed rail network. A key element of this approach is the  strategic alignment between the public sponsor and the private developer partner. The presentation  will offer attendees a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the project entities.  Alto, a federal Crown corporation, serves as the project authority. Its mandate includes governance,  strategic leadership, environmental compliance, fostering meaningful Indigenous relations, and  safeguarding the public interest. On the other hand, Cadence, a Canadian-led multinational  consortium, acts as the private developer partner. Cadence is responsible for technical execution,  final design, financing, physical construction, and long-term operations of the network. 

By integrating Cadence during the development and pre-construction phases, the project employs  an innovative co-development approach. This model enables the public and private sectors to work  together to identify and mitigate technical, financial, and social risks before construction begins.  The presentation will explain how this structure establishes industry best practices for delivering  megaprojects. Key topics include early contractor involvement and the strategic allocation of  project risks to the parties best equipped to manage them. This early integration ensures that  engineering solutions align with public priorities and gain social acceptance.

Scaling Modern Methods of Construction in Canada explores how industrialized techniques and advanced digital workflows are shaping the future of Canadian building design and delivery. This session traces the industry's evolution from traditional prefabrication to fully integrated, technology-driven construction models, detailing why Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are critical for solving current housing and productivity challenges. Attendees will gain insight into the National Research Council's (NRC) Centre of Excellence for Advanced Prefabrication and Digitalized Construction through applied research projects, alongside an exploration of industry-led innovations in offsite wood and mass timber adoption across the market.

Enjoy a hot catered lunch and refreshments. Building Transformations members are invited to join our Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the lunch hour. Non-members are welcome to enjoy lunch and open networking with fellow attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors in a separate area.

Enjoy a hot catered lunch and refreshments. Building Transformations members are invited to join our Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the lunch hour. Non-members are welcome to enjoy lunch and open networking with fellow attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors in a separate area.

An expert-led, hands-on workshop session exploring how AI agents are being used across the built environment. From pre-construction to project controls, participants will discover which tools work best for specific tasks, how to get started, and the best practices emerging across the industry. Come ready to learn and experiment!

Note: Attendees are asked to bring their laptops to follow along with guided exercises led by the facilitator.

To make most of your time, please take 5 mins to do the prep work.

1.      Create an IBMid (if you do not already have one. It is free. Go to the link and Click on “Get Started”)

2.      Sign up for the Bob Free Trial

3.      Download Bob  onto your Laptop

•        If you can’t install Bob on your work laptop, we recommend using your personal laptop.

•        If you can’t install Bob on either device, you can become best friends with the person next to you.

4.      Need Help? If you have any questions or run into any setup issues before the event , please reach out to bgroff@ca.ibm.com by Nov 3^rd. Our team will also be available during the hands-on session to assist with Bob setup and any technical troubleshooting.

A facilitated table discussion bringing together owners, contractors, designers, consultants, and technology leaders to tackle one of the industry's most persistent challenges: how do we actually work better together? Participants will share real experiences, surface common frustrations, and work through practical solutions around collaboration, information sharing, and project delivery frameworks.

Take a moment to recharge with refreshments before we close out the Summit afternoon with the Innovation Spotlight Awards ceremony.

Open to all Summit attendees. Join us as we celebrate excellence and innovation across the AEC industry. We will recognize this year's nominees, honor their contributions, and present awards to the winners. A highlight of the Summit and a moment to celebrate the people and organizations driving transformation in the built environment.

An exclusive private reception for nominees and winners. Continue the celebration with fellow honorees in an intimate setting, recognizing the outstanding contributions being made across our industry.