The 2025 CIB World Building Congress Industry Forum.

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. 

One of the most exciting aspects of this forum was its open call for one-page innovation summaries. This wasn’t a call for polished academic papers; it was an invitation to share what attendees had done that made an actual difference. The audience heard from contractors who implemented new safety protocols, companies that developed prefab techniques that shaved weeks off projects and innovators whose work had real-world impact. This type of cross-pollination—where tradespeople, executives, academics and public-sector leaders talked with each other instead of past each other—proved to be exactly what the industry needed.

In an industry where deadlines are tight, labor is scarce and technology can sometimes feel like an answer looking for a problem, the WBC 2025 Industry Forum was a breath of fresh air. It was a chance to celebrate not just what’s possible, but what’s already happening—and to learn from the people doing it. The day left me hoping to see more events like this. But having experienced one great day, I’m already looking forward to what comes next.