New BD+C eBook: AEC tech innovation in 2026

From more than one-third of professionals using articifial intelligence (AI) tools to firms deploying generative/machine learning solutions in design optimization, the pace of change in the AEC industry is unmistakable.

At the same time, data centers—one of the fastest-growing sectors in the built environment—are setting new benchmarks for scale and complexity.

The editors of Building Design+Construction have put together an eBook sharing insights on AI adoption, data-center leadership, and emerging tech strategies to offer a snapshot of how digital transformation is shaping the future of design and construction.

In this eBook

In our feature article, BD+C Senior Editor John Caulfield shares how design and construction firms are using ChatGPT across the board to enhance their work.

Stantec blog authors detail how small modular reactors can help sustainably power AI data centers. How can we provide the energy AI data centers need—and how can we power them without relying on traditional fossil fuels? Jag Singh, Regional Sector Lead of Clean Generation; and Lalitha Krishnamoorthy, Vice President of AI & Digital, tell all.

Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor for BD+C, shares insights from the 2025 U.S. Houzz State of AI in Construction and Design Report: More than one-third of construction professionals are using AI.

Meanwhile, David Barista, Editorial Director, BD+C, writes that more than four in 10 (42%) architects, engineers, and city planners in the U.S. use artificial intelligence (AI) tools on a daily basis, and nearly one-third use AI “every few days” to assist in their work.

To top it off, we share our Giants 400 ranking for the top 30 data center architecture firms for 2025, featuring leading firms like Corgan, HDR, Woolpert, and Gensler.

Click below to download the full eBook.