ZIGURAT successfully concludes its series of Local Hubs in Brazil, strengthening ties with the AECO sector

Between 1 and 7 April 2025, ZIGURAT Institute of Technology held a series of three in-person events in Brazil — the itinerant Local Hubs — with the aim of strengthening its local community and encouraging discussion on innovation and digital transformation in the construction sector. The events took place in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and São Paulo, bringing together more than one hundred professionals, alumni, faculty members, partner institutions and experts from the AECO ecosystem.

Centred around the theme “From BIM to Artificial Intelligence: The Digital Transformation of Construction in Brazil”, the Local Hubs have become key spaces for networking, knowledge exchange and high-level presentations focused on disruptive technologies such as BIM, artificial intelligence, and emerging methodologies.

📍 Belo Horizonte | 1 April

The first event was held at the headquarters of CREA-MG and received institutional support from SINAENCO Minas Gerais. The panel discussion, moderated by Rodrigo Ferreiro, Corporate Manager at ZIGURAT, featured expert speakers such as Adriana Tonani Mazzieiro (UFMG), Priscilla Cordeiro (Vale) and Isadora Branquinho (MRV). The session explored the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in Brazil, with a special focus on integrating BIM and AI into construction processes.

📍 Curitiba | 3 April

In Curitiba, the event took place at CESEC, part of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), and was moderated by Renata Martins, Institutional Relations at ZIGURAT. Highlights included presentations by Melissa Yamada (TPF Engenharia), Leandro Molinari (Verum) and Márcio Dias (AltoQi), who shared their experiences with BIM, innovation and the practical application of artificial intelligence. The audience — composed of students, alumni and industry professionals — actively participated and greatly appreciated the open and engaging format.

📍 São Paulo | 7 April

The final event of the series was held in São Paulo, at the offices of HTB Engenharia e Construção, with the support of Revizto, the official sponsor. Moderated by Renata Martins and introduced by Ítalo Guedes, Director of ZIGURAT’s Master em Inteligência Artificial para Arquitetura e Construção -the Portuguese edition of ZIGURAT’s Master's in Artificial Intelligence for Architecture & Construction-, the panel featured contributions from Vitor Tonzar Chaves, Arlindo Netto, Juan Diego Fernández Torres and Ítalo himself. The discussion focused on the use of AI in sanitation, road infrastructure, on-site construction projects and collaborative platforms. The session ended with a lively networking session among the attendees.

Local Hubs: strengthening relationships and anticipating the future

Through this series of itinerant Local Hubs, ZIGURAT reaffirms its commitment to creating spaces for meaningful exchange and continuous learning, connecting its academic and professional community with the real needs of the market. The high level of attendance and audience engagement reflects the growing interest in topics such as AI, BIM and digital innovation within the construction sector in Brazil.

“These in-person events not only reinforce the ties within our global network, but also allow us to identify local trends and adapt our programmes to the true needs of the sector,” says Rodrigo Ferreiro, Corporate Manager at ZIGURAT.