ZIGURAT Summit 2025 in Barcelona: A Key Event to Analyse the Real Impact of AI on the Sector

On 19 June, Barcelona will host the ZIGURAT Summit 2025, an international in-person event that will bring together over one hundred professionals to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming the AEC sector. The event will take place at Valkiria Hub Space (Barcelona, Spain) under the theme “Entering the Age of AI.”

Organised by ZIGURAT Institute of Technology, this third edition of the Summit comes just weeks after the institution held its first Online AI Congress, which attracted more than 6,000 participants. The day will be structured into two content blocks — one in Spanish and one in English — and will feature internationally renowned speakers. Attendance is free, but places are limited, so advance registration is required.

Real Challenges and Practical Applications of AI

“The ZIGURAT Summit has become a key meeting point for the global AECO community,” says Pau F. Aldomà, CEO of ZIGURAT Institute of Technology. “We aim to create a space for exchanging ideas that accelerates sector-wide innovation through AI.”

The day will be structured into two language blocks. The English-language programme of the ZIGURAT Summit 2025 will focus on global trends and forward-looking perspectives for the digital transformation of the AEC sector. The first session will be “It all begins with BIM”, delivered by Vicki Reynolds, Technical Director at One Creative Environments, ambassador for Women in BIM and NIMA, and Director of the Master’s in Global BIM Management. Reynolds will explore how Building Information Modelling (BIM) serves as the foundation for digital innovation across construction processes, emphasising its role in enabling structured, collaborative and intelligent project delivery.

This will be followed by Lilian Ho, Digital & BIM Lead and Director of the Master’s in Artificial Intelligence for Architecture & Construction, with her session “Digital Transformation through AI,” where she will delve into the integration of AI technologies into large-scale infrastructure and architectural projects.

Chris Dymond, Founder of Unfolding, will close the programme with the session “What do Smart Cities need from Smart Buildings?”, examining the relationship between building intelligence and wider urban strategies. The English block will conclude with a panel discussion and open debate, moderated by Bruno Mota (Associate Director at Assystem, Lean Director at SIPPRO and Director of the Master Internacional em Gestão de Projetos na Construção), featuring all speakers and representatives from leading companies and public institutions, including the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB). This session will offer a unique opportunity for collective reflection on the technological, social and urban challenges facing the industry today.

The Spanish-language block will begin with a keynote by Fernando Iglesias, Head of Innovation at Kronos and Director of the Máster en IA para Arquitectura y Construcción, entitled “Más allá del hype: Retos técnicos y humanos de la IA en BIM” (Beyond the Hype: Technical and Human Challenges of AI in BIM). He will explore the technical barriers and human challenges involved in implementing AI within BIM processes, helping participants distinguish between marketing hype and practical advancements.

Next, Carles Farré, co-founder of AECOTECH and lecturer on the same master’s programme — the first online master’s entirely focused on AI in architecture and construction — will present “Agentes IA en obra: Tus nuevos aliados digitales” (AI Agents on Site: Your New Digital Allies), analysing how AI can enhance automation, real-time supervision, and data-driven decision-making on construction sites.

Finally, José Javier Laborda, Senior BIM Consultant and BIM Manager at Ingecid, will present “Project Manager 2.0: Supervisar obras con IA” (Project Manager 2.0: Supervising Sites with AI), where he will highlight how intelligent tools can optimise project planning, cost control and on-site efficiency.

This block will also conclude with a roundtable discussion, where speakers and industry representatives will exchange experiences, discuss practical strategies, and share concrete examples of AI implementation.

Barcelona, a Hub of Urban Innovation

The decision to host the event in Barcelona reflects ZIGURAT’s commitment to the local innovation ecosystem and to the sustainability, digitalisation and international cooperation goals supported by Barcelona City Council. Alongside a technically rich programme, the Summit will also include dedicated networking spaces to foster collaboration between professionals, institutions, and companies in the sector.

Explore the full programme and access the registration form on the official ZIGURAT Summit 2025 website.