See how AI is changing consultancy, how digital twins can transform existing hospitals and how better data can help cut carbon. At Digital Construction North (DCN), you’ll find practical lessons from people putting digital construction to work.
Returning to Manchester Central on 18 November 2026, DCN features 50+ CPD-accredited sessions, with teams behind projects at Skanska, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Kier, BAM UK and AtkinsRéalis sharing their experience.
On the programme: ideas tested in the real world
The strongest digital strategies don’t stop at new technology. They change how projects are designed, information is managed and decisions are made. This year’s programme explores that shift through case studies, technical debate and lessons from the field.
Highlights include:
- Hill Dickinson Stadium: DfMA on the dock – Nick Tyrer, associate director at BDP Pattern, explores design for manufacture and assembly in a major stadium project.
- AI productivity is breaking the consultancy fee model – Tom Harley-Tuffs, AI lead, Buildings UK at Ramboll, examines how AI is challenging established consultancy business models.
- Who owns the decision? Governance for autonomous building systems in data centres – Siemens’ Valerie Williams and Brett Smith explore accountability as building systems become increasingly autonomous.
- Smart hospitals without the new build: A practical digital twin journey for legacy healthcare estates – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reveals how LiDAR and existing information can help build digital twin capability without starting from scratch.
- Reporting to reducing carbon emissions: Kier case study – Ben Stone of Kier Group and Dan Botterill of Rio AI explore how operational data can move organisations beyond carbon reporting to meaningful reductions.
- Cloister to COBie: Structuring seven centuries of heritage data – The UK Parliament and Donald Insall Associates show how information from a historic building can become structured, reusable asset data.
- Can you prove it? A live vote on construction’s retrieval gap and what ISO 19650-6 just changed – Gareth Aitken of Preservica Ltd examines whether critical project information can be found and retrieved when it matters.
Across the wider programme, you’ll find sessions on information management, AI governance and digital transformation, helping you identify approaches worth applying to your own projects.
“The real test of digital construction is whether it delivers better projects,” says Karolina Orecchini, event director at Digital Construction North.
“Our visitors need proven approaches, not just promises. They want to know what works, what doesn’t and where technology can make a measurable difference. That’s exactly what we’ve focused on in our programme this year.”
A day well spent
Explore four dedicated theatres and 50 exhibitors, see technology demonstrations in action and compare solutions that could make a difference to your work.
Meet people across architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), exchange ideas and build connections that continue beyond the event.
With up to eight CPD hours available for a full day’s participation, you can develop your professional knowledge while discovering practical ways to tackle the challenges facing your projects.
Register for free
Digital Construction North takes place on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at Manchester Central. Free tickets are now available – register for yours today.
