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2026 VDCLEx Call for Presentations

Welcome!

2026 Design-Build VDC Leadership Exchange (VDCLEx): Call for Presentations

Closes April 21, 2026 at 5PM (EST)

The Virtual Design & Construction Leadership Exchange (VDCLEx) is returning as a half-day pre-conference event, Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 at the Design-Build Conference & Expo in Cleveland, OH. The VDCLEx will continue to explore how VDC is impacting designers, builders and Owners by enhancing design excellence, increasing quality and productivity, as well as improving lifecycle costs.

Programming for the VDCLEx will include a general keynote session, leaders forum and two specialized tracks: one for experienced VDC professionals on one for non-VDC professionals.

Before submitting, please review the VDCLEx Submission Guidelines.

What We’re Looking For: At a Glance

DBIA seeks subject matter experts (technologists, practitioners and project Owners) to help build the content for the specialized program that will not only take a deep dive into VDC, but also help educate non-VDC professionals on the value, use and power of VDC to enhance the design and construction processes and outcomes.

VDC Deep Dive – For audiences more versed in VDC, we seek session ideas that provide case studies for the integration of technology in design-build and that explore current trends in VDC, such as, but not limited to:
  • Describing the future of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, automation, robotics, drones, and 3D printing
  • Defining collaborative processes to connect people with technology to increase project efficiency
  • Exploring BIM workflows beyond just model authoring and clash detection, such as prefabrication, industrialized construction, sustainability, safety, estimating, scheduling, reality capture and digital twins
  • Identifying KPIs in leveraging VDC
  • Review needed contract language updates to influence better collaboration
VDC for Non-VDC Professionals – For audiences newer to VDC, we seek session ideas that provide insight and lessons learned on how leveraging VDC can evolve the traditional business-as-usual approach to the design and construction process:
  • Defining the value and ROI of VDC in design-build
  • Understanding the importance of including the appropriate BIM/VDC language in your contracts and what the inclusion of topics like a BIM Execution Plan and Level of Development (LOD) mean to the project team
  • Illustrating the value of identifying a VDC Project Leader as an integral part of the design-build team from the outset of projects
  • Demonstrating how well-defined model-based and data deliverables can enable Owners to better operate and maintain their projects throughout their lifecycle
  • Outlining how VDC is enabling design-build professionals to better socialize with project teams to drive transparency throughout the design, construction and turnover process
The right presenters are as important as the right topic:
  • One or more presenters hold a DBIA credential.
  • One or more presenters holds a DBIA membership.
  • Owner’s involvement in the presentation.
  • Panels that include multiple project team members (ex. Owner, Owner Advisor, design-builder, professional designer, trades, manufacturers).
  • Presentations and panels/speakers that incorporate broad perspectives — such as experience levels, firm sizes, market sectors, geographic regions — while also highlighting efforts to expand opportunities and promote engagement for small and Underrepresented Business Enterprises (UBEs) in design-build.
Content that will not be considered:
  • Self-congratulatory presentations on a project.
  • Presentations that provide a sense of commercial/ brand promotion. Please note presentations that serve to promote a specific product or service will not be considered.
  • Anything that does not precisely relate to the design-build delivery method.

Submit Your Proposal:
For complete details, review our VDCLEx Submission Guidelines before submitting your presentation proposal. Help us shape an insightful and impactful event!

 

Interested in submitting a proposal for our Annual Conference? Review our Call for Presentations submission guidelines.