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2026 Design-Build Conference & Expo - Call for Presentations

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2026 Design-Build Conference & Expo: Call for Presentations

SUBMISSION DEADLINE -   April 21, 2026 (5PM, EST)

Thousands of industry professionals spanning the AEC community — including public and private Owners — attend the Design-Build Conference & Expo each year. We are seeking informative, thought-provoking and engaging topics rooted in Design-Build Done Right® by exceptional and inspiring communicators from across the industry for our event in Cleveland, Ohio. Design-build will continue to play a major role in imagining, designing and building our nation. Subject matter experts with hands-on experience in design-build are invited to submit session proposals. Do you have insight on ways to optimize Design-Build Done Right® for triple bottom line success? Do you have a design-build story to tell or lessons learned that you can share with the industry? Your experience and expertise are needed. Consider submitting a session proposal today.

Review our Submission Guidelines prior to submitting a presentation proposal.

 

What We’re Looking for: At a Glance

Priority consideration will be given to submissions adhering to these guidelines. Quality submissions that address and/or align with the below:

  • Presentations that speak to one or more of the following:
    • Best practices with a focus on practical application of key practices and lessons learned to guide future success.
    • Managing risk and expectations
    • Collaboration/teaming successes
    •  Application of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)*
    • Making the essential mental shift for success and the all-important facets of developing a successful acquisition strategy
    • Presentations that are educational with crisp instruction and clear takeaways on the “how to” of Design-Build Done Right®.
    • Presentations that highlight challenges, with an emphasis on “lessons learned” and tools and resources others can apply to avoid similar difficulties in their practice.
    • Presentations that highlight design-build application, innovation and lessons learned within specific market sectors, including data centers and mission-critical facilities; infrastructure supporting data center and mission-critical development (power, water, telecom, transportation, site development); advanced technology and manufacturing facilities; energy and utility  infrastructure; other emerging or high-growth market sectors relevant to design-build practice.
*Consider submitting a presentation for the pre-conference VDC Leadership Exchange (VDCLEx) taking place on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. Review VDCLEx guidelines.

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 of 5 total presenters that include multiple project team members (ex., Owner, Owner Advisor, design-builder, professional designer, trades, manufacturers).
• Spotlight on Trade Professionals: Skilled trade professionals play a vital role in turning designs into reality. Electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, carpenters, concrete and steel installers, sheet metal 
workers, equipment operators and specialty fabricators  bring hands-on knowledge that helps projects work in the real world — not just on paper. We’re especially interested in sessions that share the experiences, challenges and innovations of these professionals and show how involving trades early in design-build projects leads to smoother construction, fewer surprises, safer jobsites, stronger quality and better schedules and budgets.
• 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.

Review our Submission Guidelines  prior to submitting a presentation proposal.

Interested in submitting a proposal for our VDCLEx preconference event on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026? Review our Call for Presentations submission guidelines.