What does the future of construction look like? 

In this sixth edition of our Foresight report, we turn our focus to the Future of Construction, a sector poised at the brink of transformative change. The construction sector faces the significant challenge of sustainability, requiring the adaptation of practices to minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote social and economic well-being.

To achieve this, the industry must embrace new technologies and materials, as well as innovative design and construction methods. Collaboration between all stakeholders is also essential to ensure a sustainable future.

There are several key forces currently driving the uncertainty around the future of sustainable construction.

What Is Sustainable Construction About?

The construction industry stands at a pivotal crossroads, driven by the urgent need for sustainability amidst escalating environmental concerns. The sector’s significant impact on resource consumption and carbon emissions makes the shift towards sustainable practices not only beneficial but imperative for its long-term viability. A combination of technological, environmental, and regulatory trends is rapidly transforming the industry, emphasizing the integration of sustainable methodologies.

Globally, there is a strong movement towards decarbonizing building practices, influenced by the rising adoption of technologies such as AI in design, modular construction, and materials recycling. These innovations are redefining how projects are conceived, planned, and executed, ensuring they are more efficient and have a minimal environmental footprint. However, this shift also presents new challenges, including the adaptation of existing infrastructure and the alignment of stakeholder interests towards greener practices.

What is new in this exercise?

This year’s foresight exercise has been particularly enriched by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in visualizing potential future scenarios. AI’s role has been instrumental in detecting early signals of change and identifying key drivers that could shape various future outcomes in the construction industry. It’s important to highlight that this was a collaborative effort, combining human expertise with sophisticated machine learning techniques to produce insightful and actionable results.