Digital Builder

In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas talks with Power Design CTO Raghu Kutty and Autodesk’s Sid Haksar about how one of the industry’s most innovative specialty contractors is reshaping construction through intentional structure, unified workflows, and forward‑looking tech adoption.
Key topics include:
Power Design’s unified “one office, one culture” model
Taking control of the supply chain (in‑house switchgear, trucking, warehousing)
Field‑first, mobile‑first technology and connected data workflows
Preparing for AI through clean data, platformization, and change‑ready culture
How deliberate training + standards enable scale and rapid tech transformation

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.

Research and development teams often work behind the scenes, but they play a major role in shaping where construction is headed next. In this episode, Eric Thomas sits down with Fope Bademosi, Circular Economy and Construction Researcher, and Lorenzo Villaggi, Principal Research Scientist at Autodesk, to explore how Autodesk Research is approaching the future of AI, sustainability, and material reuse.
Fope and Lorenzo walk through their latest work on assessing existing buildings, predicting what’s inside walls using multimodal data, and designing low‑carbon assemblies with the help of AI agents. They also explain how early insight into materials, carbon impacts, and code constraints can shift project culture toward circularity.
Topics we cover:
How Autodesk Research operates 5–10 years ahead of industry needs
The impact of material reuse on carbon reduction and waste
What circularity and the circular economy mean in a construction context
A prototype that predicts the materials and systems hidden behind walls
How multimodal data improves AI’s accuracy on existing buildings
Using AI agents to design low‑carbon assemblies that merge reclaimed and new materials
The role of building codes, performance requirements, and safety considerations
Where the Autodesk Research team is headed next with testing, customer collaborations, and expanded assembly types

The built environment contributes roughly 40% of global carbon emissions, and most construction waste still ends up in landfills. Fope and Lorenzo share how emerging technologies—combined with new workflows and industry collaboration—can help shift project teams toward reuse, lower‑carbon design, and more informed decision‑making from the start.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.

In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Dr. Sarah Buchner, founder and CEO of Trunk Tools, for a grounded, no-nonsense conversation about how construction teams can actually start using AI today. Recorded live at Autodesk University, the discussion moves past the high-level hype and into the real workflows where AI is already driving change—from automating white‑collar tasks to reducing rework and helping teams navigate labor shortages.
Drawing from her background as a carpenter, project leader, data scientist, and founder, Sarah breaks down what adoption looks like in the field, how to overcome resistance, and why embracing AI early is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.
We discuss:
Why AI adoption struggles—and what actually helps teams get over the hump
The biggest areas of ROI for AI today, especially in white‑collar construction workflows
How autonomous AI agents differ from tools like ChatGPT
The role of executives, legal, and IT in successful AI rollout
Why vertical, construction‑trained AI models matter
How AI can reduce rework, ease labor shortages, and let builders focus on building

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.

In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Jeevan Kalanithi and Michael Fleischman, co-founders of OpenSpace, to explore how reality capture technology is transforming construction. Recorded live at Autodesk University in Nashville, the conversation traces the journey from early laser scanning to today’s AI-powered visual intelligence platforms—and what that means for builders on the ground.
From reducing disputes and project risk to unlocking new possibilities with spatial AI, Jeevan and Michael share insights on how technology is giving teams “superpowers” rather than replacing experience. They also look ahead to the future of AI agents and robotics in construction.
We discuss:
The “three chapters” of reality capture—and why visual intelligence is the next frontier
How reality capture builds trust, speeds decisions, and lowers risk
Why today’s tech feels more Iron Man than Terminator
The role of AI and spatial computing in shaping the job site
What AI agents could mean for productivity and the labor shortage

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.

In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Autodesk's Chief Marketing Officer Dara Treseder to unpack the latest insights from the annual State of Design & Make Report. Recorded live at Autodesk University in Nashville, the conversation explores what the data says about digital maturity across the Design and Make industries—and how construction teams can turn those findings into action.
From the industry’s ambition to go fully cloud-based to practical strategies for closing the skills gap, Dara shares how leaders are building resilient, efficient organizations that deliver faster, on budget, and with stronger stakeholder trust.
Download the Spotlight on Construction here: https://construction.autodesk.com/go/design-and-make-construction-spotlight-report
Download the full report here: https://www.autodesk.com/design-make/research/state-of-design-and-make-2025
We discuss:
Key findings from the 2025 State of Design & Make Report
The cloud adoption gap—and why it’s a massive opportunity for construction
How improved data access and collaboration drive accuracy and efficiency
Practical strategies for attracting, training, and upskilling talent
Where sustainability gains are showing up across project lifecycles

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.