Digital Builder

Architecture shapes nearly every part of our lives, but what if its true purpose isn't creating buildings, but creating places where people can thrive?
In this episode of Digital Builder, Eric Thomas sits down with Katie Swenson, Senior Principal at MASS (Model of Architecture Serving Society), to explore how thoughtful design can support healing, dignity, and long-term community impact. Katie shares why she calls herself a "Home Maker," (with a capital H and a capital M) how MASS helps mission-driven organizations achieve their goals through the built environment, and why success should be measured by outcomes, not just schedules and budgets.
In this episode, we discuss:
·Why Katie describes herself as a “Home Maker” and what that means for the practice of architecture.
·How architecture affects everyday life and serves as the platform for how people live, work, heal, and learn.
·Why MASS starts with mission and outcomes rather than buildings and construction plans.
·The concept of accompaniment and how long-term partnerships can create lasting impact.
·Lessons from Butaro District Hospital and how design can support both health outcomes and human dignity.
·How MASS measures success through organizational outcomes rather than traditional project metrics.
·Why beauty, nature, and thoughtful design choices play a critical role in healing and wellbeing.
·How projects like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus demonstrate architecture’s ability to expand an organization's ambitions and impact.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.

Farm-to-table changed how people think about food. Jack Becker and Andrew Linn, principals and co-founders of BLDUS, believe it's time to apply that same mindset to housing.
In this episode of Digital Builder, Jack and Andrew explain their firm's "farm-to-shelter" philosophy, which prioritizes healthier, locally sourced, and bio-based building materials. They discuss why material selection matters, how reclaimed materials can shape design, and why architects should think beyond a building's first owner. The conversation also explores changing client expectations, the role of AI in design, and how a small, values-driven practice is challenging conventional approaches to housing.
On this episode, we discuss:
How BLDUS' "farm-to-shelter" philosophy draws inspiration from the farm-to-table movement
Why many common building materials may have unintended impacts on occupant health
How reclaimed materials, including salvaged marble and urban timber, find new life in projects
Why designing for future generations influences material and architectural decisions
How constraints and strong client perspectives often lead to better design outcomes
The performance, durability, and practicality of bio-based materials
How AI and increasingly informed clients are changing the architect-client relationship
Why younger architects are placing greater emphasis on health, sustainability, and hands-on making

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.

Technology adoption in construction isn't really about the technology. It's about understanding how people work, solving real problems, and providing tools that teams actually want to use.
In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Victoria Jones, Principal Digital Developer at Laing O'Rourke, to discuss what she's learned from a career that spans hands-on trades, engineering, digital delivery, and one of the world's largest infrastructure projects. From technology adoption in the field to AI's future in construction, Victoria shares practical lessons on driving change at scale.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why successful technology adoption starts with understanding people, not deploying new tools
How field workarounds can reveal opportunities to improve processes and systems
Lessons learned from Hinkley Point C, one of the largest and most complex construction projects in the UK
Strategies for driving digital adoption across thousands of project stakeholders
The importance of trust, data quality, and strong foundations before scaling dashboards or AI
Where AI is delivering value today and how it could reshape planning, validation, and project delivery in the future
Why construction teams need simple, useful tools that solve real-world problems
How digital skills are becoming more common across project teams and job sites

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.

Construction has no shortage of technology, but the tools that succeed are the ones that help teams make better decisions with less friction. In this episode of Autodesk's Digital Builder Podcast, recorded live at DevCon in Amsterdam, host Eric Thomas sits down with Caner Dolas, CEO and co-founder of GAMMA AR, to explore how augmented reality is helping construction teams visualize work before it's built, reduce rework, and bring BIM data directly into the field.
Key topics include:
What augmented reality is and why it's more than a tool for verifying completed work
How AR gives field teams visibility into future work and potential coordination challenges
Why GAMMA AR focused on tablets and mobile devices instead of headsets
Common misconceptions about AR accuracy, drift, and alignment
Real-world use cases for AR before concrete pours and during MEP installation
The role of BIM and VDC teams in helping new workflows gain adoption on site
How construction teams across different regions are approaching AR implementation and data sovereignty
Why successful technology adoption ultimately comes down to people, not just software

Whether you're exploring augmented reality for the first time or looking for practical ways to connect BIM data with field operations, this conversation offers a grounded look at where AR delivers value today and what it takes to make new workflows stick.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.

Trust doesn't always take center stage in conversations about construction and technology, but it's foundational to how projects, teams, and businesses operate. At DevCon in Amsterdam, host Eric Thomas sat down with Autodesk’s Chief Trust Officer Sebastian Goodwin to discuss why trust matters more than ever in the age of AI, how organizations can build and measure it, and what leaders should do when trust is put to the test.
In this episode, we discuss:
What a Chief Trust Officer does and why trust extends beyond cybersecurity, governance, and compliance
Why trust is a key driver of innovation, performance, and stronger customer relationships
The four factors of trust: capability, reliability, transparency, and humanity
How Autodesk's AI transparency cards helped reduce hesitation around AI adoption
Why construction leaders are increasingly focused on data longevity, stewardship, and responsible AI use
How transparency and communication help organizations navigate uncertainty and build confidence in new technologies
What leaders should do when mistakes happen and how trust is often built during challenging moments
Why customer outcomes should remain the north star when making difficult decisions