1. I was off LinkedIn during the whole of August – here’s what I learnt…

A month away (including time in New York exploring great architecture) gave me space to reflect. 

It reminded me that stepping back isn’t about slowing down, it’s about resetting to move forward with clarity.

Here are a few lessons that matter not just personally, but for our industry too:

Health & wellbeing fuel better strategies
Overload leads to short-term thinking. Creating space allows us to see the bigger picture; in business, design, and technology adoption.

Architects need an AI strategy, not just AI tools
The conversations I’m having show that many practices may be dabbling with AI, but few have a clear roadmap. Just as buildings need a design, AI adoption needs structure.

AI Tech Stacks are becoming real
Rather than relying on one “all-in-one” legacy platform, firms should explore lean, interconnected stacks of new tools. These stacks aren’t just experiments, they’re proving to be faster, greener, and more client-focused.

ConTech is booming
The pace of new startups, new roles, and new jobs in ConTech is accelerating, I have over 50 to add to @aec tech jobs. This will create opportunities for architects and AEC professionals to move into emerging areas from AI product management to design automation.

Inspiration fuels innovation
Walking through great buildings reminded me that technology should always serve design, not the other way around. The most exciting future will come when we balance creativity with the right tech strategy.

2. What’s coming up in September?

Here are 3 things I will be doing:

1. Providing FREE access to my 1600+ software ConTech database

I have been collecting new software into a database which I have always wanted to enable access for architects, engineers and construction professionals to search and find the right solutions for them. I have now built front end for this and we’ll be sharing this in future newsletters! This will be a central unique and one of a kind resource and I’m excited to share this!

2. How to move into ConTech FREE resource - helping you move into a new career

Over the past couple of years one of the key things that people ask me is how they move into the construction technology software field. So I thought I would create a resource which helps people to understand what they need to know, training and Resources required, and case studies to show how other people have completed this move. I’ll be sharing this unique resource in September!

Contents include:

1. Understand the opportunity

2. Why consider the move?

3. Key skills to develop

4. Roadmap steps

5. Strategic mindset shifts

6. Resources

7. Conclusion

3. Sharing FREE resources - AI Tech strategy templates, tech stacks and new software

As always, I will be sharing my thoughts on AI technology, providing templates, example tech stacks and helping you to stay up to date on the AEC ConTech landscape. There are so many exciting things happening in the industry at the moment it can feel overwhelming, I am here to help reduce the noise and enable you to know what is relevant to you.

3. Missed the last Newsletter? Highlights from last month:

If I started an Architecture practice today, here’s the AI Tech Stack I would use…

If I were starting an architecture practice from scratch in 2025, I wouldn’t reach for the same tools that have been around for decades. I’m talking about the legacy software that dominates most studios; AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, ArchiCAD. They were game-changing in their time, but let’s be honest: they were all developed before the smartphone, cloud, or AI even existed. They weren’t built for the workflows or expectations of today’s architects, let alone tomorrow’s.

The truth is, you don’t need a bloated suite of disconnected tools to run a modern design practice. You don’t need Revit just to get a project off the ground. You need a tech stack that speaks to each other, automates the boring bits, and supercharges creativity, especially in the critical early stages of design.

That’s why, after assessing over 1,600 software tools through the ADDD Marketplace and working closely with hundreds of architecture and ConTech firms, I’ve put together what I believe is the ideal early-stage AI-powered design stack. This stack is lean, connected, cloud-native, and already in use by the most forward-thinking practices I know.

Here’s my 2025 Early Stage Design AI Tech Stack:

1. Giraffe – Instantly sketch site concepts, test feasibility, and assess yields.

2. Snaptrude – Generate real-time massing studies and area schedules.

3. Finch3D – Optimise internal layouts automatically based on key constraints.

4. Rhino – For flexible 3D modelling and detailed façade exploration.

5. Rayon – To create elegant 2D diagrams and detailed plans, all online.

6. xFigura – Turn models into beautiful renders in seconds using AI.

7. Infrared.city – Quickly assess energy and carbon impacts at concept stage.

8. Motif – Share visual boards with clients and collaborate on mood and intent.

9. Cogram – Let AI take meeting notes and generate polished Request for Proposals (RfP) responses.

10. Tektome – Build a reusable, searchable design knowledge base for your team.

11. Speckle – Connect your tools and teams, enabling seamless data exchange.

Each tool here has a clear job. Together, they create a workflow that moves effortlessly from site selection to massing, modelling, sustainability checks, visualisation, and client collaboration, with AI helping at every step.

These tools are being used today by agile, design-led practices that want to move faster, deliver more value, and stay ahead of the curve. And unlike traditional software stacks, these tools are cloud-native, meaning collaboration is built in. Most are browser-based, making them accessible from anywhere. Many offer AI capabilities that save hours on repetitive tasks.

👉 Want to see this stack in action? Check out the ADDD Marketplace or view my LinkedIn carousel where I break down each tool and show how they fit together in a real workflow.

4. New Roles in ConTech roles shared each week 

I have over 50 roles to add to AEC ConTech Jobs and these will be added this week. Here is the highlights from last month.

Here are the best 10 roles to help you move into ConTech

In the last two weeks I have seen massive growth of career opportunities in ConTech, I think that this shows technology companies are doubling down on expansion and growth.

Top 10 companies on the AEC Tech Jobs board;

1. Bjarke Ingels Group - BIM Specialist

2. Disperse - Site scanning, Construction Site Operations and more

3. Archipelago - Senior DevOps Engineer and Senior Backend Engineer

4. Hovering Solutions - R&D Project Manager, Robotic Software developer a

5. Ulteig - Design Technology Manager

6. Kwant - Account Executive and VP of Data Science

7. 12d Synergy - Digital Marketing Specialist and Digital Engineering Specialist

8. Kroo - Technical Implementation Manager

9. Autodesk - Business Development UK

10. Replica - Software Engineer Director

Join them to:

- Help these tools find their market.

- Help them grow.

- Help build the future instead of waiting for it!

👉 Explore open roles www.AECTechJobs.com 

What role would you like to know more about? Product Managers are top of my list.

Link to webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRsXXkFAI1k&t=37s

5. How to Move into ConTech

Want to Move into ConTech? Check out AEC Tech Jobs - all the best new roles from Computational Designer, Product Manager, Software Developer, Marketing and Sales are all here. Join one of the fastest growing industry out there for ConTech roles.

Are you a ConTech company- reach out and we would be happy to add your latest roles.

Please forward this to a colleague that you think will benefit from the content.

Get in touch with any questions you may have: [email protected]

Thanks for reading!