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4 Expert Predictions for Construction in 2026 – Part 1

December 15, 2025
3:47 pm

To kick off 2026, we brought together four of our construction technology industry experts to get their thoughts on what the new year might bring. From general industry predictions to the most useful new tools and technology, here’s what our team has to say about what’s coming, and what these changes mean for owners, architects, contractors, and project teams.

This is part one of a three-part series.

Taylor Cupp – VP, Hexagon Multivista

Taylor is leading the charge in fostering virtual design and construction (VDC), implementing building information modeling (BIM) into the field, and is responsible for overseeing Hexagon Multivista’s efforts to reduce the time and cost of construction through the successful implementation of new technology and AI.

What’s your biggest prediction for 2026?

“Market volatility will become an increasingly important topic as we move into 2026 and will result in cautious investment in new construction. The Architectural Billing Index indicates that AECO is in serious contraction across North America, which will have a downstream ripple effect on starts for construction.

Much of the industry hopes backlog will fill that void, but alongside those hopes, many unknowns remain. However, some segments remain in explosive growth – data centers, pharmaceutical, health care – and builders who focus on those areas will be in the driver’s seat when the industry rebounds.”

Graham Twigg – VP Product and Engineering, Hexagon Multivista

As a co-founder of Multivsita in 2003, Graham is a pioneer of construction reality capture and helped build Hexagon Multivista into a global leader in the construction technology space.

What’s your most notable prediction for the New Year?

“I think we’ll start to see some of the con-tech startups, whose business model is applying generic AI models to their generic construction workflows, get steamrolled by the larger incumbents that already have a captive customer base and profitable business model.  The incorporation of AI into your product is a necessary, but not sufficient, ingredient to business success in 2026 and beyond.”

George Thomas – VP Software, Hexagon Multivista

With a career spanning 25 years in software development, George excels at big-picture strategy and perspective that leads to creative, inventive solutions that are foundational to innovation in technology.

What’s next for construction technology in 2026?

“In 2026, the breakneck progress in AI-generated imagery, video, and 3D model creation will collapse the distance between reality capture, BIM, and operational digital twins. Eventually, project teams will query a model in plain language and instantly receive the visualization they need – whether a photo-like scene, a lightweight 3D view, or a short explainer video – tailored to their role and task.

AI will dynamically scale complex models for field performance, pruning nonessential geometry, metadata, and disciplines to keep site tablets responsive while preserving fidelity for design review. It will also do away with format boundaries, seamlessly converting among IFC/Revit, point clouds, glTF/3D Tiles, USDZ, and game-engine or web viewers while retaining semantics and asset linkages.

The result will be a continuous, user-centric model flow – from capture to coordination to handover – where everyone digests information in the way they want, and the system quietly optimizes, filters, and translates in the background to accelerate decisions across the building lifecycle.”

Cathi Hayes – VP Go-To-Market, Hexagon Multivista

After thirteen years with Hexagon, Cathi’s strategy, marketing, and business development expertise spans almost every facet of the AEC industry, including BIM, collaboration, data management, architecture, owner strategy, and capture, create, and analyze construction services and technology.

What’s your biggest prediction for construction in 2026?

“2026 will mark a turning point where digital twins shift from being ambitious future concepts to everyday operational tools. The industry is moving toward digital twins that begin minimalistic –powered by accessible photo and video capture – and then grow in clarity, intelligence, and complexity only as the owner’s needs mature.

This isn’t digital transformation as a single, overwhelming project; it’s transformation as a continuous, scalable evolution. Owners will finally have the freedom to start small, gain immediate value, and expand their twin at their own pace. As a result, digital twins will no longer be reserved for elite facilities – they’ll become the new standard for any organization seeking smarter, data-backed decision-making without prohibitive costs.

To finish out this three-part blog series, we’re checking back in with these experts next week with questions on what digital tools will become increasingly popular in 2026, and what technology excites them the most.

Want to know more about Hexagon Multivista’s Capture, Create, and Analyze construction services? Reach out for a demo.

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