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CNFLUENCE

LEXINGTON

SEPTEMBER 12-14, 2024
PROGRESS IN AI AND ML, A YEAR LATER

Join the most influential leaders in the AEC industry

Confluence is a three-day, in-person professional development event in Lexington, Kentucky

Explore Schedule

Confluence programming is designed to foster conversations between guests, so they can learn, share, and engage with each other to support industry innovation.

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3 Days
9 Sessions
50 AEC Leaders

Get to know your speakers

Robert Otani, Thornton Tomasetti
Robert Otani, CTO and Managing Principal
Thornton Tomasetti

The AI Revolution in Structural Engineering and Beyond

Thornton Tomasetti’s CTO and Managing Principal Robert K. Otani, PE LEED AP is the founder of CORE studio, an applications development, advanced computational modeling, and R&D group for the firm. In his Confluence session, Robert will present the firm’s AI experiments, as well as current and emerging applications of AI in engineering and beyond.

Speaker

Robert Otani, CTO and Managing Principal

Olson Kundig

Demystifying AI and How Olson Kundig Integrates Technology

Kenton Grant, Director of Technology at Olson Kundig, leads both IT and the firm’s new Design Technology department. The DT department is at the forefront of integrating AI, XR, drones, and advancing project-focused BIM strategies. In his session, Kenton will explore how AI is shaping the firm’s design processes, share tools and strategies, and discuss the firm’s unique top-down + bottom-up approach to innovation.

Speaker

Kenton Grant, Director of Technology

Kenton Grant, Olson Kundig
Kenton Grant, Director of Technology
John Cerone, SHoP Architects
John Cerone, Principal
ShoP Architects

Synthesizing Design, Execution & Operations

John Cerone is a Principal at SHoP Architects, where he directs dedicated initiatives for model-based delivery and offsite manufacturing. At SHoP, considerable attention and resources in developing and integrating emergent technologies have been folded directly into the process of architectural design and delivery. John’s Confluence session will explore the development and effectiveness of these innovations.

Speaker

John Cerone, Principal

Wade Trim

Engineering the Future: Practical AI Applications in Civil Engineering

Wade Trim’s Corporate Technology Lead Rob Sinclair will discuss how the leading civil engineering firm has demonstrated its commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations. The firm established an AI Task Force and has been leveraging AI to streamline workflows, improve project accuracy, and deliver superior outcomes.

Speaker

Rob Sinclair, Corporate Technology Lead

Rob Sinclair, Wade Trim
Rob Sinclair, Corporate Technology Lead
Charles Portelli, Perkins&Will
Charles Portelli, Digital Innovation Strategist
Perkins&Will

Building Intelligence

Perkins&Will’s Associate and Digital Innovation Strategist for I/O group, Charles Portelli focuses on envisioning 3D models and data as a focal point for project design and delivery strategies. In his Confluence session, Charles asks, can we unlock accumulated wisdom in a firm’s documents, emails, models, and more to educate and guide future designers?

Speaker

Charles Portelli, Digital Innovation Strategist

EduceLab, A Digital Restoration Initiative

Audacity, Antiquity, and AI: The Vesuvius Challenge

Christy Chapman from University of Kentucky professor Brent Seales' team will provide an update on the acclaimed Vesuvius scrolls project that captivated Confluence attendees at our inaugural event in 2019. She will discuss Vesuvius Challenge, an open-source software development competition in which the best and brightest minds in artificial intelligence (AI) took part in the audacious quest to virtually unwrap the Herculaneum scrolls.

Speaker

Christy Chapman, Research and Partnership Manager

Christy Chapman, University of Kentucky
Christy Chapman, Research and Partnership Manager
Randall Stevens, AVAIL
Randall Stevens, CEO, Founder
AVAIL

Confluence Lexington 2024 Host

The host of Confluence, AVAIL creates software for the global architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. CEO and Founder Randall Stevens is passionate about creating solutions for the AEC industry and currently leading the development of an AVAIL suggestion engine and AI Chatbot, among other forward-thinking initiatives.

Speaker

Randall Stevens, CEO, Founder

chaos

Employing AI - From Vision to Production

Phillip Miller is a licensed architect who has led product management at NVIDIA, Adobe, and Autodesk before becoming VP of Product Management at 3D visualization technology company Chaos in 2017. Phillip will share the results of Chaos’ past 12 months of AI initiatives. His Confluence session will explore the realities of what can be applied to projects today and the possibilities for future projects.

Speaker

Phillip Miller, Vice President, Product Management

Phillip Miller, Chaos
Phillip Miller, Vice President, Product Management
Aaron Vorwerk, Egnyte
Aaron Vorwerk, AEC Practice Leader, Architects + Owners
Egnyte

AI's Role in Securing AEC Data: Paving the Path Forward

Cloud-based file sharing solution Egnyte’s AEC Practice Leader for Architects + Owners Aaron Vorwerk holds graduate degrees in architecture and engineering and advises design and construction professionals around the world. In his Confluence session, Aaron will discuss how AI offers practical solutions to data governance by helping firms manage permissions, prevent leaks, and surface project analytics.

Speaker

Aaron Vorwerk, AEC Practice Leader, Architects + Owners

Schedule

Confluence Lexington 2024 is a closed, invite-only event. Transportation for participants will be provided from the 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

Thur 12 Sept
Fri 13 Sept
Sat 14 Sept
Thursday, September 12th
07:30 AM
Meet at 21c Museum Hotel
21c Museum Hotel
08:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration
Fasig-Tipton
08:30 AM
Welcome & Introduction
Randall Stevens,
AVAIL
Fasig-Tipton
09:00 AM
Building Intelligence
Charles Portelli,
Perkins&Will
Fasig-Tipton
10:10 AM
Synthesizing Design, Execution & Operations
John Cerone,
SHoP Architects
Fasig-Tipton
11:15 AM
Demystifying AI and How Olson Kundig Integrates Technology
Kenton Grant,
Olson Kundig
Fasig-Tipton
12:15 PM
Lunch
Fasig-Tipton
01:30 PM
AI's Role in Securing AEC Data: Paving the Path Forward
Aaron Vorwerk,
Egnyte
Fasig-Tipton
02:35 PM
Employing AI - From Vision to Production
Phillip Miller,
Chaos
Fasig-Tipton
03:50 PM
ML, AI, and The Future of Search
Randall Stevens,
AVAIL
Fasig-Tipton
06:15 PM
College of Design Tour and Reception
University of Kentucky
08:15 PM
Travel to 21c Hotel
Plus-ones, watch your email for Thursday and Friday itineraries
Friday, September 13th
07:30 AM
Meet at 21c Museum Hotel
21c Museum Hotel
09:00 AM
Breakfast
Log Still Distillery
09:30 AM
Engineering the Future: Practical AI Applications in Civil Engineering
Rob Sinclair,
Wade Trim
Log Still Distillery
10:35 AM
The AI Revolution in Structural Engineering and Beyond
Robert K. Otani,
Thornton Tomasetti
Log Still Distillery
11:45 AM
Audacity, Antiquity, and AI: The Vesuvius Challenge
Christy Chapman,
University of KY
Log Still Distillery
12:45 PM
Lunch
Log Still Distillery
02:00 PM
Cocktail Social
Log Still Distillery
03:15 PM
Kentucky Bus Tour
06:15 PM
Travel to 21c Museum Hotel
Plus-ones, watch your email for Thursday and Friday itineraries
Saturday, September 14th
10:00 AM
Meet at 21c Museum Hotel
21c Museum Hotel
11:00 AM
Woodford Reserve Distillery Tours
Woodford Reserve
01:45 PM
Lunch on the Bus
02:15 PM
Castle & Key Distillery Tours
Castle & Key
06:00 PM
Distillery District Closing Social
Wise Bird Cider
08:15 PM
Travel to 21c Museum Hotel

What to expect

When and Where

AVAIL’s signature Confluence Lexington event will be September 12, 13, and 14, 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Theme

Confluence Lexington 2024’s programming will continue the conversation we began last year about the realities of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the AEC industry and beyond.

Expert Sessions

Confluence Lexington is structured around 9 education sessions led by industry experts. They explore technology—this year, AI—and its AEC implications.

Exclusive Guests

Confluence Lexington is invite-only, and its guest list is kept to 50 of the most creative, innovative technology leaders in AEC—including both firm practitioners and software companies.

Networking

Our focused, three-day structure fosters community amongst attendees. We are careful to build opportunities for guests to discuss what they are learning in real time with the leaders next to them.

Good Kentucky Times

This year, sessions will be held at legendary Thoroughbred horse auction site Fasig-Tipton and bourbon distillery Log Still. Activities will include tours of University of Kentucky College of Design and distilleries Woodford Reserve and Castle & Key.

Past Confluence Lexington attendees have represented these top firms

Perkins&Will
Gensler
AECOM
IMEG
AVAIL CMS

Hosted by AVAIL

AVAIL creates content management solutions for the AEC industry and started hosting Confluence events in 2019 to understand what firms are needing, wanting, and thinking around technology.

Learn more about AVAIL

Sponsors

dell technologiesEgnyteEnscapeArchvisionnvidiaAVAILintel
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