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Grapevine Today
By the People, for the People
Design-Build Specialty Conferences Highlight PDB, AI and Infrastructure
Infrastructure economy, AI and new progressive design-build research headline DBIA's 2026 spring specialty conferences.
Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:37pm
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The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is hosting its 2026 Design-Build for Water/Wastewater and Transportation/Aviation Conferences in Grapevine, Texas from April 13-17. The conferences will focus on collaborative project delivery strategies to manage complex infrastructure projects, with keynotes on the economic outlook and the impact of AI on the industry. A joint session will also present early findings from a study on progressive design-build practices.
Why it matters
As public agencies across the country face aging infrastructure, expanding demand, and new funding opportunities, these conferences provide a forum for industry leaders to align on delivery strategies and explore how collaborative project delivery can help advance critical infrastructure programs in the transportation, aviation, and water sectors.
The details
The two sector-specific conferences will bring together Owners and practitioners to address the challenges shaping the next generation of infrastructure investment. The Water/Wastewater conference on April 13-15 will feature an opening keynote from economist Anirban Basu on the economic forces impacting infrastructure markets in 2026. The Transportation/Aviation conference on April 15-17 will feature an opening keynote from AI thought leader Dr. Alex Lawrence on the implications of emerging technologies for leadership, risk management, and project delivery. A joint general session on April 15 will present early findings from a study on how progressive design-build practices influence risk allocation, insurance considerations, and project performance.
- The Water/Wastewater conference will be held from April 13-15, 2026.
- The Transportation/Aviation conference will be held from April 15-17, 2026.
- Both conferences will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.
The players
Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)
A national organization that promotes the design-build project delivery method and provides education, training, and advocacy for the design-build industry.
Anirban Basu
Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, a nationally recognized economist who will deliver the opening keynote on the economic outlook for infrastructure markets in 2026.
Dr. Alex Lawrence
An AI thought leader and entrepreneur who will deliver the opening keynote on the implications of emerging technologies for leadership, risk management, and project delivery.
What’s next
Advance registration for the conferences is available starting Thursday, April 9. On-site registration will be available beginning Monday, April 13.
The takeaway
These design-build specialty conferences highlight the critical role of collaborative project delivery in addressing the complex challenges facing the transportation, aviation, and water infrastructure sectors, including aging assets, growing demand, and new funding opportunities. The focus on economic trends, emerging technologies, and progressive design-build practices underscores the industry's need to adapt and innovate to meet the infrastructure demands of the future.
