Symposium

About this event

Chicago Innovate 2026 — Design. Build. Compute. Connect. Chicago Innovate 2026 — Design. Build. Compute. Connect. Chicago Innovate is the AECO industry's homegrown innovation week — where architects, engineers, startups, hardtech builders, and venture capital share a room instead of separate conferences. Now in its fifth year, the event brings together the people actually building the future of design and construction technology: agentic AI, computational design, local compute, and the workflows reshaping how we design and build. September 24–27, 2026 · Chicago, IL Four days, three formats: • Masterclasses (Sept 24) — Hands-on, software-specific sessions taught by practitioners, covering real AECO workflows in tools like Revit, Rhino/Grasshopper, and emerging AI platforms. • Symposium (Sept 25, full day) — The flagship day. Talks and panels on advanced technology, innovation in AEC, and where the industry is headed, held at 800 Fulton Market. • Hackathon (Sept 26–27) — "Hackathon on a Box": teams build with frontier-class AI running entirely on local hardware, no cloud dependency, at Gensler's Chicago office. Whether you're a design technologist, a startup founder, an investor watching the AEC space, or just curious where AI and architecture are headed — this week is built for you. 📍 800 Fulton Market & 25 East Washington, Chicago 🔗 chicagoinnovate.tech