As AI scales and data centers explode, it’s not chips or code holding us back—it’s the stuff we haven’t built yet

ILLUSTRATOR
Rae Scarfó
Rae Scarfó is a multidisciplinary illustrator with a focus on visual storytelling. They are most excited about mushroom bricks and 3D printed buildings.
Build Out Alliance, started in 2017, has grown mightily in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, with the goal of building community and advocacy around the changing demographics of those working in the construction industry
Judaline Cassidy, a veteran New York City plumber, is helping girls break into the skilled trades through her nonprofit, Tools & Tiaras
Despite big sustainability goals, most energy projects are still slowed down by outdated paper workflows, miscommunication and costly rework, making efficiency and ESG targets harder to hit
Maine-based line striping specialist Kailyn Braddock shares how late nights, hard lessons and serious hustle helped her build a career on her own terms
After tornadoes leveled one facility and the COVID-19 pandemic upended supply chains, Camfil didn’t just rebuild—it doubled down on smarter, stronger design
As the industry faces a critical skilled labor shortage, modern vocational training programs—many as early as high school—are quietly rebuilding the workforce from the ground up
With deadlines looming, agencies have a rare opportunity to modernize—and lead—the future of infrastructure delivery
As mental health concerns rise across the construction industry, leaders and workers alike are beginning to confront the stigma and push for meaningful change
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming essential for AEC professionals aiming to reduce embodied carbon and make smarter, data-driven material choices