What has 2025 got in store for the construction industry’s techno-toolbox? Tim Clark explores some possible trends for the coming year
The celebrations are over and like the post-festive pledges to get into shape, the reality of 2025 has dawned on the UK’s construction sector.
What the coming year will bring in terms of jobs, innovations and industry breakthroughs is a question on the lips of many in the industry.
Economically, despite the recent gloom on a number of fronts, the prospects for construction look bright – at least according to some economists. Data crunching firm Glenigan suggests construction is set for a boom in 2025 with project starts predicted to rise by 8%.
These figures are predicted to rise by a further 10% in 2026 due to what the data firm’s economics director, Allan Wilen said was: “An easing in borrowing costs, improved economic conditions and greater political certainty are also expected to boost investor confidence in industrial and commercial property markets from next year.”
This year will also see a raft of policy and regulatory pledges and changes that will either be a boon to industry, or see the sector bogged down comprehending the scale of change.
When it comes to innovation the year could see a number of further tech advancements.
Generative AI in design
AI is increasingly part of the world around us, and development is no different. 2025 could well see the adoption of further AI practices in design and architecture; just how and where remains to be seen
Architecture practice Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) used Midjourney and Gendo to create quick design options for new designs, which the practice said reduced design rendering time by 80%. The practice claims that AI helped it build a winning proposal using both these AI tools and its own custom AI software to help enhance mid-stage design productivity.
AI isn’t limited to architecture. Israeli firm Buildots was given a $15m investment from tech giant Intel in July last year to help address inefficiencies in the construction sector, the aim of which was to reduce delays by almost half. The results are not yet known, but the sector can expect a number of additional investments in 2025 looking for similar gains.
As Build in Digital has investigated recently, AI is also leading to changes in how buildings are managed. In October, Time magazine covered the story of BrainBox AI’s ARIA platform and how it utilised AI to optimise HVAC systems in large commercial buildings by monitoring data such as humidity levels and ventilation rates.
The system has been installed in 14,000 buildings in over 20 countries and claims to reduce energy costs by 25% and significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions. With inflation threatening to be on the rise once again, we can expect more building owners will look closely at their operational costs in the coming year.
The onward march of BIM
BIM isn’t a new concept, however it could be argued that the sector is still fully getting to grips with how far Building Information Modelling can go. What will 2025 bring? For a start, more integration within BIM is expected
Research by USP Marketing indicates that despite a decrease in new build projects, the overall percentage of BIM users at the European level has continued to rise, with optimism for sustained growth projections into 2025 and 2027.
Significant disparities persist however among European countries, with the Netherlands leading at 75% adoption among architects, while Italy lags behind at 32%. The study noted that in the UK, there was a relatively quick adoption of BIM, however that has tailed off in recent years.
BIM is of course, one part of an ecosystem of construction management tools now available to contractors and developers. However what will the construction software of the future look like and how close are we to getting there in 2025?
The sector can expect further innovations in the use of drones, 3D printing, digital twins, augmented and virtual reality as well as the wider adoption of cloud computing for helping to streamline remote working or site access, and recording of project progress.
Taking 3D printing to the next level
Glimpses of what is to come in the way of 3D printing was highlighted at the tail end of last year. Northumbria University announced the installation of new cutting-edge 3D construction printing technology that can print concrete structures faster, cheaper and more sustainably than conventional methods.
Similarly, the next steps for digital twins may be found outside the traditional building, and across entire networks. Research published by the Department for Transport and Arup is expected to enable the sector to make the case for integrated transport digital twins, drive adoption, and improve transport efficiency through collaboration.
Although it would be too optimistic to hope for big changes in 2025, the research and continued funding for such innovations points towards the potential for large-scale adoption at a later date, perhaps closer to the end of the decade.
Growth market: Bio-based buildings
Earlier this year Build in Digital reported on one firm which was pushing the envelope when it came to bio-buildings. Using mycelium, the root part of a fungi, Biohm has successfully created versatile insulation panels for buildings and is working to scale up the project.
It isn’t the only innovator in the sector however, with hundreds of firms worldwide looking to capitalise on bio or waste materials to utilise in construction
Taiwanese companies Miniwiz and LOTOS,have joined forces to convert local waste materials into sustainable building products. Miniwiz upcycles waste like insect shells and PET bottles into materials such as bricks and wall panels, while LOTOS develops concrete alternatives using industrial waste. Both companies aim to reduce embodied carbon emissions in construction.
It isn’t only the innovation of new products that is needed to help further the adoption of bio-based materials however; the market itself needs to mature. In this respect, a new initiative called Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL) is one to watch…. Possibly.
Although the venture is in its early days, and is currently more related to interior design and fashion than construction, the portal aims to help consumers directly buy more ecologically friendly products, such as a lamp grown using bio-crete, in this case bacteria which secrete limestone and has 95% lower carbon emissions than traditional concrete.
It may be small, niche even, however could the coming few years see a more viable marketplace for the sustainable building sector. If the new net zero carbon building standard is to truly take off, then perhaps an eco-construction supermarket is needed.
Read next: Joint venture wins HS2 power supply contract
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
