The Future of AEC is at SpeckleCon

Speckle is a community-led product, and we have seen many ways one can leverage it. From creative and innovative applications to “building with Speckle”, we see many use cases across Speckle’s community and AEC leaders (you can learn more about our case studies here).

Celebrating these stories means bringing together AEC experts to take us through how they have been using Speckle to achieve more effective workflows in AEC.

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Here’s a breakdown of the different talks to expect on Day 1 of SpeckleCon on November 13th in London.

Accelerating Digital Practice: A Workflow To Streamline Report Writing With Speckle

Presented by:

James Abrey, Computational Structural Designer at Zutari

Why This Talk is Valuable:

If you’re curious about Speckle Automate and its applications to real-life problems, this session is for you. You will learn how innovative AEC firms like Zutari develop and automate processes to scale rapidly and pave the way in the industry. You will gain insights into the practical applications of Speckle in solving common industry challenges.

Description:

As Zutari embraces its evolution into a fully digital practice, the need for innovative tools and workflows to manage increasingly complex projects has become paramount.

Key to this transformation is the ability to standardise data output across multiple AEC software platforms, accommodate iterative project changes seamlessly, and automate time-consuming tasks.

To address these challenges, James has developed a new workflow that significantly accelerates the report-writing process for engineers, reducing turnaround times from weeks to hours.

This presentation will highlight how Speckle Automate is leveraged to streamline and automate the report-writing process, seamlessly integrating data from analysis software like CSI ETABS into standardised formats for use in Revit, Power BI, and Excel.

Beyond showcasing Zutari's innovative approach, this session will also address the broader issue of file-based fragmentation in the AEC industry. We will explore how collaboration through Speckle can unify stakeholders, drive the adoption of standardised workflows, and ultimately enhance the efficiency of design-to-delivery processes.

Informed Decision Making In Large Multidisciplinary Projects

Presented by:

Pieter Schreurs, Senior Architect / Knowledge Coordinator Architecture & Building Technology at Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV)

Merijn de Leur, Associate Director Architecture & Building Technology at Royal HaskoningDHV

Why This Talk is Valuable:

Join this talk to learn about stakeholder management and Speckle’s external collaborative features.

Description:

Understand how Royal HaskoningDHV uses Speckle in large multi-disciplinary projects to facilitate informed decision-making and stakeholder management. Pieter and Merijn will deep-dive into the design process for Schiphol Airport's C-Pier, where Speckle was used with Grasshopper, Revit, and PowerBI to provide stakeholder insight.

Bridging The Gap Between Design and Construction

Presented by:

Federico Borello, Architect and Co-Founder of ENCODE

Why This Talk is Valuable:

Join this talk to learn more about how Speckle benefits the DfMA and Computational Construction disciplines. Bridging the gap between design and construction means understanding how to apply tools like Speckle to specific workflows strategically.

Description:

The presentation will explain ENCODE's approach towards bridging the gap between Design stages and Construction through Computation and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) processes, enabling the collaborative integration of the expertise and demands of the various project stakeholders.

Architectural design and traditional documentation are translated into digital information that engineers, suppliers, and off-site manufacturers can consume and exchange efficiently before production and delivery to the site for construction.

The primary objective of the approach is to transform the industry from a service to a product-focused domain with the ultimate goal of designing and delivering a better and more sustainable built environment.

Speckle plays an essential role within this paradigm, opening up new frontiers of collaboration, interoperability and transparency beyond traditional AEC tools and digital barriers.

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Speckle as Common Ground: Enhancing Data Flexibility in Design

Presented by:

Aida Ramirez Marrujo, Senior Architect, Team Lead Building Analytics at Herzog & de Meuron

Julian Höll, BIM Manager / Senior Architect, Design Technologies at Herzog & de Meuron

Why This Talk is Valuable:

In this session, you will learn how Herzog & de Meuron integrates Speckle into design workflows across BIM, Computational Design, and Visualisation to solve complex challenges.

This session will highlight real-world applications, custom solutions, and improved collaboration through seamless data sharing.

Description:

You will learn how custom tools like Herzog & de Meuron’s in-house CALC LCA tool streamline early design assessments with better transparency and flexibility.

Aida and Julian will discuss standardising project data visualisation using Speckle for 3D dashboards that combine spatial and performance metrics. They will also show how they're centralising environmental data like LCA and daylight analysis for more informed design decisions.

If you’re interested in learning how to effectively integrate Speckle into design workflows for BIM, Computational Design, and Visualisation, create custom digital tools to enhance design accuracy and transparency and explore how Speckle improves team collaboration and standardisation across projects, this presentation is a must see!

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Speckle As a Software Neutral Platform for Infrastructure Projects

Presented by:

Morten Damm Sørensen, BIM Project Manager, Software Developer at BaneDanmark

Christian Kongsgaard, Founder of Christian Kongsgaard ApS

Why This Talk is Valuable:

This talk will highlight two sides of the story: leveraging Speckle as a tool and leveraging Speckle as a foundation to build reliable applications.

Description:

Morten and Christisan will showcase how Speckle plays a role in software neutrality when handling different data formats.

Morten will present how BaneDanmark (The Danish Agency for Railroads) uses Speckle as a software-neutral platform for handling 3D models internally.

Morten describes Speckle as a platform that handles multiple formats from suppliers while still keeping the original models in its tool of choice. Speckle is also intended as a data source for further processing of the models, such as calculating LCAs, creating tender materials, quantity take-offs, etc.

Alongside Morten, Christian Kongsgaard will present how they built an application on top of Speckle for BaneDanmark and what considerations and challenges were faced in the process.

From Speckle to Reality

Presented by:

‍Katherine Chimenes, Structural Engineer at Price & Myers

Why This Talk is Valuable:

You will see how Speckle can be used in a real-life context with multiple teams and disciplines involved.

Description:

Katherine will demonstrate how Speckle enabled work for structural engineers, designers, architects, computational designers, fabricators, and other stakeholders on a project that is going to site, from its inception.

Space Programming and Floor Efficiency

Presented by:

Vincenza de Maria, BIM coordinator at ACPV Architect

Why This Talk is Valuable:

This talk aims to showcase how to achieve efficient project comparisons and adherence verification early on. Vincenza’s method records different design phases.

Description:

Space programming uses models to analyse clients' spatial requirements and area calculations based on local regulations. Enhancing floor efficiency calculations and verifying project compliance with the Client Programme Area is crucial. Calculating GEA, NIA, NEA, and other areas is an early design process step.

Revit schedules often fall short regarding data comparison and integration, leading to data loss, delayed comparisons, and manual entry errors. To address these, Vincenza and her team implemented a workflow that channels Revit data to Power BI through Speckle, importing directly from Revit to Power BI Areas and Rooms with their parameter.

Customised Power BI templates are used for each project to systematically compare data using charts across various design stages. This setup streamlines the design team's work and reduces timeframes.

Speckle Workflows at Perkins & Wills

Presented by:

Jordana de Castro Rosa, Design applications tech at Perkins & Wills

Adam Burnham, Digital Practice Technician at Perkins&Wills

Why This Talk is Valuable:

Understand Speckle's functionalities, enhance design capabilities, improve collaboration, maximize data utilization, and experience tool creation with Speckle.

Description:

Since integrating Speckle at Perkins&Will, the team has discovered numerous ways Speckle enhances their design process. Some functionalities were immediately evident, while others revealed themselves over time, providing substantial benefits.

Speckle has significantly expanded their capabilities, enabling better collaboration and allowing us to extract more outputs from our data—challenges they faced before using Speckle.

In this presentation, Jordana and Adam aim to highlight some of the key ways Speckle has supported and improved our projects, as well as share their experiences in creating tools on top of Speckle, specifically those developed during the Speckle Hackathon.

Soufflé x Speckle: Automating The Design Loop For Pipe Bridges

Presented by:

Iman Warsame, Senior Software and Civil Engineer at Ramboll

Why This Talk is Valuable:

Using Speckle to communicate between different design software and the benefits that it can bring. Thoughts on the Speckle data model and interacting with it programmatically.

Strategies used to communicate different types of data using the platform, including loading and support information.

Description:

This talk explores a research project using Speckle to connect Grasshopper geometry with custom structural analysis software and Revit. By automating the design loop from initial design to analysis and drawings, the project streamlines workflows enhances accuracy and accelerates project delivery.

Embedding LCA Into Early Design

Presented by:

‍Fabian Sellgber Computational design specialist, Arkitekt MSA at Link Arkitektur

Why This Talk is Valuable:

1. Understanding Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Integration:You will gain a comprehensive understanding of how Speckle LCA integrates LCA into the early stages of design, enabling you to assess and minimise environmental impacts from the outset of a project.
2. Leveraging Open-Source Tools for Sustainability:You will learn about the benefits of using open-source tools like Speckle LCA, including the flexibility for customisation, community-driven improvements, and cost-effectiveness in advancing sustainable building practices.
3. Enhancing BIM Workflows with LCA Data:You will see how Speckle LCA can be seamlessly integrated with BIM workflows, facilitating the efficient management and application of LCA data within design processes.
4. Practical Applications and Case Studies:YOU will explore real-world examples and case studies showcasing the practical applications of Speckle LCA, highlighting its impact on sustainability outcomes in various construction projects.
5. Empowering Informed Decision-Making:You will learn how to make more informed, environmentally responsible decisions in your design processes, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and efficient building practices.

By the end of the session, you will have a deeper understanding of how to effectively incorporate LCA into your design workflows, leverage the benefits of an open-source platform, and drive sustainability in your projects.

Description:

This session explores Speckle LCA, an open-source platform that integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into early architectural and construction design. As sustainable practices become more critical, Speckle LCA connects with leading LCA providers, streamlining data management and collaboration to deliver comprehensive environmental assessments.

Key topics include incorporating LCA into early design, integrating Speckle LCA with BIM workflows, and the role of digital tools in sustainable design. Attendees will learn how Speckle LCA supports informed, eco-friendly decisions and real-world applications to reduce environmental impact.

By the end, you will understand how Speckle LCA enhances sustainable design through its flexible, collaborative platform.

Spot the Diff: Leveraging Speckle's Visual Interface to Streamline Analysis and Enable Rapid Design Iteration

Presented by:

Ken Goulding, Director of Research & Development at Sasaki

Scott Penman, Design Technologist at Sasaki

Why This Talk is Valuable:

You will gain a better understanding of Speckle's multi-model interface. You’ll also get to see how Speckle's straightforward approach to projects, models, and versions helps teams organise complex projects, how Speckle's model viewer enables easy validation of diverse model geometry and explore examples of how Speckle models can quickly connect to web-based analysis tools.

Description:

Sasaki, an integrated design practice, uses a range of modeling platforms like Revit, Rhino, and Blender. Managing these diverse models is complex, but instead of limiting teams’ approaches, Sasaki’s in-house technologists use Speckle’s visual interface to normalise, organize, and spot-check model data, while connecting it to their in-house web tools.

This approach enables effortless integration with custom analysis and presentation tools without stifling creativity. In this talk, Ken and Scott will show how Speckle helps teams quickly standardise model data and access Sasaki's advanced tools for faster, more efficient design iteration.

Conclusion

Join us at SpeckleCon in London this November to see real life examples first hand, and learn from industry leaders.