The Tomorrow.Building World Congress, held from 5th to 7th November at Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, highlighted how cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, IoT, drones, and digital twins are transforming the construction sector into a more sustainable and efficient industry. Organised by Fira de Barcelona under the theme Build Better, the event brought together over 25,000 attendees from 130 countries to explore new ideas, systems, and technologies shaping global urban infrastructure.
The congress programme focused on key challenges in construction, including urban planning, construction and design technology, decarbonisation, and sustainable building transformation. More than 100 international experts participated in over 30 sessions. Among the keynote speakers were New York-based urban strategist Majora Carter, who is renowned for revitalisation projects in the South Bronx; Melike Altinisik, the architect behind Istanbul’s new telecommunications tower; and Liselott Stenfeldt, R&D director at the urban design consultancy Gehl.
The event’s 2,000 m² exhibition space showcased innovation from leading companies, including Samsung C&T Corporation, Siemens, BIOO, and New Murabba. It also spotlighted emerging ConTech and PropTech startups in the Innovation Playground area, promoting digital transformation in construction and real estate management.
Support for Tomorrow.Building came from a range of organisations, including the European Union’s Build Up initiative, which promotes energy efficiency in construction, and Women’s New European Bauhaus (WNEB). Spanish institutions such as the Spanish Construction Technology Platform (PTEC) and the Higher Council of Architects’ Associations of Spain (CSCAE) also contributed.
The event was part of the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, the largest global forum on urban innovation, which featured more than 1,100 exhibitors from 850 cities and 140 countries. In its second edition, Tomorrow.Building strengthened its position as a global hub for sustainable construction solutions, with organisers emphasising its role in addressing the climate crisis.
“We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how we design and construct buildings and cities,” said a Fira de Barcelona spokesperson. “Tomorrow.Building World Congress demonstrates the sector’s commitment to embracing technology and innovation to build a more sustainable future.”
As the construction sector faces increasing demands to reduce emissions and improve efficiency, the congress served as a platform to share knowledge and solutions, from urban revitalisation strategies to decarbonised building techniques.
