Call for Presentations Now Open for DBIA’s 2026 Spring Specialty Conferences
Every design-build project tells a story. Perhaps yours was the airport terminal that stayed on schedule despite supply chain challenges or the wastewater treatment plant that required innovative solutions to meet both utility demands and community needs. Maybe you’ve managed funding uncertainties, delivered resilient infrastructure or engaged creative solutions to deliver big impact with limited resources.
Each of these experiences carries lessons that extend beyond the project itself and can help guide the entire industry. As design-build continues its growth toward half of all construction spending by 2028, DBIA’s 2026 Spring Specialty Conferences are your opportunity to share those insights and help shape the next phase of industry growth.
Why Present at the Specialty Conferences
From railroads to reservoirs, our Transportation/Aviation and Water/Wastewater Conferences focus on the issues Owners and practitioners face every day. These are targeted sector events designed to showcase practical solutions, emerging strategies and collaborative practices that are advancing design-build. By sharing your expertise, you’ll not only contribute to the success of your peers but also help shape the national conversation about how design-build responds to evolving challenges.
The 2026 program will build on the momentum of past years, with sessions that explored fast-tracking transit projects, digital delivery innovations at PennDOT and TxDOT, progressive design-build programs in cities like San Jose and the impact of design-build projects on Tribal communities.
What Makes a Strong Proposal
We invite you to continue that tradition by proposing sessions that align with DBIA’s priorities for advancing design-build. Proposals that emphasize collaboration between Owners and practitioners, show measurable outcomes and provide replicable tools or strategies will receive priority. Strong submissions balance the right presenters and topics, ideally including DBIA credentialed or member presenters, an Owner’s perspective and multiple team roles. The best sessions are educational with clear takeaways on the “how to” of Design-Build Done Right® and candid about challenges, offering lessons learned and tools others can use to avoid similar difficulties.
Topics and Trends to Explore
DBIA is especially interested in sessions that reflect how the industry is evolving and where design-build is headed. To help you identify the right topic, potential areas of focus could include:
- Collaboration and Team Dynamics: Collaboration and co-location, structuring dynamic teams, early engagement, mindset shift, integration tools and ensuring the right people are in the right roles.
- Delivery Methods and Tools: Virtual Design & Construction, innovative technologies, contractor self-performance and lessons learned from different project scales.
- Owners and Procurement: Progressive Design-Build, becoming an Owner of Choice, working effectively with Owner Advisors, developing attractive RFQ/RFPs and addressing limited staffing resources.
- Finance and Infrastructure: P3s, innovative funding approaches, contingency and allowance in GMP and broader infrastructure investment topics.
- Resilience and Emerging Challenges: Design-build in times of crisis, cost volatility, extended equipment procurement cycles and small project successes.
- People and Workforce: Workforce development, mentorship and internship initiatives as well as new Owner experiences and lessons learned from project challenges such as teaming and scope changes.
These suggestions are not exhaustive but provide examples of the kinds of ideas that will help ensure the 2026 program equips Owners and practitioners with insights they can apply directly to their work. Paired with lessons learned and practical takeaways, these focus areas will help make the program especially valuable and applicable. Explore the possibilities and spark ideas for your own proposal by reviewing the complete Call for Presentations for Transportation/Aviation and Water/Wastewater.
Key Details and Dates
DBIA’s Specialty Conferences are your opportunity to expand your professional network and contribute to Design-Build Done Right®. If you’ve learned something the hard way, identified innovative approaches or want to demonstrate how design-build can deliver better outcomes, DBIA wants to hear from you.
Submit your proposal by Oct. 15, 2025, and join us in Grapevine, Texas (Dallas area), to help shape the next chapter of design-build excellence.
- The Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conference will be held Apr. 13–15, 2026.
- The Design-Build for Transportation/Aviation Conference will be held Apr. 15–17, 2026.
Submit Your Proposal
Review the guidelines and submit your proposal:
