Discover the Trends Shaping the AEC Industry in 2025 and Beyond

Technology is redefining how AEC professionals work. So, to kick off 2025, Vectorworks talked to hundreds of architects, designers, and others to see what technology trends are shaping the future of the AEC industry.

This article will give you a glimpse into what we discovered regarding the ongoing development of Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), and sustainable design analysis tools.

You can download the full report on our findings here. Keep reading for a summary of some of the most significant AEC technology trends.

“The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has been changing for a long time, in part due to technological advancement and in part because of the workflow pressure provided by increasing demands on public infrastructure. In tandem, these forces create an opportunity for AEC professionals to adjust their processes to deliver intelligent, climate-sensitive work. 

But I’ll be the first to admit that changing established workflows is uncomfortable, especially because our livelihood is tied to the projects we deliver. However, as you’ll read in this report, we’re approaching a point where adopting new technology is non-negotiable.

This is a complex challenge. How do you embrace new technology when the process of implementing it comes at the cost of daily billable work? This challenge influences every step of our development process at Vectorworks — we strive to deliver effective digital technology solutions that meet the needs of today while ensuring these solutions easily fit right into day-to-day work. 

In other words, you’re not alone. Software providers share the responsibility; I believe it’s our job to create tools that enhance workflows rather than limit or redefine them.”

- Dr. Biplab Sarkar, CEO, Vectorworks

Some of the key findings concerning BIM, AI, VR, AR, and sustainable design analysis include:

• AEC professionals rated BIM as the most prevalent digital technology in the industry today.
• Practitioners are aware that AI needs to evolve and become more bespoke before it reaches the same prevalence as BIM.
• The largest barrier to the adoption of every digital trend (except AR and VR) is a lack of training.
• Respondents expect every trend to be more widespread in the industry over the next decade.

Excitingly, 62.5% of respondents also said they planned to adopt at least one of these trends in the next five years. Given this eagerness to explore emerging technologies, let’s now take a closer look at the individual AEC industry trends.

BIM is expected to only grow in popularity and importance over the next 10 years, according to our report. This is likely because of a high return on investment (ROI) and a significant client interest.

BIM has become an essential technology in the AEC industry due to its ability to enhance collaboration, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. By providing a centralized platform for real-time data sharing, BIM ensures seamless coordination among architects, engineers, and contractors, minimizing errors and rework. Its ability to detect design clashes early and provide accurate cost estimations leads to significant cost savings and better resource allocation. Additionally, BIM supports sustainability by optimizing energy use and reducing waste throughout a building’s lifecycle. 

If you’ve yet to adopt BIM workflows, check out our Beginner’s Guide to BIM. This guide is your go-to resource for familiarizing yourself with the important aspects of BIM and helping you discover everything you need to know to get started and succeed in the evolving world of digital design and construction.

Artificial Intelligence has been one of the hottest topics in the AEC industry in 2025. In fact, AI has seen a meteoric rise in adoption recently, and most professionals think its significance will only continue to grow. Since it’s in the industry’s earliest stages, the possibilities for AI are plentiful, whether it be for ideation, collaboration, or increased efficiency.

Vectorworks Architect’s AI Visualizer, for instance, gives you an accessible way to experiment with AI. Combining strength and speed, this innovative feature uses Vectorworks Cloud Services for a zero-install, uninterrupted workflow, allowing you to quickly ideate illustrative concepts or create refined images using your Vectorworks models at any design stage.

With a low barrier of entry, you can take advantage of AI solutions, not needing to dedicate significant time or other resources to reap their benefits.

From automating tedious documentation tasks to optimizing complex design solutions, AI is reshaping the way architects, engineers, and contractors approach their work. By integrating AI-driven tools, you can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and focus more on creativity and problem-solving.

As Luis M. Ruiz, senior product specialist at Vectorworks, puts it, "AI isn't replacing designers — it’s amplifying their capabilities, allowing them to explore ideas faster and refine their vision with greater precision.” With AI’s growing role in the AEC sector, firms that embrace these innovations stand to gain a significant competitive edge.

Unlike AI, AR/VR adopters reported that embracing the technology often requires new software, hardware, and training to unlock its benefits. For example, VR frequently requires specialized headsets, motion-tracking devices, and powerful computing systems, which can pose a significant investment for firms. As these technologies become more affordable and accessible, though, the barrier to entry may decrease, driving wider adoption in the AEC industry.

However, if you’re willing to pursue AR and/or VR tech, consider the Vectorworks Nomad app or the Room Plan feature. With these, you’ll be able to offer your clients and collaborators a unique experience by scanning rooms to create conceptual 3D models, generating immersive tours, showing clients your vision, and more.

AR and VR are promising and possibly transformative technologies in the AEC industry that may enhance every stage of the project lifecycle. 

AR overlays digital models onto real-world environments, helping you to visualize designs in context, streamline decision-making, and improve communication. VR immerses you and your clients in virtual environments, allowing you to conduct detailed design reviews, simulate construction processes, and optimize spatial planning with unparalleled precision. These technologies can reduce errors, minimize material waste, and accelerate timelines by improving collaboration and real-time problem-solving.

Lastly, there’s the matter of sustainability, which is on the minds of many. Sustainable design analysis technology, like Vectorworks’ Embodied Carbon Calculator (VECC), aims to help the world reach its sustainability targets.

As we get closer and closer to deadlines of climate strategies such as The AIA 2030 Commitment and RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, it’s encouraging to see that almost half of all respondents who haven’t already adopted sustainable design analysis technology plan to do so within the next five years — the highest percentage of any trend highlighted in our report.

Just as sustainable technology is expected to see an increase in adoption, it’s also likely to become a growing desire of your clients. Sustainable design analysis enables architects to deliver data-backed designs that meet these expectations while complying with green building certifications such as LEED and WELL standards. So, these technologies will aid in regulatory compliance and enhance client confidence in project outcomes. 

And as previously mentioned, your sustainability efforts can work in tandem with BIM workflows. LH Architekten, for example, uses BIM features like data management and data visualization to create sustainable projects. With comprehensive data collection, potential issues can be identified and resolved early, avoiding rework and the waste of resources and energy. This significantly contributes to sustainability throughout the entire construction process.

Click here to learn more about LH Architekten’s sustainable design with smart BIM models.

These trends offer a crucial glimpse into the future for architects, interior designers, and more. From the continued dominance of BIM to the rise of AI, AR/VR, and sustainable design analysis, the AEC industry is evolving rapidly to meet the demands of clients, projects, and the planet.

While hurdles like training and resources may slow adoption for some, the overwhelming eagerness to embrace these technologies underscores a commitment to innovation and progress. By staying up to date with these trends, you position yourself and your firm to deliver cutting-edge solutions that exceed expectations.

“As you’ll read in this report, we’re approaching a point where adopting new technology is non-negotiable,” said Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar. “This is a complex challenge. How do you embrace new technology when implementing it comes at the cost of daily billable work? This challenge influences every step of our development process at Vectorworks – we strive to deliver effective digital technology solutions that meet the needs of today while ensuring these solutions easily fit right into day-to-day work.”

To create the report, Vectorworks surveyed 520 current AEC professionals on their opinions of technology trends in the industry.

Since firms of fewer than 50 employees make up 90% of the industry, gathering insights from these practitioners allowed Vectorworks to create a more accurate picture of the prevailing perceptions of technology trends.

The largest group of responders to our survey were architects, but the survey received responses from interior designers, structural engineers, space planners, and M/E/P engineers as well.

*Article updated April 8, 2025. Please note that as of March 2025, Jason Pletcher is the new CEO of Vectorworks.