Building the Future: GVCA Members Explore AI’s Role in Construction

BUILDING THE FUTURE: GVCA MEMBERS EXPLORE AI'S ROLE IN CONSTRUCTION

On September 3, the Grand Valley Construction Association (GVCA) brought a group of members to the Communitech Hub in Kitchener for a roundtable and workshop on artificial intelligence. The goal was straightforward: give industry leaders the space to share their perspectives on how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping construction, and identify opportunities to stay ahead of change.

Why this conversation matters

Construction is at a turning point. Across Canada, firms are feeling the pressure of an aging workforce, rising costs, regulatory complexity, and constant demands for greater efficiency. At the same time, new technologies are creating both disruption and possibility. GVCA convened this session to ensure that its members are not just reacting to change, but actively shaping how the industry adapts.

Key findings from the roundtable

The discussions consistently circled around five major themes:

● Talent gap: Companies are struggling to find, train, and retain skilled workers, with many veteran tradespeople nearing retirement.

● Technology adoption: AI and automation present enormous potential to streamline estimating, scheduling, and routine paperwork. But the pace of change can feel overwhelming, and buy-in from teams remains a hurdle.

● Trust and transparency: Conflicts often arise from inconsistent regulations and project “blame wars.” Participants saw opportunities to use technology not only for efficiency, but also to build trust through greater transparency in budgets, schedules, and compliance.

● Workflow challenges: The “hurry up and wait” model and lowest-bid culture continue to drain productivity. More collaborative approaches and process automation were flagged as solutions.

● Sustainability vs. cost: While sustainability is a priority, it is too often the first thing cut when budgets get tight.

Looking ahead, our members said they expect more automation in planning and logistics, stronger calls for collaborative contracts, and a push to better connect young people with career pathways in construction. Opportunities identified included capturing institutional knowledge before it’s lost, standardizing building code interpretation across municipalities, and leveraging AI to reduce repetitive administrative work

Voices from the industry

For Kyle Brohman, VP of Operations at Conestogo Electrical, the conversation about AI isn’t abstract—it’s already shaping daily work.

“My gut feeling with AI is that it’s going to be a major shift. It’s a tool that’s going to change things, often in ways we can’t anticipate,” he said

He pointed to estimating as one area ripe for change: “Estimators hate estimating. So why not use AI to speed up the process and promote fair pricing?”

At the same time, Brohman acknowledged that AI raises questions about the next generation of workers.

“The young people that used to correlate documents and reconcile invoices. AI is really good at that. This will impact those jobs. But it also gives us a chance to upskill people into higher-value roles.”

Thinking ahead

For GVCA, the roundtable underscored the importance of leading the conversation about AI’s role in construction. The industry may not have all the answers yet, but by bringing members together to share real-world challenges and practical opportunities, GVCA is ensuring that its community is ready to adapt, evolve, and build stronger foundations for the future.