AI is no longer a buzzword. It’s reshaping every blueprint, every site, every city — and the professionals who thrive will be those who act now.

The built environment is undergoing the most significant transformation of our generation. Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept reserved for Silicon Valley boardrooms — it is actively changing how architects design, how engineers deliver projects, and how cities are managed in real time right here in Nigeria.

The Costech Annual Smart City Hackathon and Workshop 2026, themed “AI Shaping the Next Era of AEC,” is the one event this year where Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professionals can stop reading about this revolution and start participating in it. Scheduled for 22nd–23rd July 2026 at Greenpeg Engineering HQ in Ikeja, Lagos, this two-day career-enhancing experience is more than a conference. Day 2 is a full, hands-on workshop designed to send you home with practical skills you can use on your very next project.

The State of AEC in Nigeria: A Profession at a Crossroads

Nigerian architects, engineers, and construction professionals face growing pressure from multiple directions: tighter project timelines, demanding clients, rising material costs, and an international industry moving rapidly toward AI-powered workflows. BIM adoption is accelerating globally, digital twins are no longer experimental, and clients in sectors like oil and gas, real estate, and government infrastructure are beginning to demand data-driven project delivery.

The gap between those who understand these tools and those who do not is widening every year. This is not the time to wait and see. This is the time to be in the room where the skills are being shared.

What Makes Day 2 Worth Registering For

The heart of the SmartCity 2026 experience is the Day 2 Workshop — a structured, practitioner-led session built around five focused tracks. Each track is facilitated by an industry expert with real-world experience, not just theory. Here is what you will find:

Workshop Track 1: Digital Twins and Real-Time Asset and Operations Intelligence

Facilitator: Dr. Zulfikar Adamu, Conference Chairman and Associate Professor of Strategic IT in Construction

Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical infrastructure that update in real time using sensor data, IoT feeds, and AI analytics. In this track, Dr. Adamu — one of Nigeria’s foremost authorities on strategic IT in construction — explores how digital twins are enabling smarter monitoring of buildings, roads, and urban systems. You will understand how real-time infrastructure intelligence is used to predict failures before they happen, optimize operations, and make data-backed decisions that save lives and money.

If you work in facilities management, infrastructure development, or smart city planning, this track alone justifies the registration.

Workshop Track 2: Architecture as Cinema — Using AI Storytelling to Transform Real Estate Visualization

Facilitator: Gabriel Oyekunle, Founder, Craftsphile Studio

Winning clients is no longer just about technical drawings. In today’s competitive real estate market, how you tell the story of a building matters as much as the design itself. Gabriel Oyekunle brings his expertise in AI-driven visualization to show how architects and developers can create cinematic, immersive presentations that captivate investors and buyers. From AI-generated renders to narrative-driven walkthroughs, this track repositions visualization as a strategic business skill.

This is essential for anyone in architecture, real estate development, or design communication who wants their presentations to stand out.

Workshop Track 3: Engineering the SmartCity — Faster, Smarter Structural Workflows with BIM Automation

Facilitator: Kehinde Ayobade, KS Digital Innovations

BIM has moved far beyond 3D modelling. The frontier today is BIM automation — using scripting, parametric design, and AI-assisted tools to eliminate repetitive tasks and accelerate structural workflows dramatically. This track dives into how automation is compressing project timelines, reducing human error, and enabling smaller teams to deliver complex structural projects. Whether you are a structural engineer, BIM coordinator, or project manager, you will leave with a clearer picture of how to streamline your delivery pipeline.

Workshop Track 4: BIM Office Management

Facilitator: Olamide Ogunlola, Director, Costech

Having BIM capability in your team is only half the battle. Managing it effectively — setting standards, maintaining workflows, coordinating between disciplines, and ensuring quality control — is what separates firms that struggle with BIM from those that profit from it. This track addresses the organizational and managerial dimension of BIM adoption. It is designed for BIM managers, firm directors, and project leads who want to build a sustainable, high-performing BIM practice within their organizations.

Workshop Track 5: Human + Machine Collaboration

Facilitator: Joseph Effiong, Training Manager, Costech

As AI takes on more technical tasks, the question for professionals becomes: what is the uniquely human contribution to the AEC workflow? This track explores the evolving relationship between human expertise and machine intelligence. Joseph Effiong guides participants through the ethical and practical dimensions of AI integration, helping professionals identify where human judgment remains irreplaceable and how to position themselves as valuable collaborators in an increasingly automated industry.

For anyone anxious about the future of their career in the face of AI, this session is deeply grounding and strategically essential.

Who Should Attend

The workshop is relevant to a wide range of professionals and students across the built environment and technology sectors:

Architects looking to upgrade their visualization and design intelligence capabilities
Structural and civil engineers seeking to automate workflows and adopt BIM at a higher level
Urban planners and smart city practitioners interested in real-time infrastructure systems
Real estate developers and project managers who want data-driven project delivery
BIM managers and firm directors building or scaling digital practices
Students and early-career professionals preparing for the AI-integrated job market
Technology professionals working at the intersection of software and construction

Beyond the Workshop: The Full SmartCity 2026 Experience

Day 1 of the conference is free to attend and features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and presentations from some of Nigeria’s most respected voices in construction and technology, including the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the President of ARCON, and the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Speakers will address themes ranging from AI-driven design optimization to inclusive smart housing and visual monitoring in modern construction.

The SmartCity event also includes a Hackathon for developers, engineers, and urban innovators to collaborate on real infrastructure challenges, as well as networking opportunities with professionals from Julius Berger, Chevron, Eko Atlantic, and more.

Partners supporting the event include Autodesk, Bentley, Graphisoft, Chaos, NBRRI, and KnowledgePoint, among others — a signal of the serious industry weight behind this gathering.

What Past Participants Say

“The session acted as an eyeopener and I gained an array of knowledge on how to use the power of technology to create sustainable solutions.” — Keith B., Urban Planning Analyst, LMDA

“The Conference was amazing and relevant to my current job functions and my industry.” — Tochukwu C., Digital Construction, Julius Berger

“Costech Smartcity event has always been an epitome of innovation and where like minds collaborate to birth new ideas.” — Kalejaiye Omidina, Project Development Manager, Chevron

How to Register

Day 1 of the conference is free. Day 2 Workshop registration is paid, and spaces are limited. Early registration is strongly advised.

Visit the official registration page at costechcomputers.com.ng/smartcity to secure your spot. You can also download the full event brochure from the website for a detailed schedule and facilitator profiles.

The cities of tomorrow are being designed today. The question is whether you will be among those designing them.

Event Details at a Glance

Dates: 22nd–23rd July 2026

Location: Greenpeg Engineering HQ, 64c Toyin Street, Opebi-Allen, Ikeja, Lagos

Day 1: Conference (Free to attend)

Day 2: Hands-on Workshop (Paid — limited spaces)

Register: costechcomputers.com.ng/smartcity