Attending BiLT Riga 2024 was a fantastic experience, marking my second time at the BiLT conference. My goals were clear: focus on our Naviate exhibition wall and share insights on the importance of wellness in design through my 45-minute class.
My BiLT journey began in 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland; where my primary aim was to stay at the stand and discuss all things Revit with the attendees. This time, however, I had a different mindset. While we still showcased the Symetri Technology wall, there was something distinct about this event that I couldn’t put my finger on until one of the organizers aptly described it as having a "community feel."
Despite the small size of the event, this intimacy allowed for a deeper connection among attendees. Unlike larger conferences where you feel like just a number, here, everyone was recognized and valued. It felt akin to attending a friend’s wedding, where you know a group of friends and their families. Meeting people from Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium within an hour was incredible. Discussing the solutions we’re all working on revealed a shared journey towards similar goals.
This experience made me question the sustainability aspects of our efforts. Often, we see solutions as immediate needs for our organizations or projects, but there's a larger picture. We are all facing similar problems and frequently reinventing the wheel to solve them.
One memorable moment was when I was chairing a session where one passionate speaker shared his research, outcomes, and workflows. At the end of the session, an audience member approached him with a question about achieving similar outcomes, and his response was, “I can teach you this in five minutes, let’s talk during the break.” This willingness to help across borders—someone from Portugal aiding someone from another country—was just inspiring to see especially as we have all been there - staring at the screen and trying to figure out how to use something but cannot fathom how to do it!
The key takeaway from BiLT is that sharing knowledge should not be seen as aiding the competition but as supporting each other’s growth. BiLT has taught me to keep learning, helping, teaching, and striving for better not just for myself or my organization, but for the industry's overall well-being. Working together, we can achieve greater goals for future generations.
Now, let’s shift our focus to wellness in design. When we talk about “sustainability,” we often think of green walls and reducing CO2 emissions. But what about leveraging existing solutions instead of constantly reinventing the wheel? The built environment invests billions in research and innovation, but does this always need to focus on new software? Sometimes, stepping back and building upon what we have can contribute more to our wellness and mindfulness.
What struck me at the event was the visible stress on many faces, all trying to stay “ahead of the game.” Do we really need to be ahead, or can we simply participate? By participating together, we might elevate the entire game and its participants. There is a wealth of knowledge, passion, and resources available—let’s use them to enhance our well-being and collaborate globally to achieve greater global success.
Finally, I left BiLT feeling empowered to engage more with customers and colleagues, working together to solve our industry's puzzles with hot topics at BiLT including; One Click LCA and the interpretation and processing of CO2 emissions in early-stage model design which meant our product, Naviate Zero, was also a key topic, allowing us to discuss market needs and adapt to designers' requirements.
My motto is to never restrict conversations or interactions—you never know who might be inspired.
And just to close this topic up: I have to mention another memorable session I chaired featuring a father-daughter duo, Michal, and his 16-year-old daughter, Michalina. Their collaboration was impressive and heartwarming, demonstrating the potential impact of familial inspiration on our industry.
Would I attend BiLT again? Absolutely. I left BiLT feeling empowered to engage more with customers and colleagues, ready to tackle industry challenges together. The opportunity to connect with global peers was invaluable. Getting to meet people from various countries and discussing shared solutions highlighted our common goals and sustainability challenges. The entire event emphasized that sharing knowledge fosters growth. If you value learning, sharing, and caring for our industry, I highly recommend attending the next BiLT. I look forward to seeing you there and sharing ideas to make the built environment healthier and more comfortable.
