Call for Presentations Now Open for the 2026 DBIA-SW Regional Conference
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
Theme: Innovation in Action: Shaping the Next Era for Design-Build
May 7-8, 2026 | Frisco, Texas
Submission Deadline: January 16, 2026
As design-build continues to lead the transformation of project delivery across the Southwest, the Design-Build Institute of America Southwest Region (DBIA-SW) invites industry professionals to share their knowledge, lessons, and ideas at the 2026 Regional Conference.
This year’s theme—“Innovation in Action: Shaping the Next Era for Design-Build”—celebrates movement, progress, and the future of collaboration. The conference will explore how design-build continues to evolve to meet the needs of communities, owners, and project teams across the region.
Who Should Submit
We’re seeking presentations from professionals who are shaping the future of design-build, including owners, engineers, contractors, architects, legal advisors, consultants, and educators.
Presentations should be:
Educational and focused on actionable takeaways
Connected to the conference theme
Based on real-world lessons learned and Design-Build Done Right® principles
Non-promotional and free of commercial content
Conference Tracks
Sessions will be organized into five key focus areas:
Water/Wastewater (WWW) – Collaborative delivery, progressive DB, and infrastructure lessons learned
Transportation & Aviation – Innovations in mobility, multimodal, and aviation facilities
Federal – Contracting, compliance, and design-build approaches in federal and P3 projects
General/Vertical/Commercial – Education, healthcare, civic, and commercial projects (with integrated tech/VDC/AI topics)
Keynote – Inspiring leadership and big-picture innovation
Top Requested Topics
We’re looking for sessions that educate, inspire, and deliver actionable takeaways tied to Design-Build Done Right® principles.
Top topics include:
Design-Build Done Wrong: Failures and lessons learned
Progressive Design-Build (PDB)
Technology and innovation (AI, VDC, digital tools)
Owner and Owner’s Representative perspectives
Case studies showing measurable project success
Submission Requirements
All proposals must be submitted online by January 16, 2026 and include:
Presentation Title (10–12 words)
Summary (200 words max)
Four Key Learning Objectives
Intended Track and Audience Level
Panel Representation and Diversity Statement
Panelist Information (names, credentials, affiliations)
Each session may include up to four speakers, with at least one DBIA-certified presenter. Owner participation is preferred but not required.
Presenter Commitments
Selected presenters will:
Submit a draft presentation by March 13, 2026
Collaborate with the conference committee on edits and finalization by April 17, 2026
Attend and present in person in Frisco, TX
Presenters will receive discounted conference registration and recognition throughout the event.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of design-build experts and judged on:
Relevance to the conference theme and DBIA principles
Inclusion of actionable takeaways and real-world lessons
Diversity of perspectives and presentation quality
Educational value and alignment with Design-Build Done Right®
Submit Your Proposal
If you’re driving innovation, collaboration, and results through design-build, we want to hear from you.
👉 Before submitting, please review the full 2026 Call for Presentations Guidelines
for details on session tracks, requirements, and evaluation criteria:
Your ideas can help shape the next era for our industry.
Submit your proposal by January 16, 2026
Join us May 7-8, 2026, in Frisco, Texas, for DBIA-SW’s 2026 Regional Conference: Innovation in Action!
Questions?
For questions or assistance, please get in touch with Rachel Albright at Rachel@dbia-sw.org
