AI, Data and the Design-Build Owner: A Conversation with ARKANCE

Design-Build Delivers

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Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract idea for design-build teams. It’s already changing how projects are delivered, managed and maintained. In this episode of the Design-Build Delivers Podcast, DBIA’s Director of Virtual Design and Construction Brian Skripac is joined by three leaders from ARKANCE — Jason Kunkel, Senior Practice Manager; Nick Miller, Director of BIM Services; and Justin Friedman, Practice Manager | Facilities Management — to explore how data and AI are reshaping the Owner experience.

Together, they unpack how design-build teams are using data to:

• Turn information into intelligence that drives better decisions.
• Build a culture of trust and governance around data ownership.
• Identify “quick wins” to make AI adoption practical and scalable.
• Shift focus from building smarter to owning smarter.

It’s a conversation about the real-world impact of data — how it’s captured, shared and leveraged across every phase of a project’s lifecycle — and what it means for Owners navigating the next era of delivery.

Resources:

• The VDC Project Leader's Role & Responsibilities on Design-Build Projects (Free to download)
• Smarter, Faster, Still Human: How AI Agents are Changing Design-Build (August 2025 Design-Build Delivers Podcast episode)
• From Sci-Fi to Site Plans: How Augmented Reality is Changing Design-Build (May 2024 Design-Build Delivers Podcast episode)
• What Do Design-Build, Robot Jokes and Baseball Have in Common? (May 2024 Design-Build Delivers Podcast Bonus Content Episode)
• Design-Build Delivers Blog posts on AI:
  • Beyond BIM: How AI is Unlocking Intelligent Infrastructure Lifecycle Management
  • AI’s Place in the Industry: How Builders Are Incorporating AI into Design-Build
  • Emerging Technologies: How AI, VR, AR and Cobots Are Transforming Design-Build
  • Dashboards, Data and Discipline: Embedding Analytics in the Design-Build Lifecycle
  • Bridging the Gap: How Technology is Driving Value in Design-Build Projects

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.
DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time.

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1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. First Practical Steps: Data and Culture (00:01:52)

3. Assessing the Data Landscape (00:06:00)

4. What Owners Actually Need from AI (00:08:48)

5. Data Governance, Privacy and IP Protection (00:11:58)

6. Defining Post-Occupancy Data Goals (00:14:44)

7. The AI Journey: From Reactive to Proactive Ops (00:22:07)

8. Data Requirements and Payment Milestones (00:26:05)

9. Barriers to AI Adoption (00:28:05)

10. Hype vs. Reality: Why Narrow AI Wins Today (00:34:35)

11. Avoiding the Shiny Toy Trap (00:37:26)

12. What’s Next: AI Opportunities for Owners (00:40:04)

13. Outro: Where Collaboration Meets Data (00:42:48)