Construction has a productivity problem — Virginia Tech has a solution

The U.S. is under pressure to build faster and smarter, from housing and public infrastructure to data centers and disaster-resilient communities.

• But the construction industry often still runs on fragmented, reactive systems.

Virginia Tech's Coalition for Smart Construction is a new way for the industry to test what's next.

What you need to know: The coalition helps construction, technology, manufacturing, materials and infrastructure partners move emerging ideas into real-world use.

The project is building a digital commons for coalition members and runs industry-led research programs on Virginia Tech's main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.

• Plus, Virginia Tech is launching a new 40,00-square-foot Smart Construction Lab in Falls Church in 2027, housed in the headquarters of partner HITT Contracting.

Why it's important: Construction is one of the world's largest industries and accounts for roughly $13 trillion in annual output — more than all but the biggest global economies' GDPs.

Okay, but: U.S. construction labor productivity has fallen by more than 30% since 1970, even as overall U.S. labor productivity has more than doubled.

• Virginia Tech's Coalition for Smart Construction is built to close that gap.

The impact: Faster, smarter construction could shape housing affordability, disaster recovery, national security, data center growth and the speed at which communities can build critical infrastructure.

The strategy: The coalition is a catalyst for innovation in smart construction, where companies and academic leaders work together on shared challenges that support each player's individual goals.

Members can launch their own projects, join collaborative research or sponsor directed work tied to some of the industry's top priorities — from modular construction and intelligent supply chains to advanced materials that reduce construction waste.

The proof: Five seed-grant projects are already underway through the coalition.

• HITT Contracting is using innovative wall panels that can halve the time needed to enclose a framed building, with less on-site labor and equipment.
• One team working with Crain Company 3D is using AI to spot problems in 3D-printed concrete while it's being printed, rather than after it's done.

• Ziggurat Bold Designers are developing modular housing parts made from computer-guided cutting machines to make affordable housing more customizable and easier to build.
• Metromont and PCI Mid-Atlantic are working with Virginia Tech researchers to find new ways of reusing or repurposing precast concrete to limit environmental and budgetary impacts of renovation and demolition.

The outlook: "We believe that Virginia Tech will push the boundaries of construction by bringing its hardworking, smart students to a space where they can work alongside our industry's greatest minds," says Brett Hitt, co-chairman of HITT Contracting.

The takeaway: The construction industry isn't lacking innovation or tools — leaders just need a place to test and scale their best ideas.

Virginia Tech's Coalition for Smart Construction fills that gap and gives partners a place to find collaborators, scope projects and turn research into competitive advantages.

Learn about partnering with Virginia Tech.