BuiltWorlds, a member network and innovation catalyst for the buildings and infrastructure industries, announced its partnership with 1871, a global innovation hub based in Chicago. While BuiltWorlds and 1871 have long worked parallel to one another, with BuiltWorlds focusing on tech innovation in myriad construction sectors and 1871 serving multiple industries including construction, the two organizations recently reached an agreement to combine efforts to better identify and furthermore elevate innovation in the construction and building technology spaces. 

“The partnership with 1871 is key to our effort to engage and galvanize our local and regional built world ecosystem, which is extremely fertile in terms of deeply resourced industry players, the number and variety of startups in our sector, the strength of its universities and talent, and the extent of its legacy of innovation in architecture, engineering, and construction,” says Matthew Gray, the founder and executive chairman of BuiltWorlds. “This agreement will help BuiltWorlds expand its reach and better engage this important region as part of our global engagement effort, ensuring that Chicago and the Midwest can build on its legacy of past leadership in buildings and infrastructure and secure its place in the future leadership.”

More specifically, the partnership will include BuiltWorlds moving its operations into 1871’s offices, located in Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart, where the company will gain invaluable access to improved facilities and event spaces crucial to its plans for growth and expansion. 

“1871 will provide BuiltWorlds with improved facilities for hosting conferences, workshops, digital content creation, and employee recruitment necessary for our rapidly growing business,” Gray says. “This partnership will allow us to continue broadening and deepening our research and engagement with both our membership and the global built world community.” 

BuiltWorlds will also join 1871 as an execution partner for its new construction tech innovation lab as part of its broader innovation labs program, which currently cover AI, cannabis, FinTech, Foodtech, InsurTech, supply chain, and Web3. 1871’s Innovation labs offer a collaborative platform to both startup and corporate innovators that includes access to hyper-focused programming and immersive workshops designed to help companies connect with their industry and turn ideas into action. 

“Serving as an execution partner with 1871 on its new Construction Tech Innovation Lab,” Gray says, “will help us accelerate our own growth, and, in turn, our own ability to deliver to reliable, sector-specific information at sufficient depth for businesses to make key strategic as well as tactical decisions, as they work to adapt to a world that is increasingly pressing for change.”

Buildings and Infrastructure construction contractors and companies, technology solutions providers, and startups operating within or serving those industries may reach out to BuiltWorlds Vice President Jack Forde ([email protected]) for more information about how they may get involved.