Arup’s Zak Kostura on Managing Digital Teams for Optimal Outcomes

In this episode of Buildings 2.0, Jose speaks with Zak Kostura, Associate Principal & Digital Services Portfolio Leader for Americas East at Arup. Zak shares his expertise on the transformative potential of AI in addressing complex design challenges, the importance of managing digital teams to optimize project outcomes, and the pivotal role of digital tools in providing flexible, innovative solutions to client problems. 

 

Zak's insights highlight how technology is reshaping the design and construction industry, making this episode a must-listen for professionals looking to stay ahead in an ever-evolving field. He also does a deep dive into the future of design and construction technology. 

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of managing practitioners to optimize project outcomes by understanding and effectively utilizing technology.
• How AI can address complex design challenges and improve project efficiency and innovation.
• The pivotal role of digital tools in providing flexible, innovative solutions tailored to client needs.
• How technologists can act as consultants to solve client problems elegantly and effectively.
• Finding instances where an idea shows potential for scalability and applying it across various projects.
• How digital products can serve as new touchpoints for clients, offering valuable insights into their design needs.
• Approaches to selecting the right technology for a project by understanding design team priorities and client requirements.
• The importance of bringing subject matter experts together to enhance design outcomes.
• The role of data engineering and data science in modern design and construction projects.
• Encouraging professionals to be open to changing methodologies and defining their value in an evolving industry.