Episode 18 - Gary Cowan - Building Smarter with Digital Construction

“We build the building twice: first digitally, and then for real” – Gary Cowan

In this episode of Building Stories, powered by Deep Space, we’re joined by Gary Cowan, Head of Digital Construction at Kane Group. With nearly 20 years in the industry, Gary has been at the forefront of integrating technologies like Revit, prefabrication, and reality capture to revolutionise how projects are delivered.

Gary shares how Kane Group’s early adoption of digital construction tools helped them stay ahead of the curve, the role of mixed reality in improving on-site safety and efficiency, and why early stakeholder engagement is critical for actionable data in construction.

From the lessons learned through trial and error to his predictions on AI and mixed reality’s future impact, Gary’s story is an inspiring look at innovation in a traditional industry.

Key Sections:

• Gary’s Early Days in Construction – 02:04
• From Paper Trails to Digital Models – 07:00
• Reality Capture and Prefabrication – 12:48
• The Potential of Mixed Reality on Site – 26:11
• Advice for Aspiring Construction Professionals – 18:24
• Quick Fire Round: Tools, Materials, and Tech Favourites – 45:27

Building Stories is powered by Deep Space – Mission Critical Construction AI.