Structural Engineering Summit Pre-Conference: AECtech + NCSEA Innovation Council
The Big Build: SE Hackathon
Coding Solutions for Structural Engineers
🗓️ Tuesday, October 27, 2026
⏰ 8:00 A.M. – 7:30 P.M.
📍 Hilton Union Square, San Francisco
🎟️ NCSEA members: $299 | Non-members: $399 (Group pricing available)
🤝 Co-hosted by AECtech & NCSEA Innovation Council
Have a problem with everyday workflows? Let’s solve it together. Create something amazing with a team of your peers during The Big Build: SE Hackathon. This program is designed with you in mind. We’ll teach you what vibe coding is, how to use it, and how to build a real solution to your daily challenges. Individuals will learn prompting before forming teams to prototype solutions for everyday problems. Come join us, collaborate, and learn how you can transform your daily challenges.
Have a team of coders ready to go? Bring them all a discount. Email ncsea@ncsea.com for information and access.
🎟️ Team of 4: $1,000 (members) | $1,300 (non-members)
🎟️ Team of 8: $1,900 (members) and $2,500 (non-members)
Sponsored by:
What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is a fast-paced, team-based event where participants collaborate to build a working solution to a real-world problem—all within a single day.
At The Big Build, structural engineers will use AI to create prototype tools that address the everyday workflow challenges they face. NCSEA has partnered with the experts at AEC Tech—leaders in AEC-focused hackathons and technology workshops since 2013—to guide the entire experience and teach you everything you need to know before the building begins.
Who can participate?
You. Seriously.
And if your firm has a team working on AI solutions, bring them too. Come with a team or form one on-site around a shared problem or idea.
The Big Build is designed for structural engineers of all experience levels. Whether you’ve never written a line of code or you’re a seasoned developer, you’ll find your place here. AECtech will introduce the fundamentals of vibe coding on-site, and mentors will be available throughout the day to support participants at every skill level.
The Big Build can be added to your Summit registration or purchased as a standalone ticket. Bring an idea worth solving.
How does this work?
Before the event, you’ll get access to a virtual prep session—an optional “Education” experience to help you learn the basics and arrive ready to dive in.
On the day of the hackathon, experts will kick things off with a hands-on vibe coding lab. From there, you’ll pitch ideas, form teams, and spend the day building your project. Mentors will be available throughout to offer guidance, answer questions, and keep things moving.
At the end of the day, teams will present their projects and give a live demo. A panel of judges will recognize standout work with three awards: Best Overall Hack (Gold), Most Collaborative (Silver), and Most Relevant (Bronze).
What to bring: Your laptop and your subscription to Claude and/or ChatGPT.
The Hackathon experience
Not your typical Hackathon.
From your first virtual session to an ongoing professional community — here’s what to expect.
Wednesday, October 21 · Virtual
Pre-conference education session
Before the event, you’ll join a one-hour virtual session introducing you to vibe coding and what to expect at the Hackathon. Come curious — no prior experience required.
Thursday, October 22 · Virtual
Office hours with the AEC Tech team
Got questions before you show up? A one-hour Q&A session with the AEC Tech team covers platform setup, computer requirements, event logistics, and the Hackathon agenda.
Tuesday, October 27 · San Francisco
The Hackathon
A full day of hands-on learning at the Summit. Work alongside your peers, learn from experts, and walk away with AI skills you can actually use on Monday morning.
🏫 Hands-on mentorship
Onsite instruction and guidance from AI experts throughout the day — not a lecture, a workshop.
👁 Learn from your peers
See how other structural engineers are using AI in their practice — and share what you’re building.
🍽 Meals included
All meals are provided throughout the day — just show up and focus on the work.
After the event
Join the Innovation Council
The Hackathon doesn’t end when you leave San Francisco. Attendees receive an invitation to the NCSEA Innovation Council — a community of structural engineers at the forefront of AI in the profession.
🚀 What the Innovation Council offers
Ongoing forums, learning opportunities, peer discussion, and a chance to stay involved in shaping how the profession embraces emerging technology.
Schedule
Speakers
Abhishek Bawiskar
Senior Associate Applications Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio
As part of the Applications Development team at CORE Studio, Abhishek is focused on developing automation solutions and digital tools for engineers. He leads desktop and web-based application development initiatives to help engineers automate repetitive tasks and spend more time solving higher-value design challenges.
Abhishek is keen on learning about the evolving role of AI in everyday technology and also its adoption to enhance productivity, decision-making, and collaboration.
David Mans
Director of AECtech/Vice President, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio
David Mans is the Director of AECtech at Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio. AECtech is an annual conference that brings together professionals from the architecture, engineering, construction, software, and AI worlds to explore emerging technologies and the transformational innovations shaping the built environment. David is also the author of over 20 plugins for Grasshopper 3D. He has been an educator in the AEC and technology space since 2008, introducing the next generation of designers to computational design and procedural thinking. Formerly, he was the Senior Computational Designer for Grimshaw Architects NYC, working on projects including the award-winning 2020 Dubai Expo Sustainability Pavilion, Terra.
Nico Azel
Associate, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio
Nico Azel is a designer and developer at TT Core Studio, where he applies computational methods and data-driven workflows to resilience and sustainability engineering. His work focuses on integrating parametric design, urban systems analysis, and environmental performance into the design process to support more adaptive, efficient, and resilient built environments.
Sergey Pigach
Senior Associate Applications Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio
Sergey Pigach is a Senior Associate Applications Engineer at CORE studio | Thornton Tomasetti. Trained as an architect, he has spent nearly a decade developing computational tools for designers, architects, and engineers across the AEC industry. As part of CORE AI, the R&D group focused on practical applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in structural engineering, Sergey led the development of Cortex, CORE studio’s ML-ops pipeline. His current work centers on research in agentic AI, AI safety, security, and emerging interoperability protocols such as MCP and A2A.
Sophie Moore
Associate Application Developer, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio
Sophie Moore is an Associate Application Developer at Thornton Tomasetti’s CORE studio. She develops web and desktop applications for the AEC industry, drawing on a background in structural and façade engineering.
FAQs
Absolutely. The Big Build is very accommodating for first-timers. AEC Tech experts will walk you through everything you need to know, mentors will be on hand all day, and your teammates will be in the same boat. Just show up curious and ready to build.
Not at all. Experienced builders are a huge asset to their teams, and the structural engineering context gives even seasoned hackers plenty to chew on. Come ready to build, mentor, and push the limits of what’s possible in a single day.
Nope. Come solo or with colleagues—either way, teams are formed on-site the day of the event. The Lightning Round is specifically designed to help you find your people before the build phase begins.
Your laptop, your Claude and/or ChatGPT account, and any other tech accessories you like to work with. Everything else—food, wifi, workspace, electricity—is provided.
Recommended platforms:
| Platform | Link | Cost | Difficulty | |
| Copilot | https://github.com/features/codespaces | Recommended | Low | |
| Viktor | https://www.viktor.ai/ | Recommended | Low | |
| Codex | https://chatgpt.com/codex/ | ($8 OR $2/0mo) | Recommended | Med |
| Claude Code | https://claude.com/product/claude-code | ($20/mo) | Recommended | Low |
| Antigravity | https://antigravity.google/ | Alternative | Med | |
| Windsurf | https://devin.ai/desktop | Alternative | Med |
Yes. We’ll be supplementing the venue’s wifi to handle the load. Connectivity is included for all hackathon participants at no additional charge.
You’ll receive a link to a virtual prep session covering the basics of vibe coding for structural engineering applications. If you feel like you need extra training before arriving on-site, you can attend live or watch the recording on demand.
NCSEA members: $299. Non-members: $399. Team discounts are available—email events@ncsea.com for details.
No. The Big Build is available as a standalone ticket or as an add-on to your Summit registration. Simply create a profile through the regular registration process and select The Big Build at checkout.
Yes, a grab-and-go lunch and a catered dinner are both included.
Three awards will be presented at the end of the day: Best Overall Hack (Gold), Most Collaborative (Silver), and Most Relevant (Bronze). All teams that complete a demo are eligible.
The Big Build runs from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.
Please note: Products and demos created during the event should be open sourced and made publicly available. NCSEA does not own the products created during the event.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
