Chicago Build

What Chicago Build does

Chicago Build is an annual B2B trade show and conference serving the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry in the U.S. Midwest. The event is operated by Oliver Kinross Events (affiliated with Nineteen Group) and is held at McCormick Place in Chicago, with the 2026 edition scheduled for October 28-29, 2026. The event combines an exhibition floor, multi-track conference programming, dedicated industry zones, and networking components to connect contractors, developers, architects, engineers, government officials, and product manufacturers.

The 2026 event features 30,000+ attendees, 350+ exhibitors, 450+ speakers across 13 conference tracks, and 15+ networking parties. Its product surface includes three specialized zones — AI & Digital Construction, Fire Safety & Security, and HVACR (the last powered by InstallerSHOW) — alongside conference tracks covering Architecture & Design, Future of Midwest & Real Estate, Sustainability, Skills & Innovations, and government/architects' hubs. Chicago Build's underlying technology is primarily venue and event-management infrastructure rather than a software platform; there are no public APIs, SDKs, or proprietary AI systems.

The company generates revenue primarily from exhibitor booth sales (transaction-fee model) and sponsorship and branding packages (one-time licensing), with secondary revenue from premium speaker slots. General attendee registration is free, supporting a freemium GTM motion that maximizes attendance volume and, by extension, exhibitor value. The audience is concentrated regionally in the Midwest, while exhibitor acquisition benefits from cross-promotion within the Oliver Kinross global event portfolio (including London Build and New York Build).

Name

Chicago Build

Legal name

Chicago Build (operated by Oliver Kinross Events)

Website

https://chicagobuildexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Build is an annual B2B trade show and conference for the U.S. Midwest AEC industry, operated by Oliver Kinross Events at McCormick Place, Chicago, featuring 350+ exhibitors, 450+ speakers, and 30,000+ attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Sales: Primary revenue stream from construction companies, manufacturers, and solution providers purchasing exhibition space to showcase products and generate business leads from the 30,000+ attendees.
2. Sponsorship & Branding: Revenue from branding opportunities, sponsorship packages, and promotional placements throughout the event including conference tracks, zones, and networking events.
3. Conference Speaker Sessions: Revenue opportunity from premium speaker slots and track sponsorships for industry professionals seeking visibility.
4. Attendee Registration: While general attendance is free, premium access or specialized workshops may generate additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago Build is a large-scale trade show and conference for the AEC industry held annually at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event sells exhibition booth space and sponsorship packages to construction companies, manufacturers, developers, and solution providers seeking lead generation and brand visibility among the 30,000+ Midwest AEC attendees. Programming includes dedicated exhibit zones (AI & Digital Construction, Fire Safety & Security, HVACR powered by InstallerSHOW), 13 conference tracks, networking parties, Government and Architect's Hubs, and AIA-approved workshops.

Product overview

Chicago Build is a live trade show event platform for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry, positioned as the Midwest's leading and largest construction and design show. The event combines exhibition floor space (featuring the AI & Digital Construction Zone, Fire Safety & Security Zone, and HVACR Zone powered by InstallerSHOW) with multi-track conference programming covering Architecture & Design, AI & Digital Construction, Future of Midwest & Real Estate, Sustainability, Fire Safety & Security, HVACR, and Skills & Innovations. The event experience is enhanced by networking parties, the Architect's Hub, Government Hub, Festival of Construction, and Ambassador Program, creating a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to connect, learn, and generate business leads.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chicago Build Expo The Midwest's leading and largest construction and design trade show for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry, featuring 30,000+ attendees, 350+ exhibitors, 450+ speakers across 13 conference tracks, networking parties, Government Hub, Architect's Hub, live music, entertainment, and DJs. Sold as exhibition booth space and sponsorship packages to construction companies, developers, manufacturers, and solution providers seeking lead generation in the Midwest market.
• AI & Digital Construction Zone A dedicated exhibit area within Chicago Build targeting AI and digital construction solution providers seeking to reach BIM, architecture, engineering, and contractor professionals. Offers live demos, panel discussions, and real-world case studies and positions exhibiting companies as leaders in AI and digital construction.
• Fire Safety & Security Zone A dedicated exhibit area within Chicago Build connecting fire protection product manufacturers, security solution providers, and integrated safety solution brands with developers, contractors, and key decision-makers in the Midwest AEC market.
• HVACR Zone (powered by InstallerSHOW) A dedicated exhibit area within Chicago Build for HVACR manufacturers and solution providers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, powered by InstallerSHOW. Combines interactive product showcases, expert-led live content, and face-to-face engagement with Midwest contractors, installers, and building professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exhibitors report generating 300+ leads in a single day at the event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• InstallerSHOWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstallerSHOW, the UK's leading HVACR trade event, partners with Chicago Build to power the HVACR Zone at the Chicago event. The partnership brings InstallerSHOW's high-energy format to Chicago, combining interactive product showcases, expert-led live content, and face-to-face engagement for HVACR manufacturers and solution providers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World of Concrete: World of Concrete is the largest annual concrete and masonry trade show in the U.S. It targets a similar AEC audience and competes directly for the same exhibitor dollars (construction suppliers, contractors, manufacturers) that Chicago Build courts, making it the most significant incumbent head-to-head competitor.
• AIA Conference on Architecture (A'25/A'26): AIA Conference is the American Institute of Architects' annual convention for architects and design professionals. It overlaps directly with Chicago Build's Architect's Hub and Architecture & Design track as the primary destination for U.S. architects seeking CEU credits and product discovery.
• NFPA Conference & Expo: NFPA Conference & Expo is the leading U.S. fire and life safety event. It is the dominant destination for fire protection professionals that Chicago Build's newly launched Fire Safety & Security Zone is targeting, making it a focused vertical competitor in that segment.
• CONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPO-CON/AGG is a triennial large-scale construction equipment and materials exposition in Las Vegas. It is a direct competitor for exhibitor mindshare in construction equipment, HVACR-adjacent, and building materials segments, though its triennial cadence differentiates it from Chicago Build's annual cycle.
• New York Build: New York Build is another Oliver Kinross event targeting the AEC industry on the U.S. East Coast. Long-time Chicago Build exhibitors (e.g., Surfacing Solutions) cite New York Build alongside Chicago Build as their best construction shows, indicating highly comparable format, audience, and exhibitor base.
• AHR Expo (HVACR): AHR Expo is the largest HVACR industry event in North America. With Chicago Build launching an HVACR Zone powered by InstallerSHOW, AHR Expo is the most direct competitor for HVACR exhibitor dollars and audience in the same calendar period, and serves as the benchmark for HVACR event monetization.
• Greenbuild International Conference & Expo: Greenbuild is the flagship U.S. green building conference organized by USGBC. It competes with Chicago Build's Sustainability track for sustainably focused AEC exhibitors, developers, and design professionals, particularly for sustainability-oriented sponsorships and educational content.
• London Build: London Build is the UK sister event of Chicago Build, operated by Oliver Kinross Events with the same multi-track conference format, festival atmosphere, and AEC vertical positioning. It is the closest direct peer because it shares the operator, brand playbook, and value proposition across geographies.

Regional players

• BOMA International Conference & Expo: BOMA International's annual conference serves commercial real estate property managers and building operators, a partially overlapping audience with Chicago Build's developer and contractor segments. While the focus is more on operations than construction, it competes for real estate attendee mindshare and exhibitor dollars.

Emerging players

• ENR FutureTech: ENR FutureTech is an emerging conference focused on construction technology, AI, and digital tools. It overlaps with Chicago Build's AI & Digital Construction Zone in targeting BIM, software, and digital construction vendors seeking AEC decision-maker audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chicago_build
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagoBuild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-build-expo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Build