By Melissa Alonso | September 10, 2025

The Georgia Tech School of Building Construction celebrated the opening of the new Brasfield & Gorrie Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 4 at the John and Joyce Caddell Building. 

The state-of-the-art lab, funded through a partnership with Brasfield & Gorrie, provides students with access to cutting-edge technologies that are rapidly transforming the construction industry. Equipped with high-powered computers, the space enables hands-on learning in 4D- and 5D-Building Information Modeling (BIM), robotics, laser scanning, and Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR). It also offers a collaborative hub for students across the School’s undergraduate and graduate programs, including Building Construction, Facility Management, Sustainable Development, Real Estate Development, and the Ph.D. program.

“Brasfield & Gorrie is honored to partner with the School of Building Construction at Georgia Tech to create a VDC Lab, which will promote learning and future innovation in construction technology,” said Greg Hunsberger (BSCE ’01), Chief Operations Officer of Planning and Technology at Brasfield & Gorrie and member of the College of Design Advisory Board. “Innovation is a core value at Brasfield & Gorrie, and we believe this collaboration will help advance our industry and prepare students to be leaders in their future construction careers. With dozens of Georgia Tech alumni on our team, we’ve seen firsthand how the institution serves its students and the construction industry.”

For the School of Building Construction, the new lab represents more than a physical upgrade—it symbolizes a commitment to equipping students for the future of an evolving field.

“This lab is a milestone for our students and for the industry connections we are building,” said Georg Reichard, Chair of the School of Building Construction. “Construction is entering a new era defined by digital tools, data-driven decision making, and interdisciplinary collaboration. By giving our students the chance to work with advanced technology in an academic setting, we’re preparing them to leave Georgia Tech ready to lead, innovate, and adapt in a rapidly changing profession.”

The Brasfield & Gorrie VDC Lab underscores the School’s mission to bridge research, industry practice, and student experience, ensuring graduates leave with both a strong technical foundation and the ability to apply new technologies in real-world contexts.