HackSimBuild will take place during SimBuild 2026 on May 20, 2026. Participants will present their work to SimBuild attendees and a panel of industry experts at the conclusion of the event, with prizes awarded that night at the SimBuild 2026 awards banquet.

The program will kick-off at 10 AM (after the morning keynote) with an opportunity for the participants to share quick introductions about their background and interests. This will be followed by a team-forming session to allow participants to pitch their hacking ideas and join teams to collaborate on a common goal for their HackSimBuild project.

Software and building simulation experts will be on hand to help teams realize their idea. This year’s event will rely on “vibe coding,” teaching participants to use AI tools to quickly generate code to achieve their objectives during the 4-hour working session.

The following day, May 21 at 1:30 PM, each team will present and demonstrate their project in front of peers in the SimBuild audience and a panel of industry experts who will select the winners.

We encourage teams that integrate students, building analysts, designers, architects, engineers, programmers, and other participants. Individual pre-registration is encouraged, and participants may form teams before or at the event.

The teams may use any software or a combination of software to complete their projects. Open-source projects are highly encouraged!