A seismic shift is shaking the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) world — and it’s called Aecom’s $390 million move into artificial intelligence. The global infrastructure giant has officially acquired Norwegian AI start-up Consigli, in a deal estimated at 4 billion NOK (around US $390 million), as first reported by the Norwegian business newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN).
This acquisition has raised eyebrows across the AEC landscape — and for good reason. Typically, it’s software vendors snapping up small tech disrupters. But this time, one of the industry’s biggest service providers has made the move, signaling a powerful shift in how construction and design innovation might evolve.
Before sealing the deal, Aecom and Consigli had already teamed up on multiple projects, building a foundation of collaboration. Consigli’s founder and CEO, Janne Aas-Jakobsen, will now step into a new role as Aecom’s Head of AI Engineering, bringing her vision directly to the company’s global operations. She recently shared insights on the future of AI-driven design at NXT BLD 2025, where her presentation — The Autonomous Engineer: Your AI Agent in Real Estate Development — explored how artificial intelligence is redefining engineering workflows.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Consigli describes itself as “The Autonomous Engineer,” an AI system capable of handling everything from spatial analysis and unit optimization to automated MEP calculations, advanced modeling, tender documentation, and even operational planning. The company claims it can reduce engineering time by up to 90%. That kind of efficiency doesn’t just streamline work — it challenges how the AEC industry defines expertise itself.
Whether Consigli will continue to operate as an independent commercial entity or become an internal engine within Aecom isn’t yet clear. Still, the implications are staggering. Aecom’s purchase signals a strategic pivot: a focus on embedding predictive, data-driven intelligence directly into its service model. In an era where clients expect real-time insights and razor-thin project margins, owning the software layer could mean owning the competitive edge.
From Consigli’s perspective, joining Aecom opens the door to global projects and a massive delivery pipeline — an opportunity few startups in this space ever achieve. And if DN’s valuation holds true, this is a dream exit that many founders in construction tech can only imagine.
The ripple effects are already being felt. Traditional software vendors may now face mounting pressure as customers-turned-competitors begin acquiring the very innovators that could have been their next big partnerships. Could this trigger a wave of defensive mergers and acquisitions across the sector? Or, more provocatively, will other AEC firms start redefining themselves as tech-first organizations to avoid becoming obsolete?
One thing’s certain: this deal blurs the line between engineering practice and software innovation more than ever before — and it’s igniting passionate debate over where the future of construction truly lies.
Consigli did not respond to requests for comment before publication.
Main image: On stage at NXT BLD 2025 — Janne Aas-Jakobsen, now Head of AI Engineering at Aecom.
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What do you think? Is this the dawn of a smarter, AI-powered era for engineering — or a risky bet that could pull service firms too far into the software race? Share your thoughts below; this is one conversation the industry can’t afford to ignore.
