It’s that time of the year again! Autodesk University is around the corner and of  the team at UNIFI Labs is working diligently to prepare for one of the biggest events in our industry. Every year over 10,000 professionals from AEC, commercial real estate, industrial design, and entertainment attend AU in Las Vegas.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of attending Autodesk University yet, read on as we cover our top three benefits of attending Autodesk University.

1) Learn: What Works and What Doesn’t?

One of the obvious benefits of attending Autodesk University is the knowledge gained from the classroom-style educational sessions.

These sessions cover a wide variety of topics which are typically presented by end-users, which means less product pitches from vendors and more case studies and success stories from project team members. It is always valuable to learn how peers are solving problems, and what better platform to share knowledge than one of the biggest events in our industry?

There are several different sessions at Autodesk University for all types of companies and roles. Design firms, construction companies, building owners, and building product manufacturers can all benefit from the sessions at Autodesk University, so long as you choose wisely. So start digging through the sessions listed on Autodesk.com as soon as possible because space is always limited and the best sessions fill up fast!

2) Network at Autodesk University: Reconnect with Colleagues and Meet New Ones

As with any conference, another benefit to attending Autodesk University is the surplus of networking opportunities.

In between the AU sessions, you’ll find yourself bumping into people from all over the world. You might run into colleagues from former companies or influencers that you follow on social media. Ideally, you’ll even make new connections.

However, the time between sessions can be incredibly hectic, so if one of your primary goals at Autodesk University is to network, I would recommend attending as many “after hours” events that you can. Last year, I was fortunate to attend the Sanveo happy hour which was not only an open bar, but a focused group which, to no surprise, were all talking shop about AEC tech, project delivery, and everything else we deal with during our daily grind.

UNIFI also hosts an invite-only happy hour in our private suite every year at Autodesk University as well. We use this opportunity to connect with clients and colleagues while unplugged from the hustle and bustle of Autodesk University. If you have any friends at UNIFI, maybe there’s a chance you can get on the guestlist if you ask nicely! Please contact us here if you’d like to attend. 

If networking is a focal point for you at AU, be sure to be on the look out for after-hours events where business cards will be handed out like hot cakes!

3) Explore: New and Improved Tech at Autodesk University

One of my personal favorite attractions at Autodesk University is The Expo. The learning sessions and networking are both engaging in their own ways, but The Expo is where you can be free to explore all of the new technology in our industry. In addition to the virtual reality headsets, 3D printers, and laser scanning devices, there will be rows and rows of software solutions which are designed to help you gain efficiency and manage data, which is exactly where the UNIFI team fits in.

You can be sure that The Expo at Autodesk University will have plenty of software to learn about and gadgets to get your hands on, so be sure to try to walk the floor to discover new and improved ways to design and build.

The UNIFI team will see you there!

We love conversing with current customers, new friends, and everyone else at Autodesk University. Come find us in The Expo at booth AE450 to learn about what we’ve been working on behind the scenes. We’ve had quite a few significant improvements to our suite of solutions this year, so stop by our booth and let’s chat!

In the meantime,  please check out our list of things to bring to AU.

See you soon!