New York City BIM User Group

Join a roundtable of AEC Design Technology leaders, Aditi Patel, Ayse Polat, Bob Yori, Charlie Portelli, Clay Starr, Jan Leenknegt, Shiori Sasaki, Todd Class, for an open, conversational discussion on how they stay current, evaluate new tools, and navigate ongoing technological change. Presented by GRAITEC/Microsol and moderated by Angela Chi, this session brings together a diverse group of practitioners to share what’s actually working for them—no slides, no sales pitches, just real perspectives.
We’ll explore the habits, sources, and decision-making frameworks that help teams stay informed and innovative.
Whether you’re actively experimenting with new tech or trying to decide where to focus your limited time, this roundtable is designed to surface practical insights, shared challenges, and useful resources you can take back to your work.

• Aditi Patel: Aditi is Vice President and Business Unit Head of Virtual Design, Construction & Operations at LiRo-Hill, leading VDC, BIM, and digital delivery initiatives across infrastructure and building projects. Her experience spans reality capture, Scan-to-BIM, model-based coordination, asset management, and enterprise-level digital strategy across the full project lifecycle.
• Angela Chi: Angela Chi is a registered architect with over a decade of experience integrating design technology across the architecture, engineering, and construction lifecycle. As BIM/VDC Manager at Tutor Perini and former Director of BIM Practice at Ennead Architects, she advances data-driven collaboration and workflow innovation, promoting BIM as Building Information Management to align design and construction within a unified digital environment.
• Ayse Polat: Ayse Polat is Turner Construction’s VDC Director for the Northeast, bringing over 20 years of experience advancing BIM, VDC, and digital delivery across the full project lifecycle on some of the industry’s most complex projects. A licensed architect and educator at Columbia University, she is a leading voice in digital twins, laser scanning, and construction technology innovation.
• Bob Yori: Digital Solutions Studio Leader at AECOME, Architectural designer, technology adopter, and opportunity seeker. Focused on improving practice and business through technology-facilitated collaborative work, knowledge management, and sustainable methodologies
• Charlie Portelli: Charlie is a licensed architect and seasoned AEC technologist with deep experience shaping how data, computation, and digital workflows drive design and delivery at scale. As a Digital Innovation Strategist at Perkins&Will, former VP at Thornton Tomasetti’s CORE studio, and Senior Product Manager at Flux, he has led platform strategy, BIM interoperability, and AEC integrations.
• Clay Starr: Clay is AEC Key Accounts Team Lead and Architecture, Urban Design & Planning Lead at Esri, guiding architecture, engineering, and planning professionals in integrating geospatial thinking, GIS, BIM, and data-driven collaboration into their workflows. He brings extensive international experience across diverse projects and frequent speaking engagements focused on the intersection of technology, design, and digital transformation in the built environment.
• Jan Leenknegt: Jan is the BIM Director at Bjarke Ingels Group, where he leads global design technology strategy and a multidisciplinary team advancing model-based project delivery across all offices. He drives innovation in computational workflows, automation, and data integration, establishing firm-wide BIM standards and initiatives that enhance collaboration, performance, and the creative process.
• Shiori Sasaki: Shiori is a licensed architect and infrastructure technologist with extensive experience optimizing planning, design, construction, and operations workflows through integrated data and systems. At Esri, he drives GIS-CAD/BIM interoperability, Digital Twin implementation, and asset information management strategies that enhance lifecycle performance, data governance, and resilience across complex infrastructure portfolios.
• Todd Class: Assistant Dean at NYSID is heading up the NYSID’s new Masters of Professional Studies in Digital Practice Management Program. With a background in architecture, Todd teaches technology-focused classes at NYSID.