Will This Be the End of Fragmented Preconstruction? | Steve Dell'Orto
Preconstruction is often treated as a phase. Steve Dell’Orto treats it as the foundation of everything that follows.
After more than 26 years in construction, including leadership roles at one of the largest general contractors in the country, Steve saw something most teams had normalized: preconstruction was broken. In his own words, “preconstruction is stuck in the Stone Age — pen, paper, and Excel. That’s Stone Age stuff.” With static spreadsheets, disconnected tools, and endless handoffs, teams spend more time transferring information than actually thinking. So, Steve decided to make a change.
From Builder to Founder
Steve is the founder of ConCntric, an AI-first preconstruction platform built by someone who has experienced every pressure point of the process firsthand. His perspective is shaped by decades of experience in operations, executive leadership, and direct responsibility for billions of dollars' worth of work.
What makes Steve different is not just that he understands construction, but that he understands where projects succeed or fail before they ever break ground. In his view, preconstruction is not just about estimating; it is also about planning, coordination, decision-making, and creating clarity for all stakeholders, including owners, designers, builders, and trade partners, simultaneously.
That belief became the driving force behind ConCntric.
What ConCntric Is Really Solving
In our conversation, Steve describes preconstruction as a deeply collaborative and non-linear phase involving dozens of workflows that rarely live in one place. ConCntric was built to change that by creating a shared platform where cost, schedule, scope, risk, permitting, and decision impacts are visible in real time.
The goal is not automation for automation’s sake. It is about removing redundant work, reducing uncertainty, and giving preconstruction professionals their time and focus back. With AI layered on top of structured data, ConCntric acts as a force multiplier rather than a replacement, helping teams keep up with growing demand without burning out the people doing the work Subtitles.
Built by Builders, For Builders
Steve also founded Built by Builders, a network of construction technology companies created by industry insiders who have walked the jobsite and sat in the boardroom. The idea is simple: solutions for construction should come from people who truly understand it.
This builder-first mindset shows up in how Steve talks about leadership too. Influenced by growing up in a military family, he sees construction as a team sport built around mission, trust, and accountability. That philosophy carries through how he leads his company, builds products, and supports customers.
Why This Conversation Matters
This episode is not a product demo. It is a candid conversation about why preconstruction looks the way it does today, why that model is no longer sustainable, and how technology can actually support people instead of overwhelming them.
If you care about the future of construction, talent retention, smarter planning, or simply reducing friction in your daily workflow, this conversation is worth your time.
🎥 Watch the full conversation with Steve Dell’Orto on YouTube:
This is the first of many conversations on The Future Builds focused on the people shaping what comes next.
