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Robots in Construction: What’s Real and What’s Next

Robots in Construction: What’s Real and What’s Next

Charlie Cichetti
September 21, 2025

Smart strategies. Sharp stories. Sustainability that sticks.

📬 Intro: The Robots Are Here

For decades, “construction robots” sounded like sci-fi. Today, they’re fastening drywall, laying bricks, and scanning sites with precision.

And here’s the real story: they’re not replacing crews. They’re augmenting them—taking on repetitive or high-risk tasks while opening the door for pros to move into higher-value work.

This week, we look at the robots that are already on job sites, the skills it takes to run them, and the sustainability payoffs that come with precision-built projects.

A MESSAGE FROM SKEMA

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🌱FIELD NOTES

Automation in the Field

💡 Mentorship Builds Resilience

🧱 Drywall Robots Are Already Working
Companies like Canvas (San Francisco) are rolling out autonomous drywall finishing robots. These systems sand, tape, and finish surfaces with fewer passes, less dust, and reduced waste compared to manual crews.

🚁 Drones and AMRs Walk the Site
Drone mapping and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) like Boston Dynamics’ Spot the robot dog, are now routine on large projects, giving construction managers live progress tracking, hazard alerts, and material verification.

👷 New Skill Sets for Operators
AEC pros who run robotic systems are combining OSHA safety cards with certifications in BIM, robotics programming, and equipment calibration. Think: CDL meets Revit.

🌍 Sustainability Impact Adds Up
Robots cut rework (and waste), reduce dust and VOC exposure, and boost energy efficiency by applying materials with exact tolerances. Less scrap, fewer haul-offs, cleaner air—real wins.

🏛BUILT TO LAST

Robots Are Job Creators, Not Job Killers

I’ve heard the question a hundred times: “Will robots replace us?”

The answer is no. Robots take tasks, not careers. A drywall finisher who used to sand by hand can now calibrate the robot, QC its work, and step into a higher-paying operator role.

The sustainability upside is real too:

Precision placement = less wasted drywall, brick, and compound
Dust control and exosuits = safer, healthier workers
Automated data = stronger ESG reporting, fewer errors, more transparency

Bottom line: robotics will make jobsites more productive, safer, and greener. The pros who embrace it first will lead the projects—and the teams—that define the next decade.

🧠 TL;DR:

Robots are already shaping construction. They’re cutting waste, improving safety, and opening higher-value roles for people ready to learn new skills.

🧰 Action Step:

Identify one task on your current project that’s repetitive, dirty, or high-risk. Research whether a robotic solution already exists. (Hint: drywall, bricklaying, or inspection are good places to start.)

💬 Quote of the Week:

“Robots don’t take jobs. They take tasks. The job evolves.” — AEC Robotics Operator

RETROFIT THIS 🖼️

TOOLS DOWN🔧

Robots aren’t about replacement.

They’re about leverage.

Sustainability gets a boost.

Your career does too.

✍️ Brian Bollinger, our Head Writer, helps sustainability pros connect the dots between innovation, safety, and ESG impact.

🌍️ Charlie Cichetti, our Fearless Leader and LEED Fellow, has guided >150,000 professionals in building careers that adapt—and thrive—through change.

Let’s Green Up together.

👉 [Explore Sustainability Credentials at GBES.com]
👉 [See what Skema’s building for architects]
👉 [Book a Waste2Zero audit before your next ESG deadline]