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BUILD Magazine launches an invitation only experience created around meaningful conversation, strategic relationships and real business connection

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., September 30, 2026 — BUILD Magazine kicks off the inaugural BUILD CONNECT in Scottsdale this week, bringing together a highly curated group of luxury builders, architects, interior designers, developers and industry partners for an experience designed to rethink how the residential design and construction industry connects.

The private gathering begins September 30 with a welcome reception in Scottsdale, followed by the two day BUILD CONNECT summit October 1 and 2.

Rather than building another traditional conference around large audiences, packed presentation schedules and brief introductions, BUILD CONNECT was intentionally designed to be smaller, more personal and more valuable.

The inaugural gathering brings together approximately 30 invited industry leaders alongside a select group of brand and industry partners, giving participants two days to actually get to know one another, exchange ideas and explore opportunities to work together.

“We didn’t want to create another event where you shake 100 hands and leave without really knowing anyone,” said Ted Bainbridge, President and Founder of BUILD Magazine. “BUILD CONNECT is about getting the right people around the same table and giving them enough time to have conversations that actually matter. If people leave Scottsdale with new relationships, new ideas and opportunities they would not have had otherwise, we have done what we set out to do.”

A Different Kind of Room

BUILD CONNECT is built around three core experiences: peer to peer roundtable discussions, intimate breakout conversations and structured one to one meetings.

The format is intentional.

Roundtables give attendees an opportunity to speak candidly with other leaders navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges within the luxury residential market.

Small group sessions create space for deeper discussion between industry professionals and leading brands.

Scheduled one to one meetings are designed to move beyond traditional networking and create purposeful introductions based on shared business interests.

Together, the format gives attendees something increasingly difficult to find at large industry events: time.

Time to talk. Time to listen. Time to understand another business. And time to build a relationship before asking where it might lead.

Built Around the People Shaping the Industry

The inaugural BUILD CONNECT Advisory Board includes respected leaders from BUILD Magazine, AFT Construction, Peak Projects, Olson Kundig, JAQUE, Trinity Custom Homes and Kohler Co.

The board helped shape an experience centered around the issues, opportunities and conversations affecting today’s luxury residential industry.

For BUILD Magazine, BUILD CONNECT also represents the next evolution of a brand that has spent years telling the stories behind exceptional homes and the professionals who create them.

“BUILD has always been about the people behind the projects,” Bainbridge said. “The magazine allows us to tell their stories. BUILD CONNECT allows us to bring those people together.”

The inaugural BUILD CONNECT takes place October 1 and 2, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

About BUILD CONNECT

BUILD CONNECT is a private leadership summit hosted by BUILD Magazine for professionals shaping the luxury residential design and construction industry. Through curated roundtable discussions, intimate breakout sessions and structured one to one meetings, BUILD CONNECT creates an environment for meaningful exchange, strategic relationships and business development.

About BUILD Magazine

BUILD Magazine connects the people and companies shaping luxury residential design and construction. Through regional publications, digital storytelling, industry events and relationship driven initiatives, BUILD showcases exceptional projects while creating meaningful connections among builders, architects, designers, developers and industry partners.

The private summit will convene senior decision-makers representing more than 400 luxury residential projects and approximately $5 billion in collective buying power.

On October 1–2, 2026, BUILD CONNECT will bring together 30 senior leaders from luxury home building, residential architecture, interior design, and industry partnerships for a private summit in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Created by BUILD Magazine, the event is built around a simple idea: the value of the room matters more than the size of the audience.

There will be no general admission and no crowded convention floor. Attendance is limited to 30 selected leaders, with only one principal or final decision-maker representing each company.

Collectively, participating firms are expected to influence more than 400 luxury residential projects annually and represent approximately $5 billion in buying power.

Request Consideration for BUILD CONNECT 2026

A Carefully Selected Group

BUILD CONNECT is intended for founders, owners, principals, partners, and senior decision-makers actively shaping the luxury residential market.

Selected firms are expected to demonstrate meaningful experience with homes valued at $10 million or more, oversee at least seven significant luxury residential projects annually, and bring a valuable perspective to the group.

Every application is reviewed, and participation is not guaranteed.

“We are not trying to build the largest industry event,” said Ted Bainbridge, founder and president of BUILD Magazine and creator of BUILD CONNECT. “We are building the right table. When the right people are in the room, two days can create relationships and opportunities that might otherwise take years to develop.”

Built for Meaningful Connection

Rather than passive presentations and surface-level networking, BUILD CONNECT will focus on relevant conversations, strategic relationships, and practical collaboration.

The summit will include peer-led roundtables, small working sessions with groups of seven to eight leaders, and carefully matched one-on-one meetings based on business priorities, current project needs, and potential partnerships.

Private networking experiences, curated meals, and opportunities to experience Scottsdale’s luxury residential market will complement the working sessions.

For selected attendees, BUILD CONNECT offers access to peers managing similarly complex projects and business challenges.

For a limited number of brand partners, it provides direct engagement with leaders who influence product specifications, purchasing decisions, and project partnerships across the luxury residential market.

This is not simply another opportunity for visibility.

It is a seat inside the conversations shaping where the industry goes next.

Guided by Industry Leaders

The BUILD CONNECT Advisory Board includes respected leaders from luxury home building, architecture, interior design, project leadership, product innovation, and industry media.

Advisory Board members include Daniel Ralls of Olson Kundig; Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction; Grant Bowen of Peak Projects; Jaque Bethke of JAQUE; Michael Cocozza of Trinity Custom Homes; Brian Humphreys of Kohler Co.; and Ted Bainbridge of BUILD Magazine.

Request Consideration

Applications for BUILD CONNECT 2026 are currently being reviewed and will close once all 30 seats have been selected.

Applications are requests for consideration and do not guarantee acceptance.

Request Consideration for BUILD CONNECT 2026

About BUILD CONNECT

BUILD CONNECT is a private, invitation-only leadership summit created by BUILD Magazine for the luxury residential design and construction industry. It brings together selected builders, architects, interior designers, industry partners, and brand leaders for candid conversation, strategic connection, and focused business development.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, July 2026

BUILD CONNECT, the private luxury leadership summit created by BUILD Magazine, has announced Daniel Ralls, Principal and Owner of Olson Kundig, as the final member of its Advisory Board.

Ralls completes a board of respected leaders from across luxury custom home building, architecture, interior design, project leadership, product innovation, and media. Together, the Advisory Board will help shape the conversations, programming, and strategic direction behind BUILD CONNECT, taking place October 1 to 2, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Designed for the leaders influencing the future of high end residential design and construction, BUILD CONNECT is not another crowded industry event. It is a carefully curated room built around meaningful access, candid conversation, and strategic relationship building between the builders, architects, designers, and brand partners shaping the luxury market.

With 19 years at Olson Kundig, Ralls brings a rare global perspective to the board. His experience spans residential architecture, cultural work, mixed use environments, commercial projects, and art installations, with work reaching from the Pacific Northwest to international markets. His addition reinforces the level of thought leadership BUILD CONNECT is bringing into the room.

“Daniel represents exactly why BUILD CONNECT exists,” said Ted Bainbridge, Founder and President of BUILD Magazine and creator of BUILD CONNECT. “This summit is about bringing the right people together, not the most people. Daniel brings a sophisticated architectural perspective shaped by craft, place, collaboration, and global experience. His voice adds tremendous depth to the board and to the future of this event.”

BUILD CONNECT is structured around peer led roundtable discussions, intimate sponsor led breakout sessions, and scheduled one on one meetings designed for real business development. Every element is intentionally built to move beyond passive attendance and create the kind of exchange that rarely happens in traditional conference settings.

For sponsors and brand partners, the opportunity is equally intentional. BUILD CONNECT offers direct access to qualified decision makers in the luxury residential market, including builders, architects, interior designers, and industry leaders who influence specification, collaboration, and future project relationships. It is not simply a visibility opportunity. It is a seat inside the conversations shaping where the market is going.

The Advisory Board includes Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction, Grant Bowen of Peak Projects, Jaque Bethke of JAQUE Design, Michael Cocozza of Trinity Custom Homes, Brian Humphreys of Kohler Co., Ted Bainbridge of BUILD Magazine, and Daniel Ralls of Olson Kundig.

Olson Kundig is widely recognized for work that connects architecture, landscape, materiality, movement, and human experience. Ralls’ presence on the Advisory Board brings an architectural voice that reflects the broader ambition of BUILD CONNECT: to gather leaders who are not only respected in the industry, but actively helping define its future.

“This board was never about filling seats,” Bainbridge said. “It was about building the right table. Every person on it brings a distinct point of view and a serious understanding of what it takes to create exceptional work. Daniel’s addition completes that table in a powerful way.”

With its Advisory Board now complete, BUILD CONNECT enters its next phase with a clear message: the future of luxury design and construction will be shaped by those willing to think bigger, collaborate better, and build relationships with intention.

About BUILD CONNECT

BUILD CONNECT is an invitation only luxury leadership summit created by BUILD Magazine for the high end residential design and build industry. The event brings together leading builders, architects, interior designers, industry partners, and sponsors for curated conversation, strategic connection, roundtable discussions, breakout sessions, and scheduled one on one meetings.

Media Contact

BUILD Magazine ted@buildmagazine.com www.buildmagconnect.com