Berlin Takes Center Stage for the Future of Tech and Infrastructure

• Proeksa Meas
• 6 May 2026
• Construction Focus
• 1166 Views

From April 28–30, Berlin will host Illuminate 2026, a major international conference hosted by Bentley Systems. The event brings together hundreds of engineers, tech leaders, and government officials at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) and “digital twins”—virtual 3D models of real-world objects—are changing the way we build our world.

The city is more than just a host; it is a living example of how infrastructure can be rebuilt and modernized. With Germany currently investing €500 billion into infrastructure, the summit highlights how data and technology are being used to manage everything from power grids to water systems.

To celebrate the event, a new interactive 3D visualization allows people to “fly through” Berlin’s most famous landmarks to see the engineering behind them:

• Siemensstadt Square: A “city of the future” being built twice—first as a digital twin to test energy and water efficiency, then in real life.
• The Reichstag: A historic parliament building retrofitted with a famous glass dome that uses natural light and underground thermal energy to stay green.
• Berlin Central Station: A “glass armadillo” where trains from all over Europe stack on five different levels to move thousands of people daily.
• Brandenburg Airport (BER): A comeback story using AI to manage flights and reduce carbon emissions.

The summit also reflects on Berlin’s history. From the Berlin Wall Memorial, which turned a former border into a public park, to the Siegessäule (Victory Column), these landmarks show how engineering helps a city remember its past while planning for a sustainable, connected future.

The conference features project case studies on how “Digital Twins” allow teams to simulate a building’s energy and maintenance needs before a single brick is even laid.

Explore the 3D Visualization

• Bentley
• Digital Twin
• AI
• Bentley Systems