Gilbane Rolls Out Trunk Tools AI Agents Across Its Jobsites

Gilbane Building Co. has selected Trunk Tools as its enterprise-wide construction site artificial intelligence partner, signing a seven-figre agreement, according to Trunk Tools. to roll out TrunkSubmittal, TrunkText, and TrunkSOP AI agents across more than 200 projects nationwide over the next two years. the contractor said.

The decision follows the launch of TrunkSubmittal, an AI-enabled assistant that helps with submittals on construction projects. Launched at ENR FutureTech in May, the tool was made generally available on July 1 and was adopted across 30 active Gilbane projects this summer. In just three months, Gilbane teams used TrunkSubmittal to review more than 2,000 submittals, improving the quality of those sent to architects, according to the contractor.

“AI is a transformative force that is shaping the future of construction, and we’re committed to leading the industry forward through innovation,” said Adam Jelen, CEO of Gilbane Building. “Trunk Tools has already shown it can deliver real impact on our jobsites. Our enterprise-wide rollout ensures every Gilbane team has access to this technology that is proven to support smart, efficient work in the field.”

Since July, TrunkTools has found that 72% of submittals received on Gilbane projects with TrunkSubmittal were non-compliant, 25% partially compliant, and only 3% fully compliant. By flagging these issues early, Gilbane teams reduced re-submissions, shortening cycle times by nearly 50%. Ultimately, Gilbane prevented requests for information, delays and quality issues.

“It helps us optimize efficiency, automates bureaucratic workflows and allows our teams to focus on what they do best,” Heidi DeBenedetti, COO of Gilbane Building Co., said of the Trunk Tools AI agents. 

Gilbane Superintendent Andy Roy described TrunkText and TrunkSubmittal as “game-changers for how we operate,” while Rawle Sawh, director of operations technology, said his team found that Trunk Tool “drastically” improved the jobsite experience and kept Gilbane “ahead of the curve in technology adoption and service quality provided to its customers.”

Trunk Tools also introduced TrunkReview, a new agent that aids project managers in bulletin review by analyzing drawing revisions and has proprietary large language models to analyze construction drawings.

“When we launched TrunkSubmittal … our vision was to show how AI could fundamentally change the way submittals are managed,” said Sarah Buchner, CEO of Trunk Tools. “Just six months later, Gilbane has taken it enterprise-wide.” 

The rollout “proves that Trunk Tools is delivering real ROI at scale, not experiments—and it’s only the beginning,” she contended, adding that “with Gilbane as a partner, we’re building the foundation for the next generation of AI in construction, from submittals to drawings and beyond.”

ENR Associate Technology, Equipment and Products Editor Jeff Yoders has been writing about design and construction innovations for 20 years. He is a five-time Jesse H. Neal award winner and multiple ASBPE winner for his tech coverage. Jeff previously wrote about construction technology for Structural Engineer, CE News and Building Design + Construction. He also wrote about materials prices, construction procurement and estimation for MetalMiner.com. He lives in Chicago, the birthplace of the skyscraper, where the pace of innovation never leaves him without a story to chase.