The Leviatan Design & Ubitech Construcții group is a key promoter of digital transformation in Romania’s construction sector. Leviatan Design—a design firm whose motto is Mind Matter—has become locally known for its adaptability, powered by the digitalisation and automation of internal processes, as well as the adoption of innovative methodologies such as BIM. Meanwhile, Ubitech Construcții is among the most technologically advanced construction companies currently active in Romania, having implemented the BIM methodology across its entire operational workflow in major projects nationwide.

As a 100% Romanian-owned company, Ubitech offers end-to-end services, including general contracting, design and execution, project management and implementation, and specialises in complex design & build projects. At the leadership level, the group is committed to promoting new technologies at every stage of the project lifecycle and to creating sustainable buildings that support the seamless integration of Facility Management and Smart Building solutions.

In the following, Cătălin Podaru, CEO of both companies, shares his insights on the market, business performance, and the strategies in place to meet the group’s long-term objectives.

What was the turnover of Leviatan Design and Ubitech Construcții in 2022 and the first half of 2023, and how do you estimate it will evolve this year?

In 2022, our group achieved a consolidated turnover of over 300 million lei, while in mid-2023 we had already reached 160 million lei. We estimate that by the end of 2023, we will exceed last year’s turnover by at least 25%.

How has the construction market performed in the first half of 2023, and what do you expect for the rest of the year and beyond?

The market has evolved positively in the first half of the year, and we anticipate this trend will continue through the end of 2023. We believe Romania’s construction sector has strong prospects for sustainable development, thanks to European funding, including the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). In 2024–2025, we expect major public sector investments, and once the economy stabilises, an increase in private investments—not only in residential but also in industrial and energy infrastructure.

However, we must also consider the government’s intention to eliminate tax incentives for the construction sector, which could pose challenges for many companies.

What are your strategic directions for developing the two companies—investments, digitisation, new technologies, training, or expanding into other sectors?

We are deeply involved in technology-driven development to optimise design and construction workflows and improve productivity and quality across our projects. Our teams are working to integrate artificial intelligence into operations to enhance performance, unlock the value of data, and simplify work processes. This shift is being implemented with the support of eConfaire, part of our group.

We are also investing in state-of-the-art equipment and technologies for both design and execution, to develop Digital Twins with complete, accurate project data. This adds tangible value for our teams—and especially for our clients—who expect high-quality outcomes within tight timelines.

How has the business evolved in 2022 and the first half of 2023, and what are your expectations for the future?

Our growth has been steady and real, thanks to transformational leadership. We’ve managed organic development while delivering increasingly complex projects in both design and execution phases. While such progress naturally brings added pressure, we’ve turned it into productive energy through continuous process development and optimisation.

This approach has allowed us to manage resources efficiently, maintain consistent project quality and meet deadlines—without compromise. We expect this upward trend to continue, supported by market opportunities and our growing brand reputation among clients and partners.

The technological advancements we’ve adopted—particularly in AI and robotics—are game-changing, accelerating transformation at an unprecedented pace. We remain mindful of the challenges posed by market unpredictability, workforce shortages, inflation, and regulatory shifts, but are optimistic about the future.

What’s your perspective on design service pricing in relation to market realities, inflation, and workload? How do you see this evolving?

Design prices have risen due to high demand, especially in the context of a shortage of specialists and structured design organisations capable of managing complex, large-scale projects. However, the market must now focus on building firms capable of delivering high-quality feasibility studies and designs that allow for fast, well-coordinated execution.

This shift will support value growth in design services, eventually aligning with Western market standards. That said, design companies must take the lead in proving the value of their services, rather than expecting automatic recognition from clients or contractors.

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