The Architect’s Newspaper and aec+tech are collaborating for the second year to organize TECH+ conferences across the U.S. This year, for the first time, the event took place in Dallas, where leading AEC firms showcased cutting-edge AI implementations and technological advancements, providing a glimpse into the future of the industry.
The event comes to New York City next, on October 25.
Click here for more information and to register for the New York event.
Tech+ Dallas began with a keynote from James Warton, vice president and computational designer at HKS, who covered his firm’s design workflows as they integrate AI in iteration processes. Warton is excited by the potential of AI, but ultimately believes in human-led design.
Warton covered HKS’s design workflows as they integrate AI in iteration processes. Points were shared around form finding and how generative design can be trained to adapt to design intentions. A great remark was shared around the potential AI brings to design processes: that ultimately we’re in control to let it be part of workflows that makes sense to automate. Emphasis on maintaining unique human creativity stands as a core perspective when adopting generative design capabilities within a team.
Miles Smith of Graphisoft—the company that developed of one of the first BIM Authoring Tools in the industry—talked how the software is integrating AI. The focus is that all stakeholders can collaborate and keep an accurate data set that opens the door to efficient, sustainable building practices.
Smith is Graphisoft’s, North American solution manager. He explained how Archicad’s BIM modeling workflows can be augmented by AI. In many cases, the focus has been on addressing an organization’s AI adoption strategy, especially as it applies to overall digital transformation.
Tania Madah discussed Lean Architect’s cutting-edge tools. She focused on how the Lean methodology that was started by Toyota manufacturing in 1937, can help the architectural design and documentation process today.
Roy Tripp introduced D5 Render’s AI-driven features. The presentation covered visualization workflows as it relates to rendering fidelity improvements thanks to AI generative capabilities. D5 focuses their product to adapt to existing BIM modeling tools, enabling easier interoperability.
Automation in Practice: AI Experiments and Transformations
Experts like Nate Meade from Page, Randall Daniel of SmithGroup, and Luc Deckinga and Harish Palani of Perkins&Will shared insights on AI tools they are experimenting with at their offices. Meade mentioned PromeAI and how his firm’s approach to projects is augmented by technology.
Daniel showed the five AI tools being used at SmithGroup, including public tools like Adobe’s Firefly, Microsoft copilot, and EvolveLab’s Veras, as well as in-house developments like SmithGroup Diffusion, and Wordsmith. SmithGroup Diffusion uses proprietary Stable Diffusion models for generative design visualizations.
Deckinga and Palani also talked about Perkins&Will’s AI strategies and offered insights on how they maximize the use of Rhino with machine learning to refine the quality of their models. Each speaker showed how these innovations are enhancing workflows.
As AI’s generative capabilities raise concerns for human creation, it was strongly emphasized how we leverage AI to maintain individuality. In computer terms, an approach toward supervised learning was encouraged, enabling teams to shape technologies to augment (not replicate) originality and creativity. A good example of this was how SmithGroup optimized its visualization renders with their custom Stable Diffusion models, enabling design styles that align with their creative intent.
Technology in Practice: The Studio View
At the “Technology in Practice: The Studio View” panel, technology leaders discussed their firms’ efforts to stay up-to-date with the latest AEC technologies. The architectural design world is constantly getting pitched “new” software and products, but what is actually new and what is repackaged? The experts walked us through their vetting processes and efforts to integrate existing systems with new products.
The Beck Group’s CRO Scott Lowe, highlighted comprehensive AI-powered analytics systems, and Daniel Stine of Lake|Flato presented on AI-powered sustainability analysis.
A highlight of Lowe’s presentation focused on The Beck Group’s AI development enhancing firm information systems, and improved collaboration mechanisms, reducing operational silos.
Stine focused on processes to decarbonization through established guidance systems and occupancy wellbeing principles. Leveraging tools like Autodesk Forma, and other internal AI tools, Daniel and the team at the firm can better design for mitigating noise pollution, high wind levels, and quantifying embodied/operational carbon on their projects.
Ram Ramisetti with McCarthy Building emphasized the importance of collaboration with startups, like Joist.AI to influence AI product development. He described how at McCarthy they don’t just subscribe to certain products and use them, but instead partner up with them and get involved in the process of development.
McCarthy Building, a leading national construction company known for delivering high-quality projects, has embraced AI technology to streamline its proposal management process. Ramisetti shared the company’s approach to improving efficiency, reduce manual effort, and increase the success rate of securing competitive bids, driving innovation in the construction industry.
Professor Asma Mehan, assistant professor at Texas Tech University, talked about emerging technologies in urban design pedagogy with the specific case study of augmented reality applications. In the contemporary era of urban design, the advent of big data and digital technologies has ushered in innovative approaches to exploring urban spaces. This study focuses on the application of augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) technologies in the metropolitan areas of Houston and Amsterdam.
These technologies create immersive “Phygital Installations” that blend physical and digital elements, effectively capturing people’s perceptions and enhancing urban design proposals. By fostering human-centered planning, AR and XR technologies make urban design more interactive and accessible to the public. Houston, with its rapid industrial growth and diverse socio-economic landscape, provides a unique setting to examine the impacts of these technologies on urban form and socio-environmental dynamics.
Following up on Mehan’s presentation, Dr. Sina Mostafavi covered hybrid intelligence design and architectural robotic systems. As an associate professor at Texas Tech University’s College of Architecture, his current research focuses on innovative application of emerging materials and technologies. Dr. Mostafavi shared the advent of human-machine interactions, leveraging robotics and AI, and how to design workflows to maintain a hybrid intelligence throughout the pipelines.
Climate, Energy, & Data
Alfonso Hernandez, regional design leader at Gensler; and Jason Wheeler, design technology manager at Gensler talked at the “Climate, Energy, & Data” panel.
As climate change becomes a cornerstone of practice, new tools to account for carbon intensity of building materials, energy usage, and transparency of supply chains are evolving. Empowering designers, engineers, and architects at all stages of design and construction, these tools will support real-world impacts.
The event featured a robust exploration of how these technologies are transforming design and construction, from urban planning augmented by AR and XR to real-time rendering with AI capabilities. It’s clear that AI is reshaping the landscape of architecture and construction, offering new tools for efficiency, decision-making, and creativity. The potential of these advancements continues to grow, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the built environment. The conversations underscored the evolving role of AI and technology in driving productivity, creativity, and sustainability in the AEC sector.
aec+tech is excited to be part of this movement, supporting AEC professionals with their technology needs, and staying ahead with the latest developments and implementations.
