At U+A University, we’ve embarked on a transformative journey, the fusion of AI into our craft. Driven by conversations with leading industry experts, we’re reshaping how we create spaces. AI empowers architects with data-driven insights and automation, freeing us up to focus on revolutionizing design, functionality, and sustainability.
Throughout our 4-week course, we explore the dynamic interplay between architectural creativity and AI’s problem-solving prowess, continually expanding the horizons of architectural innovation. The series launched with a talk by Stjepan Mikulić – a renowned BIM expert and Top 23 Construction Tech Influencer in 2023, recognized by Imerso – who broke the digital ice by introducing AI in the AEC industry to our office.
In our second instalment, we had a session with architect/developer Bill Allen of EvolveLAB, a company that creates apps to accelerate and automate processes through AI. Bill took the team through a showcase of their software, his demonstrations sparking intense interest. This session also included a presentation from Vahin Parmananda, who touched on topics from mastering prompt engineering to using the right tools.
The third week of our AI innovation series gave the team a chance to get involved with the ‘REIMAGINE [SHELTER]’ Workshop. This provided a platform for our creative minds to collaborate and explore the possibilities of delivering architectural products and ideas by leveraging the power of AI. The competition aimed to infuse AI into our workflows and processes, fostering design innovation and whimsy. Our focus was on creating innovative future living spaces, blending cutting-edge technologies, sustainability, and evolving lifestyles. The ultimate goal? To develop unconventional concepts that set new standards for futuristic living.
Our Innovation Series on AI concluded with a round table discussion between invited panellists, discussing architecture in the age of AI. U+A’s P. Martin Dufresne was joined by industry leaders to explore the nuanced relationship between AI and human creativity, collectively shaping the future of our industry, and to forecast where to from here.
The answer to where we are going remains far from definitive, but it is still an exhilarating journey, and we continue to look to ahead with excitement and anticipation.
