Watch the AT webinar, in partnership with Deltek and Vectorworks, exploring the opportunities, challenges, and real-world applications of AI and new software tools for shaping the future of architecture and construction.
Efficiency, workflow, new business, creativity, and sustainability are key concerns in the industry. AI and digital tools offer new ways to enhance project management, streamline design and construction, and open up opportunities for new work. But how can these technologies improve efficiency without compromising architectural integrity? Can machine learning and data analytics help architects and contractors meet sustainability targets more effectively? And how can professionals balance technological advancements with ethical considerations while optimising business processes throughout the project lifecycle? These questions and more were explored in this AT webinar, supported by Deltek and Vectorworks.
Speakers (from left to right): Luka Stefanovic, Lilian Ho, Bret Tushaus, Keir Regan-Alexander, and Nasrine Tomasi.
Chaired by Architecture Today’s Jason Sayer, the event included presentations by Keir Regan-Alexander, principal at Arka Works; Luka Stefanovic, senior architecture industry specialist at Vectorworks; Lilian Ho, senior BIM manager & digital lead at AECOM and programme director at ZIGURAT; Bret Tushaus, vice president, product management at Deltek; and Nasrine Tomasi, head of artificial intelligence at Mott MacDonald.
Co-founded by Keir Regan Alexander, OmniChat.uk, is a multi-model LLM tool that allows practices to access a suite of high-performance LLMs from one platform. Inputs at OmniChat are not being harvested for future model training (image: Arka Works).
Up first was Keir Regan-Alexander who explored the intersection of AI and architectural practice. He introduced his work with Omni Chat, a new AI-powered tool designed to generate prompts and streamline creative workflows. “Most of my work is about applying AI to practical situations,” he said, emphasising the real-world applications of AI. Through examples, Regan-Alexander demonstrated how AI tools like Midjourney and large language models (LLMs) can enhance ideation, automate repetitive tasks, and assist in conceptual design processes. However, he also warned against an over-reliance on automation, stressing that architects must remain active participants in the creative process to ensure meaningful, well-informed design outcomes.
Pre-made prompts are a template approach to using LLMs in practice. They provide predictable and repeatable outputs and can be built to replicate a number of typical practice and project workflows (image courtesy of OmniChat.uk).
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for architectural expertise, Regan-Alexander argued that it serves as a powerful tool to expand creative possibilities. “AI should be a tool for architects, not a replacement – it amplifies creativity, not diminishes it.” By leveraging AI, architects, he argued, can work more efficiently, allowing them to focus on higher-level design thinking and innovation. Regan-Alexander also acknowledged the ethical and practical challenges of integrating AI into architectural workflows, including concerns around authorship, bias, and the risk of homogenised design outputs. “Architects should engage critically with AI, using it as an aid rather than a crutch, to push the boundaries of design, while maintaining the discipline’s essential human touch,” he said.
Variations of a base concept model from Vectorworks, showing how drafting and modeling skills serve as the foundation for exciting concepts using AI. Clockwise from top left: original model, pottery, fairground, and building concepts (cgis: Vectorworks).
Luka Stefanovic discussed how AI is revolutionising architectural design through tools like the AI Visualizer in Vectorworks. He stressed that AI was not just for generating images but acted as “a creative partner that ignites your design vision and streamlines aspects of the design process.” By leveraging AI, designers can quickly generate alternative proposals, refine material selections, and experiment with different visualisation techniques, making the design process more efficient and innovative. Stefanovic showcased how AI-driven tools can help architects create highly detailed and stylised renderings, transforming early-stage concepts into refined visualisations.
Stefanovic also discussed the iterative nature of AI-assisted design, explaining that “refining your vision may require multiple iterations based on what captures your attention or aligns with your design vision.” He showed how AI could generate textures, explore various lighting conditions, and incorporate stylistic elements from sketches or real-world references. The presentation concluded with practical insights on integrating AI into everyday workflows, encouraging designers to explore its potential to enhance both creativity and efficiency.
Leonardo.Ai-generated images from the ZIGURAT Institute of Technology demonstrating how AI can help architects imagine innovative and disruptive forms and designs (cgis: ZIGURAT with Leonardo).
Next was Lilian Ho who explored the transformative impact of AI and digital tools in the architecture and construction industry, highlighting how AI can further optimise design processes. “By inputting design goals and constraints, AI can actually generate multiple design options in a minute,” she stated, underscoring its potential to enhance efficiency and creativity. AI also improves project management by predicting potential issues, optimising resource allocation, and reducing delays and costs. Additionally, AI-driven tools enhance sustainability by analysing energy consumption and recommending eco-friendly materials, contributing to net-zero targets. Despite the industry’s historical resistance to adopting new technologies, AI is already rapidly reshaping workflows, making them more data-driven and efficient.
Ho was keen to impress AI’s broad applications, from generative design to construction scheduling and site safety management. She noted that AI enhanced collaboration and business development, enabled predictive market analysis and immersive client presentations through VR. “The growing importance of AI becomes more and more evident every day in various industries,” she said, underlining its increasing role in improving workflows, boosting creativity, and promoting sustainability. By integrating automation and predictive analytics, AI not only accelerates project execution but also fosters innovation, allowing architects and engineers to explore unconventional forms and solutions.
Ask Dela, Deltek’s new generative AI (GenAI) digital assistant can draft email messages on the user’s behalf employing data from Vantagepoint. It also provides concise project data summaries, aiding informed decision making.
Bret Tushaus followed with a presentation on how AI is transforming business operations, particularly in hiring, project management, and specification authoring. He highlighted AI’s role in recruitment, citing an example where a tool like Claude detected a lack of candidate engagement due to their failure to ask questions during an interview – an insight that suggested “they may not be quite as engaged in pursuing this opportunity as they need to be.” AI is also reshaping specification authoring through cloud-based tools like Specpoint, making the traditionally disconnected and manual process more collaborative and efficient. Additionally, AI-powered natural language interfaces are allowing users to interact with complex data more intuitively, enabling architects and project managers to extract relevant information without manually sifting through extensive documents.
Deltek Vantagepoint is an AI-powered project and financial management solution for architects, engineers and consultants.
Another significant theme was AI’s capacity to enhance efficiency through intelligent exploration and automation. AI-driven digital assistants streamlined project assessments by providing instant insights into key metrics and potential risks, eliminating the need to manually generate reports. For instance, an AI tool could automatically draft an email for outstanding accounts receivable, saving time and effort. The presentation concluded with a call to action, emphasising that AI was not just for large, tech-savvy firms but was, according to Tushaus, “the most accessible technology that I’ve seen in years.” He urged businesses of all sizes to leverage existing tools and stay competitive in an AI-driven landscape.
Mott Macdonald’s Land Management platform enables integrated infrastructure delivery through engagement, consent, and construction. Leveraging advanced GIS and AI, it automates key consenting processes like the Book of Reference and Land entry documents (photo courtesy of Mott Macdonald).
The final presentation was delivered by Nasrine Tomasi. She highlighted how AI was being integrated into Mott MacDonald to enhance productivity, streamline project delivery, and improve enterprise efficiency. She emphasised the company’s focus on “empowering our people with responsible AI throughout the business,” ensuring that employees could leverage AI tools effectively, while maintaining ethical standards. A key initiative was the creation of a safe space for citizen developers to build AI applications, allowing for innovation while ensuring governance and monitoring. On the project side, they used AI for automation and predictive analytics, particularly in infrastructure projects such as traffic monitoring and flood prevention. “We have been doing that for quite a while, but we still find it very relevant when it comes to engineering,” she noted, underlining the long-term value of AI in managing complex systems.
At the enterprise level, Mott MacDonald is using AI to centralise knowledge and standardise project delivery. By leveraging AI-powered virtual assistants like Emma, employees can access practice-approved knowledge efficiently. Tomasi also discussed the company’s responsible AI framework, which balances innovation with the mitigation of risks, such as bias and data security. She highlighted a practical application of AI in categorising public consultation survey responses, reducing manual effort and increasing accuracy. “We are also working on upskilling our employees to make sure that they can leverage these new sources of information,” she explained, reinforcing the company’s commitment to AI literacy. Through these efforts, Mott MacDonald is aiming to create a more data-driven, efficient, and ethically sound AI ecosystem.
Many thanks to Deltek and Vectorworks for sponsoring this webinar. To receive a complimentary copy of the Adopting Emerging Tech Guide, please visit Deltek’s website.
Source: Architecture Today