PATRICK E. MURPHY
WHAT’ S STILL MISSING IN ARCHITECTURE’ S DIGITAL EVOLUTION, AND HOW CAN EMERGING TOOLS BETTER SERVE DESIGNERS AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT?
Technology has infiltrated all sectors in one way or another, but we have seen architecture move entirely away from pen and paper. When people say they work in Architecture, we don’ t think of a Michelangelo( God’ s Architect) with a quill and a dream; these days we think of BIM systems, CAD software, digital project management and even Augmented Reality. But nothing is perfect, so what is missing in architecture’ s digital evolution, and how can emerging tools better serve designers / the built environment? I asked three experts for their two cents on the next evolution for the centuries-old trade.
What’ s still missing in architecture’ s digital evolution is the full integration of Artificial Intelligence – and the robust, diverse datasets needed to power it. AI holds the potential to transform how we design and deliver housing by significantly cutting costs, reducing timelines and increasing supply, ultimately helping to address one of today’ s most pressing challenges: affordability. Repetitive tasks that traditionally take months and cost thousands of dollars – such as drafting building plans, estimating costs and checking code compliance – can now be done in a matter of minutes using AI. For example, one of Florida’ s largest general contractors recently used an AI estimating tool to save 10,000 hours of labour and US $ 1 million over a single year. These kinds of gains can be scaled, but the industry must first overcome a key obstacle: the lack of shared data.
AI thrives on data – it is the foundation that allows algorithms to learn, adapt and make smarter, faster decisions. Yet in construction, building plans are often treated like state secrets, guarded for competitive advantage. While this mindset may have once been justified, it’ s now holding the industry back. There are secure ways to anonymise and share architectural plans so they can be used to train AI models without compromising intellectual property. The output from these models wouldn’ t copy any single plan but instead generate entirely new, code-compliant designs informed by vast datasets. Designers and owners would still adapt these plans to suit site-specific needs, but the time saved in the initial phases would be substantial.
The return on this modest investment in shared data would be enormous. The planning process – which can take more than a year – could be condensed to weeks. AI could generate building plans that are instantly up to code, speeding up permitting and slashing labour costs. A 100-unit apartment complex, for example, could see savings of up to 18 months and US $ 2.5 million. Even smaller projects, like a 2,500-square-foot home, could save a year and US $ 90,000.
PATRICK E. MURPHY
CEO OF TOGAL. AI
AI won’ t just benefit major developers – it can level the playing field by lowering the barrier to entry for small firms that struggle with high upfront costs. With the right tools and data, architecture can finally embrace a digital future that makes the built environment more efficient, accessible and affordable for all.
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