Agenda
TECH+ features a full day of industry-changing ideas, projects, tools, and demos from technology leaders.
Earn 6 AIA LU.
Sessions marked Tracks run concurrently in 4 tracks with 4 one hour sessions for you to choose from.
Click on the tabs to view the agenda for each track.
8:00 – 9:30 AM
9:30 – 9:35 AM
9:35 – 10:15 AM
The way we live, work, and play is very different today than it was just a few decades ago, thanks in large part to a network of connectivity that now encompasses most people on the planet. In a similar way, today we are at the beginning of a new technological revolution: the Internet is entering the physical space – the traditional domain of architecture and design – becoming an “Internet of Things” or IoT. As such, it is opening the door to a variety of applications that – in a similar way to what happened with the first wave of the Internet – can encompass many domains: from production to citizen participation, from energy to mobility to public hygiene, all of which requiring new insights due to the changes brought forth by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The contribution from Prof. Carlo Ratti will address these issues from a critical point of view through projects by the Senseable City Laboratory, a research initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the design office Carlo Ratti Associati.
Carlo Ratti
10:15 – 10:30 AM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Track Sessions #1
Architecture has begun a journey into the Metaverse. The building of virtual social environments drives the 150 Billion dollar gaming industry, but shouldn’t architects be a part of this major development in social space? Documenting his journey in AN, Ryan Scavnicky has been traversing these environments (some designed by high-profile architecture firms) and is here to tell us what it is like, and to make some predictions for potential futures. It starts with how architecture needs to be better involved in the digital social platforms already in common use today, from TikTok, to Twitch, and everything in between. In the end we will ask: What is the future of Architectural Content?
Research and pedagogy that focuses on radical low-carbon and health building materials is critically needed to address global climatic, societal, and economic urgencies. Specifically, earth- and bio-based materials have been receiving increasing attention due to their availability, ease of application, and sustainable features. However, earth- and bio-based materials are yet to be integrated into mainstream projects and building technology curricula worldwide, and raw (non-stabilized) mixtures require further research to increase durability, construction pace, and applicable usages. In this presentation, Prof. Lola Ben-Alon will share her ongoing work at the Natural Materials Lab at Columbia GSAPP, where she catalyzes ecological knowledge—both traditional and futuristic—on earth- and bio-based materials throughout their design, construction, fabrication, and policy arenas.
Cities like New York must rapidly deploy deep energy retrofits throughout their existing building stock in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the AEC industry currently lacks economically viable solutions to meet this urgent need. The problem is further complicated because most retrofit projects must be implemented with tenants remaining in place during construction. This presentation will introduce a new approach to deep energy retrofits called Hydronic Shell, in which the new HVAC and facade systems are integrated into prefab modular panels that can be installed completely from the exterior of the building, reducing costs and minimizing disruption to the tenants inside. The talk will include a technical overview of the Hydronic Shell system, as well as a discussion of retrofit economics and how an industrialized approach to retrofits can dramatically reduce project costs.
Digital twins are quickly proving to be a key strategic accelerator for digital transformation, unlocking the value created by the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and analytics.
Join Anna Liza Montenegro of Microsol Resources as she moderates this two-part panel discussion. What exactly is the buzz about? What is a digital twin? What elements define it? When can and should we apply this technology? What makes it so powerful? And how will its adoption influence our design process and, ultimately, our buildings and cities?
In Part 1: Introductions to Digital Twin Technology you will Learn how developing a digital twin strategy can help you harness the convergence of the digital and physical worlds with industry leaders who are driving this transformation.
The discussion continues after the break and focuses on the challenges of implementing, managing, and measuring Digital Twin solutions.
11:30 – 11:45 PM
11:45 – 12:00 PM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Track Sessions #2
1:15 – 2:15 PM
2:15 – 3:15 PM
Track Sessions #3
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Track Sessions #4
3:15 – 3:30 PM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Architecture has begun a journey into the Metaverse. The building of virtual social environments drives the 150 Billion dollar gaming industry, but shouldn’t architects be a part of this major development in social space? Documenting his journey in AN, Ryan Scavnicky has been traversing these environments (some designed by high-profile architecture firms) and is here to tell us what it is like, and to make some predictions for potential futures. It starts with how architecture needs to be better involved in the digital social platforms already in common use today, from TikTok, to Twitch, and everything in between. In the end we will ask: What is the future of Architectural Content?
11:30 – 11:45 PM
11:45 – 12:00 PM
12:00-1:00 PM
Innovations are rapidly changing the engineering landscape, from computational modeling to data visualization and integrated building analysis. CORE studio is Thornton Tomasetti’s virtual incubator of ideas. CORE studio provides a valuable interface among design and construction teams, developing new workflows and processes that promote collaboration and enhance building design. CORE’s analyses of today’s practices allow CORE to envision the optimized workflows of tomorrow.
T2D2 is an AI-powered building facade image analysis and physical asset management platform. T2D2 was incubated within CORE.AI where it was trained by forensic civil engineering experts on thousands of images. Asset owners and engineers can now perform facade assessments quickly and more frequently, catching small problems before they become major issues.
Benjamin Howes
VP, Director of Application Development, CORE Studio, Thornton Tomasetti
1:00 – 1:15 PM
1:15 – 2:15 PM
2:15-3:15 PM
Earth, with 7 billion people today and having a maximum carrying capacity of 10 billion people, is faced with overpopulation and increased migration to cities. With this very real pressure of accommodating the increasing population within decades, all industries are in a race to adopt and grow in an agile and sustainable manner, including construction, which has been notoriously slow to change.
What can we learn from other industries, and how can we collaborate with them? How can we build better, faster and more sustainably for all economies? Through adopting the methods of other industries operate, the AEC industry can take advantage of technologies that have been used by aerospace, automotive and product manufacturing for decades. Unlike other industries, AEC can’t always focus on one “product,” but can optimize workflows that allow end-to-end control in both customization and standardization. GENx works on mastering mass customization, while optimizing it to lower embodied energy throughout its lifecycle, from design to fabrication, as well as enabling modular and timber construction.
This presentation introduces not only ideas about workflow optimization in vertical urbanism, but also offers case studies focusing on technologies we use today, and on future trends and changing business models that the AEC industry can benefit from.
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30-4:30 PM
Byte Sized Buildings is about the digital expansion into design, operations, and culture. Most importantly, it discusses how architects can think and contribute toward a more civic-focused use of the digital. Central to the presentation is a way to use digital platforms to introduce alternative constructs for the way we functionalize and experience public spaces, brands, and buildings.
4:30 – 4:45 PM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Research and pedagogy that focuses on radical low-carbon and health building materials is critically needed to address global climatic, societal, and economic urgencies. Specifically, earth- and bio-based materials have been receiving increasing attention due to their availability, ease of application, and sustainable features. However, earth- and bio-based materials are yet to be integrated into mainstream projects and building technology curricula worldwide, and raw (non-stabilized) mixtures require further research to increase durability, construction pace, and applicable usages. In this presentation, Prof. Lola Ben-Alon will share her ongoing work at the Natural Materials Lab at Columbia GSAPP, where she catalyzes ecological knowledge—both traditional and futuristic—on earth- and bio-based materials throughout their design, construction, fabrication, and policy arenas.
11:30 – 11:45 PM
11:45 – 12:00 PM
12:00-1:00 PM
You can’t mitigate the emissions that you don’t measure. Through a series of case studies, representatives of leading sustainable design firms will discuss the tools they use to assess carbon emissions and how these assessments shape project outcomes. This session will cover both energy- and material-related emissions, as well as how they come together in a “total carbon” assessment. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we will focus on how teams can leverage data to identify specific and relevant decarbonization pathways for a particular project. Our discussion aims to be accessible to people unfamiliar with carbon accounting while offering fresh insights to experts, showing how every project—big or small—can play a role in our low-carbon future.
1:00 – 1:15 PM
1:15 – 2:15 PM
2:15-3:15 PM
As the urgency to address climate change and halt greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continues to grow, designers have a responsibility to make smart design decisions to minimize their buildings’ GHG emissions. The steps to designing a carbon-smart building are two-fold: minimize embodied carbon and bring operational carbon to zero. This session will look at the holistic carbon profile of the built environment and the cutting-edge tools and processes that design teams can use to design carbon out of their projects.
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30-4:30 PM
As professionals who readily engage with large and complex data sets in our day-to-day work, architects and engineers are uniquely positioned to tackle the issues related to measuring and interpreting embodied carbon data on projects. In this session we will discuss a variety of approaches that we are utilizing in the enclosure and structural engineering fields for tracking and reducing embodied carbon as designs evolve from ideas into high fidelity models. The examples and approaches discussed will highlight how design professionals can leverage the technology and skills that already exist within their practices, and aim them towards decarbonization efforts in the built environment.
4:30 – 4:45 PM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Cities like New York must rapidly deploy deep energy retrofits throughout their existing building stock in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the AEC industry currently lacks economically viable solutions to meet this urgent need. The problem is further complicated because most retrofit projects must be implemented with tenants remaining in place during construction. This presentation will introduce a new approach to deep energy retrofits called Hydronic Shell, in which the new HVAC and facade systems are integrated into prefab modular panels that can be installed completely from the exterior of the building, reducing costs and minimizing disruption to the tenants inside. The talk will include a technical overview of the Hydronic Shell system, as well as a discussion of retrofit economics and how an industrialized approach to retrofits can dramatically reduce project costs.
11:30 – 11:45 PM
11:45 – 12:00 PM
12:00-1:00 PM
Description: Architecture has a long history of innovation and a strong overlap with the development of new and novel technologies. Having been exposed to the technology-driven side of the profession, many architects are curious about putting their skills to use in more tech-centric roles both within AEC and adjacent fields. Come listen to expert career consultants, Jake Rudin and Erin Pellegrino, talk about their own transitions and work in tech, as well as some ideas on how to find the right role (or the right talent if you’re looking). The conversation will consist of a 30-minute presentation followed by a lively Q&A on topics from hiring, career transitions, architectural startups, and more.
1:15 – 2:15 PM
2:15-3:15 PM
Did you know that the AIA has a Technology in Architectural Practice Knowledge Community?
Come learn about one of the AIA’s longest running Knowledge Community!
In this session, we will give you updates on upcoming events, reflect on the tools created within the community, and how to participate in TAP. We will also preview a new awards program we have been working on — participants will be able to provide feedback and help shape it!
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30-4:30 PM
Frustrated by loops of rework and wasted time, Perkins&Will envisioned a more collaborative and dynamic feasibility review process for its fabrication and construction partners. A process that would allow more design time and speed up decision. Working with like minded leaders at fabrication partner at Zahner, the two firms invented a shared workspace and feasibility model that produces higher design fidelity, shorter delivery schedules, and more joyful clients and communities. Learn more about this process and how it can be adapted for your work and how process improvements like this can be implemented between many partners for faster, better collaborations.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the difficulties and roadblocks to faster, higher fidelity collaboration between design, fabrication, and construction.
- Review a collaboration process between two or more firms using this model
Learn how Apply process improvements to your own firms
4:30 – 4:45 PM
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Learn how developing a digital twin strategy can help you harness the convergence of the digital and physical worlds with industry leaders who are driving this transformation.
11:30 – 11:45 PM
11:45 – 12:00 PM
12:00-1:00 PM
Digital twins are a novel and unique way to combine software and hardware. The projects require a heavy investment of both hard and soft costs. If you get it right, the payoff is worth the effort. Like with any new technology, change is constant and you may have a skills gap on your team.
1:00 – 1:15 PM
1:15 – 2:15 PM
2:15-3:15 PM
As a result of the pandemic, global supply chain issues and rates of inflation have led to significant delays in design, architecture and construction. In order to navigate these large hurdles, while still aiming to deliver projects on time and on budget, there must be a tightly orchestrated approach between all partners to ensure seamless planning and execution while providing tools for excellent organization and alignment for a design-assist approach.
SGA – a leading, multidisciplinary architecture and design firm – has invested significantly in increasingly powerful software and tools to do just this. The firm’s Virtual Design and Construction discipline – led by Partner Michael Schroeder – fills the long-awaited gap between design and construction by integrating highly advanced technologies with the most essential element in design: the relationship between human beings. The creation of the SGA Dashboard – a proprietary, easy-to-use, web-based tool – is the single source of up-to-date and accurate information for an entire project that has transformed SGA’s project delivery process significantly, resulting in substantial cost savings, schedule reductions, and elimination of on-site waste, leading the firm to deliver buildings faster than ever before, even in the wake of the pandemic.
In this talk, Michael Schroeder will unearth how VDC can create a more seamless design and communication process, along with how architects can tap into new technologies to directly address the issues of waste, change orders, and cost overruns that are plaguing the design and construction industry now more than ever.
3:15 – 3:30 PM
3:30-4:30 PM
Join the team from Sasaki Strategies to discuss the opportunities and challenges of firm-wide R&D. Sasaki Strategies is an internal data analysis, computational design, and software development team within Sasaki.
On the surface, software development makes little sense within a professional services industry. Unlike the familiar billable-hour model, software development efforts can scale almost limitlessly: theoretically, an hour put into development can save time over and over again. However, in reality it takes time and overhead hours to centralize code and design for effective reuse.
Sasaki Strategies fills a niche between one-size-fits-all solutions and entirely bespoke work. A one-off effort may be targeted and high-impact enough that it brings sufficient value to a project. On the other hand, tools may be sufficiently scalable and repeatable that they make sense as external stand-alone products. Within this continuum of scalability there are many opportunities to adopt and adapt, developing and leveraging reusable platforms to fit the exact needs of a particular design opportunity. Our team engages with design teams deeply enough to understand the real issues and needs presented by projects, but briefly enough to be able to abstract and extract the opportunities for continued development. In this capacity, Sasaki Strategies connects multiple project teams around common solutions.
In this talk, Tamar Warburg (Sasaki’s Sustainability Director) will highlight how custom tools such as Carbon Conscience can help elevate design decisions; Scott Penman (Computation Design Lead) will discuss how innovation happens at the speed of project work; and Ken Goulding (Director of Sasaki Strategies) will talk about what it takes to lead a software innovation team within a design firm. We will share what we have learned about navigating the space between the very different worlds of software development and professional services and why it is critical for design-driven innovation to continue pursuing and testing ideas through a combination of hacked-together solutions and polished, high-quality user experiences.
4:30 – 4:45 PM
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