S7: Emerging Issues &
the Future of the Practice
August 16th, 2024
Location: HON Company DC Showroom
Led by: Temi Fasusi, RA, NCARB & Dandi Zhang, AIA, WELL AP
This session provided an intriguing look at emerging trends in architecture and the future of practice. Through presentations, interactive workshops and a panel session, scholars examined the potential of AI in the profession; ways of facilitating innovation and collaboration in the practice of architecture; and the future of practice and what it means to be an architect today as seen through the lenses of aspiring architects who are in the early phase of their career and architects who are in leadership at their various practices.
Act 1: Tackling AI and Technology
Deniz Arslan
Deniz Arslan, a Computational Designer with HKS whose work focuses on research, design and development, led the session with a presentation that explored the possibilities of AI in architectural practice. Some of the ways of leveraging AI that were examined included the use of AI in conceptual diagrams and mapping non-linear timelines; revealing hazards in project and conducting building performance simulations. The importance in understanding how information is processed through networks and algorithms - and the complexities of this processes - were highlighted. Issues associated with AI - such as bias - were examined.
Deniz discussed how HKS leverages AI through its work in the LINE studio and the role of the AIA Large Firm Roundtable in studying how AI can be used in the practice of architecture.
Alex Briseno, AIA, LEED AP
In session two, scholars heard from Alex Briseno, a regional lead for HKS. Alex started the session with the thought provoking questions: “What is Innovation” and “How do we establish the conditions for innovation to occur?” He highlighted the roles that curiosity, collaboration and consistency have to play in fostering innovation. The importance of people (with diverse perspectives) being involved in the innovation process. Scholars were tasked to ask “who is not in the room” and find ways to bring those perspectives into the conversations. Alex led two workshops as part of this session, with the first workshop themed around Facilitating Diverse Perspectives and the second workshop centered on
strategy and collaboration.
Act 2: Radical Collaboration
The future of the Practice panel discussion sought to look at the practice of architecture from the perspectives of aspiring architects in the very early phase of their career and seasoned architects in leadership at their practice.
Some of the topics discussed were: the importance of making studio culture in schools more realistic to professional practice; firm and staff resiliency by making firm financial information accessible to all; highlighting the value of architects in society; and finding opportunities for various types of mentorship relationships as our careers evolve.
