AI in Architectural Design: Lessons from Five Years of Implementation
Five years ago, our firm faced a critical decision point. Project timelines were tightening, clients demanded more iterations during schematic design, and our teams struggled to balance creative exploration with the relentless pace of deliverables. We knew something had to change, but we never anticipated how transformative the journey into artificial intelligence would become. What started as a cautious experiment with computational tools has fundamentally reshaped how we approach everything from concept development to construction documentation, teaching us lessons that no textbook or conference could have provided. The reality of AI in Architectural Design differs dramatically from the glossy vendor presentations we initially encountered. Our first attempts were humbling, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding in ways that have permanently changed our practice. These aren't abstract theories or distant possibilities—these are real experiences from actual projects, incl...