AI Innovation Task Force

AI Innovation Task Force

INDEX

I

UNLOCKING FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

II

USING AI TO GENERATE CHRISTMAS CARD

III

AI INNOVATION TASK FORCE

IV

AI PLATFORMS

V

CASE STUDIES

VI

EVALUATION AND RESULTS

UNLOCKING FUTURE POSSIBILITIES: EMBRACING AI IN ARCHITECTURE

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in architecture is being explored with new ideas and processes being developed at an amazing rate.

While it is not quite ready to take over architectural work without the direction and guidance of highly knowledgeable individuals, AI can help architects and interior designers do their jobs better and faster.

AI tools can make it easier for architects to design, plan, and build structures more efficiently, creatively, and sustainably.

BOKA Powell has established an AI Task Force whose purpose is to explore and evaluate these tools to see if they can also handle some of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks involved in the design and documentation process. This includes things like creating basic zoning ideas, improving building performance, planning projects, project scheduling, summarizing meetings, and more.

USING AI TO GENERATE THIS YEARS CHRISTMAS CARD

Every year BOKA Powell puts out a Christmas Card that is the result of individual creative vision, meaning someone is selected for the honor of creating the graphics. For this year’s card, we chose to have our Artificial Intelligence Task Force take on that responsibility and use the AI platform Midjourney to prepare a graphic based on the information we fed into the system. What follows represents that process.

Prompt: A large gathering of jolly Santa Claus, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Dense gathering of jolly Santa Claus, highlight single Santa in blue jacket, blue and red theme, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Re-Imagine large gathering of jolly Santa Claus, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Re-Imagine gathering of jolly Santa Claus, highlight single Santa, blue and red theme, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Dense gathering of jolly Santa Claus, various beard styles, emphasize the color red, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Gathering of jolly Santa Claus, highlight single Santa, vary the jacket colors between blue and red, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Santa Claus, sleigh being pulled by a team of reindeer, full moon, 2d art, in the style of cutout construction paper.

Prompt: Santa sleigh pulled by reindeer in a winter landscape in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Silhouette of Santa Claus in the sleigh being pulled by a team of reindeer with a full moon, in the style of cutout construction paper.

Prompt: Re-Imagine Santa Claus, with his team of reindeer, 2d art, in the style of cutout construction paper.

Prompt: Re-Imagine Santa on his sleigh, pulled by his reindeer in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Re-imagine Santa Claus in the sleigh being pulled by a team of reindeer with a moon, in the style of cutout construction paper.

Prompt: Santa Claus with his team of reindeer, with full moon in background, 2d art, in the style of cutout construction paper.

Prompt: Re-Imagine Santa on his sleigh, pulled by his reindeer, emphasize the color red, with starlight in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Re-imagine Santa Claus in the sleigh being pulled by a team of reindeer with a full moon, in the style of cutout construction paper.

THE FINAL IMAGE For our final selection, we wanted to focus even more on Santa Claus and simplify the image to emphasize how jolly and festive we all know him to be.

Prompt: Jolly Santa Claus, feature face and cap, festive setting, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Jolly Saint Nick, emphasize face and cap, festive setting, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Jolly Santa Claus, feature face and cap, festive setting town, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Jolly Santa Claus, feature face and cap, festive setting, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Jolly Santa Claus, feature face, festive setting mountain town cutout, in the style of construction paper.

Prompt: Jolly Santa Claus, feature face and cap, festive setting, in the style of construction paper.

Merry Christmas

In a world where creativity meets technology,

AI is the blueprint for innovation in architecture and design.

BOKA POWELL AI INNOVATION TASK FORCE By creating a task force to investigate AI tools in architecture, BOKA Powell can leverage the potential of AI to enhance our work and advance critical thought in the field of architecture. This task force is charged with the responsibility of spearheading the research and implementation of AI tools in our daily workflow.

The BOKA Powell AI Innovation Task Force is composed of professionals from within every user group in our office, including architects and interior designers, project managers, construction administrators, marketing and business development personnel, information technology, BIM managers, accountants, human resources, and administrative personnel. The task force is also constantly seeking input and feedback from the public and other professionals inside and outside the industry.

Saumyabrata Roy

Tom Mardsen

Kaky Gowan

Courtney Richardson

Michelle Vandermeulen

Ali Darzian

Bob Borson

Dan Doyle

Yusra Heake

James Hale

Nicole Gonzalez

Erin AbuAlia

Pia Gandolfo

Gabriella Hundza

Jason Hanson

Chris Ackles

Lane Acree

Kevin Pagel

AI INNOVATION TASK FORCE GOALS Setting clear goals for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) task force tasked with evaluating emerging AI technologies is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, defined goals provide a strategic road map, ensuring that the task force aligns its efforts with the overall objectives of the organization. This clarity helps in prioritizing the evaluation criteria, focusing on technologies that directly contribute to the firm’s mission and vision. Secondly, welldefined goals create a framework for assessing the relevance and impact of AI technologies on specific aspects of the architectural process.

By identifying key areas such as design efficiency, sustainability, and creative augmentation, the task force can channel its efforts into selecting technologies that best align with the firm’s aspirations. Additionally, having clear goals facilitates effective communication and collaboration within the task force, fostering a shared vision that guides decision-making and evaluation processes. Overall, goal identification provides a structured approach, ensuring that the AI task force maximizes its efforts in selecting technologies that truly enhance the firm’s capabilities and contribute to its long-term success.

•

Challenges and Opportunities - Explore the current

and future landscape of design, planning, and building.

Identify challenges and opportunities shaping the industry and discover how AI can revolutionize your approach.

• Selecting the Right AI Tools - Our commitment to

innovation involves researching and reviewing cutting-edge AI tools. Learn about the selection process and discover the most suitable tools tailored to our firm’s unique needs and goals.

• Empowering Our Team - Effective utilization of AI

tools begin with a skilled and knowledgeable team. Our comprehensive training and support programs ensure that staff can harness the full potential of these tools while adhering to established company standards.

• Monitoring Impact and Performance – Evaluate the

measurable impact of AI tools on our projects, processes, and outcomes. We provide insights into how AI enhances efficiency and quality, showcasing real-world examples of success.

• Continuous Improvement - Our commitment to

excellence extends beyond implementation. Continuously explore the strategy for updates and improvements to existing AI tools based on feedback and data, ensuring we stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

AI PLATFORMS UNDER REVIEW CURRENTLY New and exciting platforms leveraging the power of AI are coming online almost daily, and it is no small task to continuously stay on top of what technologies are emerging and identify those that are of value. Here is a short list of just a few platforms we are currently reviewing.

Adobe Firefly: This tool offers new ways to ideate, create, and communicate while significantly improving creative workflows using generative AI.

AI Architecture: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

Canoa: This tool is the new way for interior designers to create designs, mood boards, and furniture floor plans on a collaborative canvas.

ClickUp: This tool is used for project management.

Copilot: This is a productivity tool that coordinates large language models (LLMs), content in Microsoft Graph, and the Microsoft 365 apps that you use every day.

BricsCAD BIM: This tool is used for building information modeling.

Kaedim: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

Luma.ai: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

Sloyd.AI: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

AI—Maket: This tool empowers everyone to automate residential floor plans, 3D renders, and explore limitless styles.

Meshy: This tool empowers content creators to effortlessly turn text and images into captivating 3D assets in under a minute.

Runway: This tool generates videos and images using simple text prompts.

OCOYA: This tool is used for social media, content marketing and copywriting - using AI. It’s like having ChatGPT, Canva and Hootsuite at your fingertips.

Otter AI: This tool is used as an assistant during meetings; ask questions, and get answers instantly.

Arko.ai: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

Polycam: This tool is used to make 3D scans and download 3D models.

Veras: This tool is used for designing and planning architectural projects.

QuillBot: AI-powered paraphrasing tool used to enhance your writing.

TestFit: This tool was built to automate the monotonous, error-prone steps in the deal process. By optimizing the feasibility process with rapid iterations and accurate data.

Sidewalk Labs: This tool offers advisory services for real estate developers to use technology to meet environmental, affordability, and equity goals.

Midjourney: This tool creates unique artworks from text prompts.

ARCHITEChTURES: This tool is used for creating architectural designs.

Swap: This tool applies intelligent, advanced algorithms to deliver accurate, detailed, and efficient construction documents faster than ever before.

New programs are being discovered constantly!

STORY-TELLING: MIDJOURNEY Midjourney is an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding the imaginative powers of the human species.

This example showcases how you can utilize Midjourney to depict a story through imagery.

In this specific story we wanted to emphasize the rewarding feeling of realizing how far you’ve made it on a challenging journey. As you can see, Midjourney can output beautiful images but sometimes it is not always the right direction.

By changing the words and emphasizing different phrases, you can fine-tune the software to your wants and needs.

Prompt:

An explorer walking along a rocky and treacherous mountainous path that leads to the peak in the far distance, in the style of Ralph McQuarrie.

Prompt:

An explorer walking along a rocky and treacherous mountainous path, emphasize the trail that leads to the peak in the distance, in the style of Ralph McQuarrie.

Prompt:

An explorer walking along a rocky and treacherous mountainous path, emphasize the path that leads to the peak in the distance, in the style of Ralph McQuarrie.

Prompt:

Explorer walking along a rocky and treacherous mountainous trail, there are challenges constantly along the way, emphasize the trail that leads to the peak in the distance, depicting the goal of ascending to the top, in the style of Ralph Mcquarrie.

Prompt:

Mountain climber moving along a rocky and treacherous mountainous trail, there are challenges constantly along the way, emphasize the trail that leads to the peak in the distance, depicting the goal of ascending to the top, in the style of Ralph McQuarrie.

CUSTOMIZABLE MATERIALS: POLYCAM Polycam’s AI Texture Generator is a free tool that enables anyone to create highly realistic textures using a simple text prompt. You can use these textures in 3D modeling, gaming, or animation. Type and create – just like that!

Prompt:

Light tan brick blend of various colors in king size brick with stacked bond pattern.

Prompt:

Metal panel, 4’x8’ reveals, matte finish.

Prompt:

Metal panel siding, smooth finish, glossy.

Prompt:

Light tan brick blend, modular size, running bond.

MASTER PLANNING: SIDEWALK LABS Sidewalk Labs is an urban innovation unit within Google.

Leaders across real estate, including developers, city planners and building operators, use this technology to improve neighborhood design, reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for buildings and homes, and optimize curbs and parking spaces.

Step one:

Begin by adding the location of your site.

Step two:

Choose desired parcels.

Step three:

Fill out inputs.

Step five:

The program will generate a list of design options based on the criteria inputed.

Step six: Select desired design option.

EVALUATION OF TOOLS

• The AI Innovation Task Force will identify and evaluate the best AI tools to accomplish specific needs and goals, such as improving design quality, efficiency, creativity, and sustainability.

• The AI Innovation Task Force will help architects learn how to use AI tools effectively and ethically, by providing training, guidance, while developing best practices.

• The AI Innovation Task Force will collaborate and communicate with other stakeholders, such as clients, contractors, and regulators, about the benefits and challenges of using AI tools in architecture.

RESULTS ORIENTED

To determine if the AI Innovation Task Force has achieved BOKA Powell’s goal of investigating AI tools in architecture, we implemented a series of post-evaluation criteria that will allow us to consistently review and determine if objectives are being meet and if a wider-scale implementation is an appropriate next step.

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure the impact and value of the AI tools on firm projects, processes, and outcomes. For example, we can measure how much time, money, and energy we save by using AI tools, or how much we improve the quality, creativity, and sustainability of our designs.

• Through the use of surveys, interviews, focus groups, and specific case studies to gather qualitative and quantitative data we can collect and analyze feedback and data from BOKA Powell staff and other stakeholders on their satisfaction and experience with using a particular AI tools.

• Compare and benchmark results with other industry standards that use similar AI tools. For example, we can use reports, publications, or awards to learn from the best practices and challenges of other firms.

ABOUT US

BOKA Powell delivers Solutions that Inspire. Our passion is guided by more than 40 years of experience creating compelling, flexible, cost-effective design solutions that directly respond to our clients’ needs. From concept to construction, our emphasis on open communication and collaboration ensures consistent results that exceed expectations.

The definition of successful design, regardless of the project scale, extends beyond creating visually stimulating design solutions. BOKA Powell’s ability to deliver a wide variety of domestic and international projects resides in our commitment to respond effectively to diverse budget, schedule, and efficiency goals, while exceeding our clients’ expectations for design excellence. Our full-service architecture, planning and interior design project teams, based in Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth, Texas are configured to provide a consistently high level of service across all phases of a project. Our clients benefit from a team of experts with both international experience and intimate knowledge of the regions where they live and work. Each team is led by a Principal who maintains a hands-on leadership role throughout the duration of each project, affording our clients access to the programming, design and project management systems that we have refined over more than 40 years of practice.

DESIGN

INNOVATION

Great design solutions often spring from the collaborative discussion of multiple design options between the design team, the client and consultants. We compare and review these options, and through a process of deletion and selection, synthesize the solutions to meet our clients’ needs. A wide range of tools are utilized to communicate design ideas, including physical models, hand sketches, 3D renderings and virtual fly-throughs. By involving the entire project team, we achieve our goals of creating consensus and minimizing road blocks.

Recognized throughout our industry for our ingenuity and practicality, we carefully evaluate new technology in building design and construction, including integrated project delivery and Building Information Modeling (BIM), evolutions in construction systems, new materials, advances in under-floor air distribution and MEP systems, and progressive improvements in the technical and cost performance of building systems and materials. Our philosophy is to safeguard the interests of our clients by thoroughly evaluating the track record of any new concepts and materials prior to proposing their use on a project.

COMMUNICATION

SUSTAINABILITY

BOKA Powell utilizes an effective communication style that brings order to the multiple ways team members interface by supporting tools they use, including conference calls, e-mail, GoToMeeting and video conferencing.

Our online management of project information – including meeting notes, design presentations and construction documents – allows the client and consultant team to have continuous, yet controlled access for review, mark-up and group discussion. Our pioneering use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has further enhanced the ability of the consultant team to coordinate complex building systems and discover cost-saving solutions.

BOKA Powell is committed to creating respectful, sustainable design solutions. The main objectives of our green design approach are to minimize the wasteful expense of energy, water and raw materials, and mitigate environmental degradation caused by materials and systems throughout their life cycle, and beyond. We work to achieve these goals as a matter of course throughout all of our projects, striving where possible to specify materials and systems that have an environmental benefit. When sustainability is a stated goal of the client, our LEED®-accredited design teams bring the ability to achieve the highest standards up to LEED Platinum certification.

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www.bokapowell.com