Design Technology: Digital Capability for Sustainable Architectural Practice

Climate change, resource scarcity and increased demands for sustainability and efficiency are driving the transformation in the construction industry, where new working methods and technologies are becoming crucial to creating inclusive and aesthetically pleasing environments in line with sustainability goals. Small and medium-sized architectural firms, which have broad expertise in design and planning as well as close contact with both private and public actors, play a central role in the transformation. Their diversity and local expertise contribute to competition and freedom of choice in the market, but their opportunities to invest in digital development are often limited.

This project is based on the varying work processes and assignments of architectural firms to identify value creating methods that can be strengthened through digital development. By increasing the companies' digital development ability with the support of design technologies, in harmony with business development, they can become more competitive and at the same time contribute to a more sustainable built environment. These design technologies are closely intertwined with the design process, such as building information modeling and computational design, along with an ecosystem of platforms and applications that are not yet established in the industry. This ecosystem is expected to continue to grow during the course of the project, especially through new AI and machine learning-based solutions. An important goal is to bridge gaps in the process and at the same time accelerate the use of AI as a value-creating and integrated technology, rather than just a time saving solution.

With increased development capabilities, the project's stakeholders should be able to identify the moments where different design technologies are most useful to strengthen their business. Through their own development efforts, the design process can then become more informed and integrated from several aspects.

Analyses early in the process can be verified later to increase knowledge for future projects. Actors can collaborate in a better way throughout the project process. Through parallel business development, the design technologies are used to streamline and strengthen the companies' offerings.

The project is conducted in collaboration with 13 architectural firms, two technical consultants and three digital development companies. An initial benchmarking study maps existing assignment processes, knowledge levels in design technologies and potential case studies. Issues are defined jointly in the partner group, and the state of knowledge is compiled by each organization to identify relevant development needs.

Continuous foresight and environmental analysis will be carried out in the project to develop the future knowledge of the participants. Through a series of pilot studies, clear application areas are defined based on the partners' interest and issues, and here customized and partially automated workflows are developed combined with offer development. A strategic framework is built up to collect supporting methods for the companies' development capabilities, such as standards for visual scripting and programming and libraries for reusable scripts. Development is conducted in direct collaboration between project partners, where practical work through innovation workshops, development sprints and hackathons strengthen their digital development capabilities.

The project is led by RISE's Unit for Architecture and Urban Design, which coordinates research and development efforts and contributes expertise in BIM, computational design, digital development in architectural practice, project management, foresight, innovation management, business development and AI. KTH School of Architecture is responsible for pedagogy, research and development issues, contributes with expertise in digital development in architectural practice and computational design, and connects a doctoral student in Architectural Technology with a focus on design technologies to the project,

The project is expected to result in an increased digital development capability that strengthens innovation and sustainability in architectural practices. The project's results are shared between partners, but are also disseminated through open events, popular and scientific publications, and educational materials. A further goal is to establish a more long-term collaboration between existing and new partners.