Summary
Is Your Architect Using AI? 5 Questions Developers Should Ask
AI is changing architecture—and smart developers are asking if their architect is ready. This post shares five key questions to uncover how firms are using AI to speed up site studies, cut costs, and improve outcomes.
AI won’t replace architects, but those who use it will lead the future of design. At HDJ, we help developers stay ahead with forward-thinking solutions for multifamily and affordable housing projects nationwide.
by Joshua Hahn
As artificial intelligence begins to reshape architecture and design, savvy real estate developers are asking a simple but essential question: Is my architect ready for the AI era? Here are five questions to ask your architect to help you find out:
1. How are you currently using AI in your workflows?
Do not settle for buzzwords – ask for specifics. Forward-thinking architects are already using AI tools to develop site studies, generate visual concepts, and simulate design options. The goal is not to remove human creativity but to better define constraints and accelerate insights.
2. Do you use AI to speed up feasibility studies or test fits?
Early-stage decisions drive project success. Some firms now use AI-driven platforms to rapidly analyze unit yield, massing, and zoning. This can be weeks faster than traditional methods. And this can help developers validate sites and move decisively.
3. Have you used AI on past projects to save time or money?
This question gets to results. Can the architect point to real-world examples where AI shortened timelines, reduced rework, and/or improved design outcomes? Experience matters, especially when budgets and timelines are tight.
4. How are you using AI to support construction administration and reduce field issues?
Construction administration is where good design meets real-world complexity and where delays and cost overruns often emerge. AI tools can now help track RFIs, analyze and geolocate site photos, and even automate submittal reviews.
5. How do you see AI changing architecture in the next 5 years?
Using AI is one thing. But thinking strategically about where AI is headed and how to incorporate it into a firm’s processes and procedures is far more complex. Look for answers that blend tech awareness with a grounded understanding of design, real estate development, and your business needs.
AI will not replace architects. Rather, architects who use AI will reshape what’s possible in design. Developers who ask the right questions today will be better positioned for the emergence of AI in the architecture industry.
HDJ helps developers solve design challenges – with an eye on what’s next. HDJ, Inc. is a leading national design firm providing architecture and engineering expertise to support the multifamily and affordable housing industry throughout the United States. Contact HDJ to learn more about how we can support your design needs.
