Architecture and design firms operate within
a highly competitive global industry. Every
practice is required to deliver resilient and
performant buildings to meet the needs of a
rising global population, satisfy even more
stringent building regulations, and anticipate
climate change.
An interconnected world also means that
once-local business is now fair game for any
designer thousands of miles away. Large
global firms need to collaborate with local
firms to navigate the local context, culture,
building codes, and economy.
This cross-pollination of design ideas and
solutions enriches the global built
environment. Consequently, to stay relevant,
each practice needs to be accessible,
innovative, and connected to the right
technology.
In the past few decades, technology, as a
whole, has taken a giant leap forward, and
these advancements have filtered into the
Introduction
architecture, engineering, and construction
(AEC) space in rather exciting ways.
Designers no longer labor over drawing
boards, paper, and ink — copious digital
3D iterations can now augment physical
models. These 3D models morph to serve
2D to 7D BIM workflows; parametric and
predictive modeling speed up the pace of
design; augmented, virtual, and mixed reality
viewing bring schemes to life in ways that
only the most imaginative minds could
previously access.
Mind-blowing as these technologies are,
their novelty comes with a considerable price
tag. This makes it crucial for firms and
organizations to carefully consider how they
support their desired workflows and the true
ROI of these tools.
Read on for five factors to consider when
assessing, adding to, and optimizing your
tech stack.
