Behind the Scenes of How We're Using Artificial Intelligence

By Sonja Flint, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Director, bKL Architecture

Originally published November 21, 2024 on BIM4TURKEY

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the construction industry, enabling improved project design, management, and collaboration. At our office, we wanted to see if Artificial Intelligence (AI) could do more than just complement BIM—we wanted to see if it could challenge us, surprise us, maybe even outshine us. This article pulls back the curtain on what we discovered: the good, the weird, and the moments that felt like plot points in a Kafka story.

Experimenting with AI-Driven Decision Making
Our journey with AI started with a question: How can we use AI to enhance and transform our day-to-day workflows? The answer, as it turns out, involved a lot of demos, a healthy dose of skepticism, and the occasional high-five when things actually worked. We fed project datasets into GPT Agents and watched as AI offered predictive insights—sometimes eerily accurate ones. There was that one time AI pointed out an error in a product data submittal, something we wouldn't have considered as a reason to reject the product we were reviewing. Or when it pointed out a code issue that we had a different interpretation of. Imagine the look on our faces—“Did it just... solve a problem before we even knew we had one?” Yes. Yes, it did.

Exploring Skema.ai and Hypar for Generative Unit Layouts and Text-to-BIM Building Generation
Recently, we've been diving into Skema.ai and Hypar to see how generative design could revolutionize our workflow. Skema.ai allows us to experiment with generative unit layouts, which we could quickly compare, refine, and (the best part), bake into fully developed Revit models. It wasn't just about design iterations; it was about giving us a new toolkit to explore possibilities that might have taken us weeks to achieve otherwise.

Then there’s Hypar, which lets us explore text-to-BIM building generation. It's still pretty primitive, but there's something undeniably fun about typing out a few requirements and watching it spin up a building concept. Sure, it’s not quite ready for prime time yet, but it feels like a glimpse into the future of architectural ideation. Imagine being able to sketch out ideas in words and get a digital model to play around with in minutes. That's where we think things are headed. Even if it’s just the start, it’s a pretty exciting beginning.

These tools are not just automating what we already do; they're reshaping how we think about design itself. They invite us to play, experiment, and push beyond the conventional limits—whether it's refining unit layouts with Skema.ai or having some fun with early-stage concepts using Hypar.

Exploring Autodesk Forma's New Sustainability Features
We've recently been exploring Autodesk Forma's new sustainability features. Forma provides an intuitive platform for running very early sustainability analyses that would have previously taken us weeks to achieve, involving a number of consultants.

Using Forma, we can instantly compare different building locations and their environmental impacts. The AI capabilities do not just suggest the most suitable location; they help us visualize the impact material choices would have on the carbon emissions of the project over time. It’s a look at sustainability not as a separate checklist item but as an integrated part of the design process, and we’re excited about the direction this is taking us.

The Road Ahead for Our BIM-AI Integration
Of course, not everything was smooth sailing. There were moments where AI suggested solutions that felt like they were out of a glitch-topian sci-fi—like when the Veras rendering engine kept misunderstanding 'green walls' and gave us something that looked more like the 'Green Wall of China' in the background. These tools have a mind of their own. But that’s part of the experiment. The missteps are just as valuable as the victories.

The journey isn’t over, and it’s not perfect. Data privacy is still a concern, and there’s always that tiny bit of fear—will AI replace us one day? But honestly, as long as it keeps making our lives easier, giving us back our evenings, and occasionally dazzling us with a solution we hadn't thought of, we’re excited to keep going.

Conclusion
Building Information Modeling has already changed the construction industry by enhancing collaboration and information flow across teams. For us, integrating Artificial Intelligence with BIM isn’t just about making things a little better—it’s about seeing if we can change the game completely.