Designing for the Future: Design Systems, Built-in Intelligence, and Smart Construction - REGULAR | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

Designing for the Future: Design Systems, Built-in Intelligence, and Smart Construction - REGULAR

SKU: CE31CONF2022

Designing for the Future: Design Systems, Built-in Intelligence and Smart Construction

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2022 Virtual Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics: Advanced Technology / Building Science

Length: 1.5 hours | What's Included: Video, Quiz, and Certificate of Completion 

Conference 2022 Series

By 2050, 75% of the population will be living in cities. In the era of unprecedented demand for construction, technological advancements, climate emergency, and social stressors, cities need to be designed to be resilient and respond to the multiple forces at play. This session describes a holistic design system where the flow of data, the integrity of systems and continuity of design intelligence remains intact and consistent through the design to the construction process. By exploring three main themes– "Design Systems", “Advanced Design Techniques - Design Intelligence”, and "Smart Construction" – this session describes Perkins&Will’s methodology for architects moving toward sustainable futures by addressing digital design continuity and robustness through all layers of the design to the construction process.

Using a series of project examples and research endeavours, the session introduces methods of systems thinking for early-stage design, generative design optimizations, and data-driven decision-making processes. We will then demonstrate the use of advanced design techniques and parametric modelling in several projects, including design for manufacturing, assembly, and digital 3D delivery for manufacturing. Lastly, we will continue to address internal processes developed for digital prototyping, pre-fabrication, utilizing robotics in architecture, and sensor data collection and analysis. The session’s goal is to investigate the concept of interdisciplinary built-in intelligence in areas of design process & communication, research, technology, construction, and data-oriented processes.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Address a portfolio of design projects consistently in a large architecture studio through vision and goal setting, robust design process, extended use of analytics and computation.
  • Describe generative design processes that address design alternatives, and performative decision-making tools based on analysis, simulation, and data generation.
  • Explain the role of robotics in prototyping for architecture and timber construction.
  • Summarize  the use of IOT technology in smart buildings.

Subject Matter Expert:

Yehia Madkour
Architect AIBC, MRAIC, MESE, LEED AP BD+C
Director of Innovation, Associate Principal, Perkins&Will

Growing up in the dense, historical city of Cairo, Yehia was fascinated with the impact of architecture on people’s lives. He saw the power of design and formed a special interest in public projects that shape our cities and communities.

With a desire to help bring positive change, Yehia believes we must find new approaches as we move towards an increasingly complex and interconnected future. Motivated to advance the profession through research and technology, Yehia contributes to both the Perkins&Will Building Technology and   Mobility labs—advancing the use of sensors technology, progressing the firm’s robotic and digital capabilities in building with wood, and exploring how   integrating transit with new modes of mobility can enhance the livability of our cities.

In addition to leading the design on many of Perkins&Will’s most impactful projects worldwide, Yehia sits on the firm’s Research Board where he directs the studio’s innovation efforts, working with project teams to connect research and identify topics for investigation. He is founder and past director of Perkins&Will’s Computational Design Integration, where he facilitated a platform to advocate for digital design and fabrication across offices and is the author of a book titled Parametric Design Beyond Complex Geometries.

Mahdiar Ghaffarian
M. Arch, B.Sc
Designer & Researcher, Perkins&Will

A practicing designer, researcher, computational designer, and educator, Mahdiar is passionate about advancing the field of architecture and design through research and technology.

As the lead computational designer for the Perkins&Will Building Technology Lab and Design Process Lab, Mahdiar has contributed to the development of generative design tools, at the scale of architecture and urban design, used for design exploration and analysis of the iterative process of performative architecture. He has led a wide range of innovative research and design projects from fully developing technologies for environmental analysis and occupant simulation in architectural space, to robotic fabrication in architecture industry, emerging construction technology and research on evolutionary architectural design.

Building on his expertise in the architectural design process, Mahdiar’s academic research focuses on an interdisciplinary field that combines architecture, biology, and computation with the goal of introducing new dynamic design methodologies, establishing intelligent problem-solving techniques through computational design, and predicting the future of design as an organic on-going evolutionary phenomenon.

Throughout his career Mahdiar has also been involved in the academic world in several capacities as an instructor, reviewer, and project supervisor—all around the theme of design computation and futuristic vision for built environment.

Pricing A-La-Carte 

$112.50
List price: $112.50
Member Price: 
$75.00