Tech+ Dallas by The Architect's Newspaper

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

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WELCOME TO TECH+

ABOUT TECH+ DALLAS

TECH+ provides your front row seat to the cutting edge technological innovations that are driving design forward. Earn up to 6 AIA LU’s while unpacking the potential of data and tools to inform smarter and more equitable architecture and design. From optimized building performance and energy analytics to AI and generative design practices, you’ll learn about new tools for mapping, modeling, data visualization, digital simulation, and fabrication. Hosted by The Architect’s Newspaper & AEC+TECH, this one-day conference includes keynotes, presentations, roundtable discussions, and demos from leading tech experts creating a space where AEC professionals can explore, network, and connect.

ABOUT THE ARCHITECT’S NEWSPAPER

The Architect’s Newspaper is a media company that serves up news and inside reports to a niche community of architects, designers, engineers, landscape architects, lighting designers, interior designers, academics, developers, contractors, and others interested in the built urban environment. AN delivers quality news and cultural reporting through print, including AN Interior magazine, web, blog, newsletters, and social media. AN is recognized for bringing together the top echelon of AEC industry leaders in its series of Facades+ and TECH+ conferences. If you care about architecture and design, join our community and get in the know.

DIANA DARLING CEO & Creative Director, The Architect’s Newspaper

MARTY WOOD Program Director, The Architect’s Newspaper

DIONNE DARLING VP of Brand Partnerships, The Architect’s Newspaper

AGENDA

Dallas - September 25, 2024

6 AIA LU CEU's

8:30 AM CHECK-IN AND NETWORKING

9:35 AM WELCOME

Dionne Darling | The Architect’s Newspaper

Niknaz Aftahi | aec+tech

9:45 AM KEYNOTE

Evolutionary Design through Computational Advancements

James Warton | HKS

10:30 AM

Reshaping AEC: A Guide to Adopting AI and Emerging Technologies

Presenter: Miles Smith | Graphisoft

10:50 PM NETWORKING BREAK

11:20 PM ROUNDTABLE

AGENDA

2:40 PM

Dallas - September 25, 2024 6 AIA LU CEU’s

Revolutionizing Proposal Management: How McCarthy Building Co. Harnesses AI for Winning Bids

Presenter: Ram Ramisetti | McCarthy Building Companies

3:00 PM NETWORKING BREAK

SPEAKERS

MC

NIKNAZ AFTAHI

Founder & CEO / aec+tech

Niknaz is the CEO and co-founder at aec+tech, an all-in-one innovation platform and community connecting AEC/O (Architecture, Engineering, Construction & Operations) professionals with the latest tools and technologies. Prior to launching aec+tech Niknaz practiced architecture in the bay area, California, both as a design professional as well as a design technologist. Niknaz is passionate about technology and innovation in the AEC space, and she has been a keynote speaker at various international aec-tech events. Niknaz is a member of AIA San Francisco design technology committee, and has also been developing curriculum and teaching architecture courses online to Bahai students in Iran who continue to be deprived of access to universities in their own country.

Keynote Speaker

JAMES WARTON

Vice President | Computational Designer / HKS

Throughout his career in architecture, James Warton has maintained an interest in cutting-edge manufacturing processes and developed specialized concentration in high-resolution additive processes. He is currently focused on highly articulated metal structures and direct-to-fabrication methodologies. Within HKS | LINE his responsibilities encompass a broad range of activities that span from preliminary analysis and conceptual design through the design development and documentation of complex architectural systems. His role demonstrates proactive engagement with practice leading to implementation of additively manufactured building-scale assemblies.

DON BAUMAN

Senior Account Executive, AEC / ImaginIt

With nearly 30 years of consulting experience in process and technology change, Don Bauman has dedicated 20 years to the AECO space. He has collaborated with organizations ranging from multi-billion-dollar enterprises to small start-ups. Don is passionate about helping companies achieve their business goals and works tirelessly to ensure their success. He believes in partnering to insure that all expenses are investments, meaning there has to be a measurable value in order to make good business sense.

RANDALL DANIEL

Sr. Design Principal / SmithGroup

As a Senior Design Principal based in SmithGroup’s Dallas office, Randall leads teams in the design and delivery of responsive and engaging solutions. His two decades of project experience includes award-winning work across multiple building typologies, including cultural, higher education, science & technology, and civic. His work has been recognized by a wide array of awards programs, including the AIA, Chicago Athenaeum, USGBC, and the Texas Society of Architects. Randall is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees and was honored with the King Student Medal for Excellence in Architectural + Environmental Research. He regularly returns to his alma mater to serve as a design juror and guest lecturer.

SPEAKERS

LUC DECKINGA

Digital Practice Manager / Perkins&Will

As Digital Practice Manager for Computational Design, Luc brings a programmer’s rigor and designer’s creativity to every area of Perkins+Will’s diverse practice, giving designers new tools to create more sophisticated designs. Trained as an architect, his portfolio now encompasses a wide range of scales and disciplines, from robotic fabrication to environmental simulation and responsive parametric design.

ALFONSO HERNANDEZ

Regional Design Resilence Leader / Gensler

Alfonso is an Architect, Computational Building

Performance Strategist & Design Integrator and Regional Design Resilience Leader at Gensler. He has extensive experience in Resilience / High Performance Based Design, Building Performance Modeling & Simulations (Daylight/Glare, Solar, CFD, Thermal, and Energy Modeling), Performance Parametrics, Solar Form Finding and Performance Oriented Design Integration. He is a graduate of the Sustainable Environmental Design Master program at the Architectural Association in London as well as the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston.

SCOTT LOWE

Chief Revenue Officer / The Beck Group

Scott maximizes Beck’s architectural and design-build services across its U.S. and Mexico offices. He is an entrepreneurial leader who excels in landmark, award-winning projects in the hospitality, retail, office, and residential sectors. With a background as an international design professional, Scott has expertise in acclaimed building projects. Before rejoining Beck in 2024, he was CEO of 5G Studio Collaborative and a principal at a Frisco development firm.

TANIA MADAH

Founder and Manager / Lean Architect

Tania Madah is the founder of lean Architect. She has a background in architecture, MBA, coding, and project management. While working for architectural firms, Tania realized that the majority of time and energy is wasted on tedious repetitive task, taking away from sustainability, data-driven design, and user experience analysis. She combined her skills to create modules that make the process more efficient, and the design data driven.

NATE MEADE

Principal / Page

Nate is curious by nature, always asking why. Because of his passion for continuous learning, leading research initiatives and exploring digital tools are natural extensions of his design responsibilities at Page. He believes that research gives us deeper insights into the client, context, and history. Like composers intimately understanding how each instrument produces sound, designers must also recognize the various influences on the built environment to achieve a harmonious design. Nate’s recent experience using AI to assist in conceptual design shows how architects can harness the tool to complement Page’s advanced toolset and extract meaningful insights from client feedback.

ASMA MEHAN

Assistant Professor / Texas Tech University

Dr. Asma Mehan is a researcher, educator, and architect working at the intersection of architectural humanities and critical urban studies. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University College of Architecture. She is the author of the books “Tehran: from Sacred to Radical” (London: Routledge, 2022) and “Kuala Lumpur: Community, Infrastructure, and Urban Inclusivity” (London: Routledge, 2020). Dr. Mehan is recently appointed as the Coordination Team (CT) leader of the Young Academics network of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP YA).

SINA MOSTAFAVI

Associate Professor / Texas Tech University

Dr. Sina Mostafavi is a practicing architect, researcher, and educator with expertise in computational design and architectural robotics. He is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University College of Architecture. Mostafavi’s research focuses on innovative applications of emerging materials and technologies, empowered by hybrid humanmachine intelligence, for integrated design, inclusive automation, and circular production. Sina holds a doctoral degree from TU Delft, where he has been a senior researcher and the manager at the robotic building lab. At the Dessau Institute of Architecture in Bauhaus, he initiated the DARS.hub unit, where he led several interdisciplinary projects.

2025 DATES & CITIES

SPEAKERS

HARISH PALANI

Design Application Technician / Perkins&Will

Harish Palani is a Design Applications Technician at Perkins&Will – Dallas focusing on computational design implementation. He is a curious explorer of cutting-edge design and automation technologies.

RAM RAMISETTI

Emerging Technology Analyst / McCarthy Building Companies

Ramisetti is a founding member of McCarthy Building’s Emerging Tech team, where he leads the company’s Enterprise AI/ML and Robotics initiatives. The son of a construction tradesman in India, Ramisetti says he’s intent on making construction more innovative, “human-centric,” and environmentally sustainable with the help of cutting-edge technologies like AI. His multiple achievements include developing an AI model with Joist AI that revolutionized McCarthy’s RFP processes, making them more accurate and efficient.

SHAHRAM SEIFICAR

Managing Director / 5thindex

At the forefront of revolutionizing urban and architectural landscapes, Shahram stands as a leader in innovation in the realm of the built environment sector. As Managing Director of an award-winning architecture firm for over 14 years, Shahram directed multidisciplinary design teams and experts in diverse fields to develop advanced communities and sustainable cities.

MILES SMITH

North American Solutions Manager / Graphisoft

Miles Smith is GRAPHISOFT’s North American Solution Manager, overseeing the delivery of North American-specific products and services. As a Solutions Manager, Miles advocates for customer needs, specializing in BIM implementation and software transitions. His leadership in aligning client requirements, exploring emerging technologies, and advancing IFC practices drives GRAPHISOFT’s innovative edge, fostering seamless integration and collaboration in the industry.

DAN STINE

Director of Design Technology / Lake Flato Architects

Dan is the Director of Design Technology and leads the internal research program, Investigations, at the top-ranked architecture firm Lake|Flato, in San Antonio, Texas. He is a registered architect (WI), educator, author, blogger, and international speaker. In addition to teaching graduate architecture students at NDSU, he has written 19 textbooks, including the #1 Revit book in North America, which is used extensively in the academic market.

RORY TRIPP

Business Development Manager / D5 Render

Rory Tripp is a seasoned sales and Business Development Manageer with a decade of experience in the automotive and tech industry.He has a proven track record in strategic client prospecting and Mid-market account expansion. His unique approach and determination to growth allows him to play an integral part in the sales and tech communities.

CAMERON WAHL

Assistant Process Manager / Balfour Beatty

Cameron Wahl is currently an Assistant Process Manager for Balfour Beatty here in Dallas Texas. Cameron is a graduate of Ball State University and has been in the construction industry for 10 + years. Cameron got his start in construction technology while in the field as an assistant superintendent while looking for ways to improve workflows and company sops. His goal is to help project teams be more efficient and build better.

JASON WHEELER

Design Technology Manager / Gensler

Jason is a passionate Computational Designer within the AEC industry and an overall Technology enthusiast. He has 12+ years of experience in the US and China industries, focusing on workflow optimization and data-driven design. Jason is employed at Gensler and is an adjunct facility professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Jason’s belief in successfully implementing new tools and technologies is firmly set in building a solid culture around experimentation and cautious curiosity.

D5 RENDER

D5 Render is a leading AI-powered real-time rendering solution that revolutionizes architectural and design workflows. In this talk, we'll explore the competitive advantages of D5 Render, spotlighting its AI capabilities such as AI Atmosphere Match, AI Make Seamless, AI Enhancer, and more.

Meet The

Speaker

Rory Tripp

Sales and Business Development Manager

rory@d5render.io

With a decade of experience in the automotive and tech industry, Rory Tripp has a proven track record in strategic client prospecting and Mid-market account expansion. His unique approach and determination to growth allows him to play an integral part in the sales and tech communities.

Learn more: https://www.d5render.com

THANK YOU SPONSORS

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Pier 27, Toronto Harbour

Due for completion in 2027, Pier 27 will bring over 2 million sq ft of residential and retail space to Toronto Harbour.

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Archicad Collaborate includes all the tools architects need for successful project delivery, including VR support, a built-in rendering engine, interactive project viewing app, and even AI tools to assist during the concept development phase.

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