5 Steps to Adopt AI in Your Architectural Design Process

Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an architectural process might be daunting to some, but when properly integrated, it can be a powerful tool that enhances creativity, efficiency, and collaboration.

At BSB Design, we have successfully embraced AI to streamline our workflow while maintaining the human touch that makes great design possible. Here are 5 steps we follow to incorporate AI into our design process.

1 - Start with Integrated Site Details

Using AI or not, the first step in any design process is always understanding the site. Instead of flipping through pages of zoning code and researching site constraints from multiple sources, we use tools like TestFit Data Maps to quickly analyze site conditions, including:

• Parcel boundaries and zoning data
• Topographic elevations
• FEMA flood zones
• Wetlands
• Soil types

With AI-generated site plans, you can assess multiple layout options in a fraction of the time it would traditionally take. By leveraging AI at this early stage, you can identify potential site environmental issues and communicate the risks involved more efficiently with developers and stakeholders.

2 - Leverage a Kit of Parts Approach

Once the site analysis is complete, you can move into planning with a structured approach using a kit of parts. At BSB Design, we created our own “Solution Collections”—a set of prototypes right within TestFit including garden buildings and townhomes. This methodology allows you to:

• Use pre-defined building components that have been tested for efficiency and compliance.
• Adjust unit mixes based on each client’s market demands and jurisdictional requirements.
• Pivot design strategies to meet client needs without starting from scratch every time.

With TestFit’s Unit Editor, you can create a unit library for different unit types from multi-family units, and hotel rooms to student housing, while accommodating features like juliet balconies for maximum design flexibility.

3 - Balance Financial Viability with User Experience

The feasibility process is all about balancing financial viability with creating livable spaces. With a real estate feasibility platform, you can easily generate real-time pro forma data to determine project viability.

One of our clients experienced this firsthand when we used TestFit during a live session. The ability to grab an amenity space and move it while instantly seeing how it changed the building’s layout and pro forma proved to be invaluable. Instead of relying on back-and-forth emails that often lead to confusion or delays, the developer could see the impact of different unit mixes in real time.

For instance, if a client wanted to adjust the percentage of one-bedroom versus two-bedroom units, we could set a unit parameter constraint with generative design in TestFit, which will then generate design options based on the unit mix.

This live interaction helped our developer clients immediately see the financial implications in the pro forma output, so they can make informed decisions quickly. With AI, teams can align financial goals with design intent without wasting unnecessary time in lengthy revision cycles.

4 - Use AI to Enhance Visual Communication

Many stakeholders, from city planners to clients, struggle to visualize a project based on technical drawings alone, especially in the feasibility phase. AI-powered visualization tools help bridge this gap by transforming basic models into realistic representations.

We find AI particularly useful in the entitlement process—creating quick visuals for approvals with city planners and community boards, reducing frustrating back-and-forth delays. With AI-generated renderings, we can test out facade options in real time—not more pulling all-nighters just for a rendering to be done.

For most developers, AI also helps create immersive visual experiences through high-quality imagery and virtual walkthroughs, making it easier to attract investors and buyers before construction even begins.

5 - Invest in Your Team’s Growth

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it replaces human expertise. In reality, AI frees up time for professionals to focus on higher-value work, encouraging skill development and innovation.

We foster a culture of growth by:

• Cross-training staff with AI tools to expand their expertise.
• Pairing junior employees with senior mentors to blend AI-driven efficiency with time-tested design principles.
• Reallocating saved time from AI efficiencies into professional development opportunities.

By embracing AI as a tool rather than a threat, you can retain top innovative talent, reduce burnout by saving time, and foster a culture of continuous learning.

Adopting AI in Your Architectural Design Process

AI is not here to replace architects—it’s here to enhance the architectural design process and improve efficiency. By incorporating AI into site analysis, design planning, financial feasibility, visualization, and team development, you can deliver better projects in less time while staying ahead of industry trends. At BSB Design, we believe the key to success is adopting a growth mindset and staying curious about how technology can amplify human creativity rather than replace it.