Kristen Forward joins the podcast to talk about her trajectory from computational design to leading emerging technology initiatives, particularly focusing on AI implementation and digital transformation in architecture.

Key highlights from our conversation include NBBJ's innovative approach to integrating emerging technologies and applied research, including their practice-embedded digital team structure; the importance of human-centered technology adoption and how NBBJ ensures team members maintain agency while embracing new tools; the role of design futures thinking and strategic foresight in shaping architectural practice; and we explore the intersection of traditional architecture and emerging technologies, offering insights into how firms can proactively shape their future while maintaining their core mission of creating impactful physical spaces.

To learn more about Kristen Forward, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/177

To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co

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Episode Sponsors:

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Confluence Events & Podcast

Join AEC industry technology leaders at Confluence, a series of in-person events and a podcast fostering conversations between firms and tech companies to support innovation. Learn more, explore upcoming events, and listen to podcast episodes at confluence.getavail.com.

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This episode of TRXL is brought to you by TRXL+ members! Join our community of supporters to get exclusive benefits like ad-free episodes and our AEC Leadership Edge newsletter. Your support keeps these valuable conversations going. Click here to learn more and become a member today.

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In this special Campfire Series episode, Scott Davidson joins the podcast to tell us the incredible origin story of Rhino. What began as a simple AutoCAD plugin in the early 90s evolved into something much bigger through an unexpected series of events. Scott shares the surprising story behind how Rhino got its name, its journey from industrial design to architecture, and how an accidental "leak" helped shape the software's destiny. We also discuss how some of architecture's biggest names, including Frank Gehry, discovered and adopted Rhino early on, leading to its widespread use in complex geometric design and digital fabrication today.

To learn more about Scott Davidson, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/176

To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co

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Episode Sponsors:

TRXL+ Membership

This episode of TRXL is brought to you by TRXL+ members! Join our community of supporters to get exclusive benefits like ad-free episodes and our AEC Leadership Edge newsletter. Your support keeps these valuable conversations going. Click here to learn more and become a member today.

-----

Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.

Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!

Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback

Ian Keough and Keith Fine join the podcast to talk about how SLAM Collaborative and Hypar are working together to change the healthcare design process from early programming to fabrication. SLAM brings practical architectural experience and the vision while Hypar provides powerful design automation tools. Keith explains how they're making healthcare space planning faster and more efficient, while Ian talks about how their software has adapted to meet real architectural needs. Their work demonstrates how architects and software developers can work together to create better building design tools. This conversation covers the story of how Hypar 2.0 has come to be.

About Ian Keough:

Ian's early work at Buro Happold identified a need for mobile applications to leverage BIM data. His software goBIM was acquired by Vela systems for their Vela Field product, which later became Autodesk's BIM 360 Field. His open-source visual programming language Dynamo has a worldwide community and now ships with Revit. He co-founded Hypar with Anthony Hauck in 2018 with a vision to deliver the worlds building expertise to everyone, instantly.

About Keith Fine:

Keith, is a Principal at SLAM and serves as the Management lead for the Los Angeles Studio as well as the National Director of Innovation for the firm. Keith combines his unique experiences including construction, technical architect, leadership with his passion for design and innovation forming a very broad and unique perspective. Keith engages challenge with a strong team-building focus that leverages the very best from those around him. Through these networked relationships and exposures, Keith has a unique skill in understanding the interconnected nature of seemingly disparate technologies and strategies and cultivating the development of new and innovative solutions. He holds an Masters of Architecture from Tulane University and is a member of the California Council of the American Institute of Architects, on the Steering committee for the Innovation Design Consortium and a Technology Leader in the AIA LFRT.

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