This presentation is targeted to architecture professionals in the design industry. The presentation is divided into four parts. The first part describes the factors at play in the future of work in architecture. The second part outlines trends in the design process for architectural offices. The third, discusses the ways where human capital investment is needed based on both trend and factors in play for the industry in the future. Lastly, a positive outlook for the future of work in the sector is outlined.

1. Human Capital
as an important
part of the
architectural
design industry
EdX Future of Work
Final Project
Aaron Julius M. Lecciones, MSc (Lond), UAP
25 October 2020
Source: https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkitektkontor

2. Human Capital as an important
part of the architectural
design industry
I. Factors at play in the future of
work in the architectural
design industry
II. Future trends in architectural
design process
III. Infusing human capital into the
design industry
IV. Hope for the future of work in
the architectural design
industry
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Halifax_central_library_June_2015.jpg/1200px-
Halifax_central_library_June_2015.jpg

3. Factors at play in the future of
work in the architectural design
industry
Human Capital as an important part of the architectural design industry
Economies, businesses, societies and politics are being
transformed by technological advances in such areas as
artificial intelligence and machine learning, the internet of
things, autonomous vehicles, drones, precision medicine
and genomics, advanced materials, smart grids, robotics
and big data. –World Economic Forum, Globalization 4.0

4. I. Factors at play in the future of work
in the architectural design industry
 Artificial intelligence
AI can be used to improve and
speed up:
research,
optioneering & analysis,
client experience, and
building information modeling
According to the Economist, 47%
of the work done by humans will
have been replaced by robots by
2037, even those traditionally
associated with university
education […] although
automation and artificial
intelligence for the time being
would not replace architects, the
discipline will undergo massive
transformations in the near
future.
Architectural Digest 2019
Source: https://hmcarchitects.com/news/architecture-and-artificial-intelligence-how-ai-is-impacting-the-industry-2019-11-6/#:~:text=Useful%20Applications%20of%20Architecture%20and%20Artificial%20Intelligence.%20Throughout,ways%20it%20can%20be%20useful%20for%20day-to-day%20operations.;
https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/artificial-intelligence-architecture-design-ai/

5. I. Factors at play in the future of work
in the architectural design industry
 Big data
Buildings used to house people, now they house
solely computers that mine, store and churn big
data. Design is also more data-driven than before.
Big data is used in:
 Downstream applications such as facilities
management (COBie)
 Post-occupancy evaluation monitoring
 Performance-based contracts
 Data for smart building design
“Making the most of AI for the
[design] profession at large will
require an industry-wide
sharing of data.”
HMC Architects
Source: https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/how-big-data-is-transforming-architecture_o;
https://channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/3-ways-big-data-is-changing-the-architecture-industry

6. I. Factors at play in the future of work
in the architectural design industry
 Machine learning
In tandem with AI and generative design, machine
learning is a tool that is used to churn big data by
parameters and is used to automate design
iteration. Machine learning can be used in:
Sketching and conceptualization
of designs
Design iteration and optimisation
Predictive parametric design
Algorithmic design
“new architectural design
practices might be based on
machine learning approaches
to better leverage data-rich
environments and workflows”
Tamke, Nicholas, Zwierzycki
Machine learning for architectural design: Practices
and infrastructure. International Journal of Architectural Computing
12(2):123-143. DOI: 10.1177/1478077118778580. June 2018.
Source: https://www.archdaily.com/924704/buildtech-futures-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-
learning#:~:text=Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20machine%20learning%20and%20generative%20design%20have,reimagine%20the%20built%20environment%2C%20they%20present%20divers
e%20

7. I. Factors at play in the future of work
in the architectural design industry
 Robotics and scalar production
Technologies such as 3D printing have
automated and sped up model-making in
design. Robotics and scalar production can
now speed up and improve:
 Concept models and mock-ups
 Detailed 3D printed models
 Library of reusable 3D designs
 Printing 1:1 usable prototypes or finished
architectural products
 Costs associated with modelling
“automation’s impact on the
future of work and economic
development strongly suggest
that we have entered a
distinctly new era”
World Economic Forum
Globalization 4.0
Source: https://3dinsider.com/3d-printing-architecture/; https://www.machinedesign.com/3d-printing-cad/article/21130574/3d-printing-and-
architecture#:~:text=%203D%20Printing%20and%20Architecture%20%201%20Concept,and%20involves%20a%20lot%20of%20people%2C...%20More%20

8. Future trends in architectural
design process
Human Capital as an important part of the architectural design industry
Source: https://www.profellow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Architects.jpg

9. II. Future trends in architectural design
process
 Partnerships, networks
Now more than ever, architectural design
offices are partnered in large projects,
networked into a web of professionals and
services. Technologies have helped enhance
and strengthen partnerships and networks
through such approaches as:
 Collaboration through studio design
approach
 Cross-office design labs
 Open communications, deep information
 Networks with academe and industry
“Establishing trust and
building collaborative
relationships is an essential
part of architectural practice
and is sometimes a challenging
thing to get right; especially so
in cross-office environments.”
Stradallc
Source: https://stradallc.com/2019/05/30/cross-office-collaboration/;
https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30005080/tucker-cross-discipline-2003.pdf

10. II. Future trends in architectural design
process
 Modular work, telecommuting
Modular work and telecommuting are
transforming architectural offices. They benefit
design firms by:
 Reducing commute times for workers
 Reduce office space needs
 Reduce stress for working mothers
 Flexibility of working at office or at home
 Increased collaboration, flexible use of office
space
 Flexible contracts through modular work
assignments
 Co-benefits from productivity gains (health,
employee satisfaction)
 Keeping older generations in the workforce
 Reducing employee turnover
“A study by Staples Advantage
found 76% of telecommuters were
willing to work overtime and felt
more loyal to their company with
the option for remote work and
telecommuting.”
Forbes
Benefits Of Telecommuting For The Future Of Work
2017
Source: https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14523-working-parents-face-tough-choices-when-firms-dont-allow-telecommuting; https://www.focalpointlights.com/blog/telecommuting-
office-design; https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrealoubier/2017/07/20/benefits-of-telecommuting-for-the-future-of-work/#d7cf53c16c65

11. Infusing human capital
into the design industry
Human Capital as an important part of the architectural design industry

12. III. Infusing human capital into the
design industry
 Design empathy
Human Empathy is different from machine
empathy.
“Empathy is crucial to a human-centred design
process such as Design Thinking, and empathy
helps design thinkers to set aside his or her own
assumptions about the world in order to gain insight
into their users and their needs.”
The five key steps in empathic design are
observation, capturing data, reflection and analysis,
brainstorming for solutions, and developing
prototypes of possible solutions.
Empathy is a trait AI is still far from achieving.
Thus it is important that the skills for design
empathy are provided to workers in this field.
The World Development
Report notes that the skills
needed for jobs in the new
economy – problem solving,
critical thinking, teamwork –
are different from those taught
in standard classrooms.
Shanta Devarajan
The Future of Inclusive Growth
Source: Brookings. Shanta Devarajan. Future of Inclusive Growth; https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/design-thinking-getting-started-with-empathy#:~:text=Empathy%20is%20crucial%20to%20a%20human-
centred%20design%20process,gain%20insight%20into%20their%20users%20and%20their%20needs.;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathic_design#:~:text=%20Leonard%20and%20Rayport%20identify%20the%20five%20key,5%20Developing%20prototypes%20of%20possible%20solutions%20More%20; https://insights.dice.com/2019/10/23/artificial-intelligence-succeed-needs-
empathy/

13. III. Infusing human capital into the
design industry
 Technology and future apps
The future of the architecture office is linked
to the development and advancement of
technology and future applications. These
include virtual and augmented reality –
combined with AI, big data, machine learning,
robotics, and scalar productions means that
the average architectural design office worker
today might not have the skills to compete in
the future of work.
Intensive training and skills upgrades
are needed in the use of these
technologies and future apps.
“Virtual reality lets us truly
engage with our designs, [i]t’s a
fantastic way to check a model.
If something’s missing or the
ceiling’s too high, you put on
the goggles and immediately
recognize it — and then go back
to the drawing board.”
Sarah Kay
Inside the Architecture Office of
the Future
Source: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/-the-top-10-apps-for-architects-in-2018; https://www.wired.com/brandlab/2018/07/inside-architecture-office-future/

14. III. Infusing human capital into the
design industry
 Gig economy, telecommuting,
project-based employment
Resilience is a key ingredient in the success of
industries. The design industry needs to upgrade
the human capital of their workforce to be able to
work efficiently wherever they are.
In the future of work: Architects face both short-
term and long-term challenges, these can result
from local employee setbacks to global pandemics.
Statistics have shown that 70% of people globally
have worked from home at least some of the time.
Therefore, to augment human capital, infrastructure
has to be provided as well.
“I’m already accustomed to
working remotely with drafters,
modelers, and rendering
specialists, and that won’t
change”
Sarah Homstad, AIA
Source: https://www.aia.org/articles/6281491-amid-uncertainty-around-covid-19-architect;https://architectoutsourcing.com/blogs/telecommuters-effect-on-residential-architecture/

15. Hope for the future of work in
the architectural design
industry
Human Capital as an important part of the architectural design industry
Source: https://allwork.space/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DDI-1704-1-1024x576.png

16. IV. Hope for the future of work in the
architectural design industry
 Flexible working arrangements
Flexible work arrangements can
benefit mothers and older
generations of workers, among
others. Governments around the
world are adjusting policy and
legislation to work with this new
reality in order to protect
workers wellbeing and rights.
“platforms expand the supply
of labor by increasing
opportunities for new, flexible
types of work that complement
traditional forms of
employment in the gig
economy”
The World Development Report 2019
The Changing Nature of Firms pg40

17. IV. Hope for the future of work in the
architectural design industry
 formalization of contracts,
improving contractual
agreements
As business climate improves with more
responsive government labor legislation that
strengthen small and medium design offices,
more offices will formalize contracts,
increasing the tax base in the formal economy,
and ensuring better protections for workers.
At the same time, contractual agreements can
now include more worker protections which
were conventionally part of more formal
employee contracts.
Social assistance should be
complemented with insurance
that does not fully depend on
formal wage employment.
The World Development Report 2019
Strengthening social protection

18. IV. Hope for the future of work in the
architectural design industry
 expanding the relationship of
productive partners and design
firms
Increased partnership in the design
sector means global collaboration
where the highest standards are
passed along the value chain.
These include standards on
workers protection and the
development of human capital.
As the nature of work changes,
human capital becomes more
important.
The World Development Report 2019
Building human capital