Innovation by Design

About Innovation by Design

Innovation by Design is the podcast where architecture meets innovation in the built environment. Hosted by Evan Troxel — architect, educator, and veteran AEC podcast host — and Candace Kitchen of Total Door Systems, each episode features short, story-driven conversations with the practitioners, designers, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of architecture, engineering, and construction. From design equity and healthcare mega-projects to AI in architecture, computational design, and construction specifications, Innovation by Design explores how everyday design decisions impact safety, sustainability, and human experience in buildings and cities. Whether it's a $2.2 billion hospital expansion redefining an urban neighborhood or a small firm rethinking how architects create value, the show bridges the gap between big ideas and real-world building practice. Topics you'll hear about include: - Artificial intelligence and machine learning in architecture - Generative and computational design tools - Building information modeling (BIM) and digital transformation - Construction technology (ConTech) and prefabrication - Sustainability, electrification, and net-zero building design - Architectural specifications and quality control - Design equity, stakeholder engagement, and community-centered design - Smart buildings, IoT, and digital twins - Career development, mentorship, and leadership in AEC - Historic preservation and adaptive reuse - Experience design and evidence-based planning - Construction management, project delivery, and risk Who this show is for: Architects, engineers, designers, construction professionals, building product manufacturers, specifications writers, design technologists, AEC firm leaders, and anyone curious about how innovation is transforming the way we design, build, and inhabit the built environment. New episodes drop regularly. Follow Innovation by Design on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss a conversation. Visit us online for full show notes, guest links, and episode transcripts. Innovation by Design is a Total Door Systems and TRXL Media production.

Publisher

Evan Troxel & Candace Kitchen

Category

arts · business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Apr 2026

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Climate, Health, Equity: One Firm's Default

   Corey Squire and Amy Donohue join Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen to talk about how Bora Architecture & Interiors turned sustainability from a rotating champion's cause into a named, firm-wide default: climate, health, and equity. They dig into the "Bora Perfect Project," why window wall ratio and orientation matter more than any energy model, why mass timber is the firm's starting assumption rather than an exception, and the moment a young intern spoke up in a leadership meeting to stop a project from drifting off its own goals. This episode is especially relevant for architects and firm leaders who keep hearing "we don't have the budget for sustainability" and want a sharper answer than a pitch deck. Corey and Amy make the case that sustainability is a communication challenge, not a technical or computational one, and walk through exactly how naming your values changes hiring, client conversations, and what actually survives value engineering. Key topics Getting sustainability ideas into actual projects: the Bora Perfect Project (climate, health, equity) Window wall ratio and orientation as the real levers, not energy optimization Naming values to change hiring, recruiting, and client conversations The AIA Framework for Design Excellence, confirmed on-air as the correct framework name (not "Framework for 2030") Knowledge capture and transfer inside a firm; the intern who spoke up Connect with the Guests Corey Squire, AIA LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-squire-aia-68377154/) Bora Architecture & Interiors (https://bora.co/) People, Planet, Design: A Practical Guide to Realizing Architecture's Potential (https://www.harvard.com/book/9781642832655) Amy Donohue LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amydonohuepdx/) Bora bio page (https://bora.co/person/amy-donohue/) Bora Architecture & Interiors (https://bora.co/) Firms and Practices Bora Architecture & Interiors — bora.co (https://bora.co/) Richard Meier & Partners Architects — https://meierarchitects.us/ (https://meierarchitects.us/). Amy's early-career firm in New York, cited as a counterexample. Frameworks and Standards AIA Framework for Design Excellence — aia.org/design-excellence/aia-framework-design-excellence (https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/aia-framework-design-excellence). Corey co-created this, replacing sustainability-as-side-conversation with a definition of good design itself. AIA COTE Top Ten Award — https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/awards/cote-top-ten-award (https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/awards/cote-top-ten-award). The 25-year-old awards criteria that became the technical backbone of the Framework for Design Excellence. The Harvey Mudd College Project R. Michael Shanahan Center for Teaching & Learning — bora.co/project/shanahan-center-for-teaching-learning/ (https://bora.co/project/shanahan-center-for-teaching-learning/). Evan's personal reference point for Bora's work; Amy's project. BubbleDeck voided-slab technology — ArchDaily coverage (https://www.archdaily.com/229105/bubbledeck-technology-at-harvey-mudd-college-matt-construction). The structural system discussed at length; removes ~30% of slab concrete to cut embodied carbon and cost.

2. 

   3 Aug 2026

   The Performance Mindset: How SmithGroup Approaches Sustainable Design

   In this episode of Innovation By Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Chris Heine, an architect and strategist at SmithGroup, about how sustainability has shifted from an optional add-on to a core design requirement. Chris explains how early, passive design decisions (orientation, envelope performance, solar control) reduce the need for oversized active systems later, and why building performance depends on more than modeling, including commissioning, operations training, and ongoing monitoring. The conversation also dives into product transparency (EPDs and HPDs), how teams evaluate tradeoffs with clients, and why firms need robust internal knowledge systems and feedback loops (sensors, surveys, post-occupancy evaluation) to continuously improve future projects. About the Guest Chris Heine is an architect and strategist at SmithGroup in Detroit, focused on sustainable, healthy design and building performance. Chris works across scales — from building to campus — helping teams and clients integrate resilience, decarbonization, and data-informed decision-making into project delivery. Links Chris on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherheine313) SmithGroup (https://smithgroup.com)

3. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Designing with Immersion: Storytelling, Training, and Spatial Understanding

   Description In this episode of Innovation By Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with architect and educator Ming Tang, director of the XR Lab at the University of Cincinnati, about extended reality and the rapidly changing tools that make immersive experiences more accessible than ever. Ming breaks down the differences between VR, AR, and mixed reality, shares the origin story of their own journey from early CAD and 3D rendering to immersive media, and explains why embodied, interactive experiences can communicate spatial intent in ways 2D drawings and screens cannot. The conversation also introduces the D‑I‑C‑E framework (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive) for deciding when digital simulation is the right tool. Ming shares examples ranging from VR egress training and safety scenarios to historical reconstruction and storytelling in immersive environments, plus practical guidance around motion sickness, session length, and using physical locomotion to improve comfort. Key Topics Defining XR: VR vs AR vs mixed reality, and why the boundaries often blur in practice Why immersion changes how people understand space (and why 2D is often not enough) D‑I‑C‑E (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive): when simulation creates real value VR for egress, fire/smoke, and safety training (and how behavior can differ from the real world) Motion sickness and comfort: session length, latency, sensory mismatch, and physical locomotion Creation workflows: 3D modeling → Unity/Unreal → deploy to headsets AR/MR on site: overlays for construction, manufacturing, and medical contexts Storytelling, memory, and historic reconstruction in immersive media (including generative AI support) About the guest Ming Tang is an architect, educator, and director of the XR (Extended Reality) Lab at the University of Cincinnati. His work explores the intersection of architecture, digital media, game design, and immersive technologies, including VR/AR/MR applications for design communication, simulation, training, and storytelling. Links Ming’s website: Ming3d (https://ming3d.com) University of Cincinnati (DAAP): https://daap.uc.edu/ (https://daap.uc.edu/)

4. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Solving for E — How Framework-E Is Rewriting the Rules of Practice

   Description In this episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Jerry Attia and Pierre Roberson of Framework-E to unpack what it looks like to intentionally design a practice, not just projects. Jerry and Pierre walk through Framework-E’s origin story, including the relationships and early projects that helped them launch quickly, and how their “Design Framework Report” mindset shaped the firm’s name and mission. They dig into what “equity” means in their work, including stakeholder engagement as a practical strategy that can make buildings better, more beautiful, and more profitable. The conversation also explores expanding beyond traditional architectural scope into development, program management, and construction management, and how that shift changes risk, value, and long-term sustainability. You’ll also hear how their approach shows up in real projects, like defining scope for a client who cannot yet articulate it, and using evidence-based planning to reduce staff steps and friction in healthcare environments. About the guests Jerry Attia is a Detroit-based architect, entrepreneur, and community builder. Jerry is co-founder of Framework E, a minority-owned architecture and engineering firm focused on sports and civic projects. Before launching Framework E, Jerry held senior leadership roles at major firms and delivered work for high-profile sports and entertainment venues. Pierre Roberson is a licensed architect and co-founder of Framework E. Before launching Framework E in 2023, Pierre spent nearly six years at AECOM, rising to Associate Vice President and Design Principal, and previously worked at Rossetti. Pierre’s work has earned national recognition, and Pierre brings expertise spanning computational design, BIM, and parametric modeling, with a focus on equitable, community-centered design. Links Framework-E website: https://www.framework-e.com/ (https://www.framework-e.com/) Jerry Attia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-jerry-attia-noma-aia-pmp-48a97b5/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-jerry-attia-noma-aia-pmp-48a97b5/) Pierre Roberson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-roberson-aia-noma-ncarb-123b22b/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-roberson-aia-noma-ncarb-123b22b/)

5. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Architecture's Technical Foundation: Why Every Designer Needs to Understand Specifications

   Specifications are where design intent becomes buildable reality. In this episode, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Sherry Harbaugh, FCSI, CCS, RA, SCIP, about the overlooked craft of architectural specifications and why it is central to quality control, risk management, and successful project delivery. Sherry recounts how early career experiences and a strong community through CSI helped them find a path in specifications, and why mentorship is essential for emerging professionals who are trying to understand the many roles available in the construction industry. The conversation also explores common spec pitfalls, how manufacturer representatives can support better outcomes, and where technology helps, and where it still falls short. Key Topics What specifications do that drawings cannot, and why they matter for bids, substitutions, and construction quality Why boilerplate specs create risk, confusion, and coordination issues between Parts 1, 2, and 3 Mentorship, networking, and CSI as a career accelerator for architects and construction professionals Practical ways to improve spec workflows for small firms, including office masters and guide specs How product representatives can help teams make more defensible basis-of-design decisions What BIM and AI change in documentation, and why a human “specifier’s judgment” is still critical About the guest Sherry Harbaugh is an architect and specification consultant with more than 35 years of experience. Sherry founded Technical Resources Consultants (TRC Consultants) to help teams improve quality control through clearer, more reliable technical documentation, and is known for teaching and mentoring through CSI and other industry programs. Links Technical Resources Consultants (TRC): https://trc-consultants.com (https://trc-consultants.com) Sherry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-harbaugh-fcsi-ccs-ra-scip-aa0b458 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-harbaugh-fcsi-ccs-ra-scip-aa0b458) CSI member profile: https://www.csiresources.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=42141b75-38c2-4b6c-874b-15cbbc611172 (https://www.csiresources.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=42141b75-38c2-4b6c-874b-15cbbc611172) EntreArchitect article: https://entrearchitect.com/2025/03/25/why-specifications-matter/ (https://entrearchitect.com/2025/03/25/why-specifications-matter/) EntreArchitect podcast: https://entrearchitect.com/podcast/entrearch/a-master-guide-spec-for-small-firm-architects/ (https://entrearchitect.com/podcast/entrearch/a-master-guide-spec-for-small-firm-architects/) YouTube: Understanding Building Specifications (with Sherry Harbaugh): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DfjOLog2A4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DfjOLog2A4)

6. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Design as Decision: Dustin Schafer on Risk, Value, and Outcome-Based Services

   Dustin Schafer is Head of Research at Henderson Engineers, where he focuses on translating emerging technology into organizational strategy. In this episode, Dustin shares the career path that took him from architectural engineering and mechanical design into project management, commissioning, quality, standards, and ultimately technology leadership — including a recent shift from CTO into a role dedicated to the intersection of operations and technology. The conversation centers on a core argument: as AI advances, it will dramatically reduce the cost of production work (routing, sizing, checking, documentation), but it won’t automatically create “good” design. Codes set a floor, not an answer — and without encoding a firm’s priorities, history, and decision-making, generic AI tends toward what Dustin calls “compliant slop”: technically valid outputs that fail to differentiate or serve real client intent. Dustin explains why service firms need to articulate their work in terms that map to software methods (e.g., framing routing as a pathfinding optimization problem), and why AI should often be used as a translation layer between well-defined standards — not as a substitute for intention and care. He also dives into why “just start doing something with AI” can lead to shallow, edge-of-workflow wins, and why real leverage comes from working outward from business model and client outcomes. Finally, Dustin reframes disruption through the lens of risk and value: clients don’t just pay for drawings — they pay firms to take on the risk of being wrong. In an AI-driven world, the opportunity (and threat) is in using these tools to take the right risks faster and more consistently — and repricing around outcomes, decisions, and differentiated judgment. Links: Dustin Schafer’s Substack — Design as Decision (https://dustinschafer.substack.com/) Henderson Engineers (https://www.hendersonengineers.com/) Sequoia: Services: The New Software (https://sequoiacap.com/article/services-the-new-software/) a16z: Every Building You’ve Ever Been In Was Designed By Software Built in 1997 (https://a16z.com/every-building-youve-ever-been-in-was-designed-by-software-built-in-1997/) Bessemer: Roadmap: Reinventing IT services in the age of AI (https://www.bvp.com/atlas/roadmap-reinventing-indias-it-sector-with-ai-services) “Seven Powers” competitive strategy framework (https://7powers.com/) Acquired podcast (https://www.acquired.fm/) Bits and Bytes podcast (https://www.bitsandbytespodcast.com/)

7. 

   25 May 2026

   Experience Design in Practice: Sandra Olave on Memory, Culture, and the Built Environment

   In this conversation, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Sandra Olave, chair of Interior Design at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit. Sandra traces their path from a civil engineering start in Colombia to studying design in Barcelona and ultimately building a career that blends practice, education, and community-centered design. The discussion explores how culture and travel influence design instincts, why experience design requires attention to the full spectrum of human senses (and the memories and identities attached to them), and how designers can create spaces that feel both fresh and familiar by working with cues that register at an “unconscious” level. Evan and Sandra also dig into AI in design and education — what it can accelerate, where it can mislead, and why critical thinking, asking better questions, and learning through experimentation (including failure) remains the core skill set for designers. They then shift to Detroit projects and adaptive reuse, including the challenge of honoring history while creating contemporary value, and the importance of early collaboration between architects and interior designers (especially when budget, intent, and experience are on the line). Finally, Sandra shares how CCS approaches curriculum — grounding students in “heart skills” and “soft skills,” connecting liberal arts + history through field trips, and creating global exposure through travel and design week participation. Episode Links College for Creative Studies (CCS) — Interior Design program (https://www.ccsdetroit.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/interior-design/) First National Building (Detroit) (https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/first-national-building) Michigan Central Station (Detroit) (https://michigancentral.com/a-new-beginning-ford-to-reopen-michigan-central-station-after-multi-year-historic-restoration/) Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) (https://dia.org/) Diego Rivera murals at the DIA (https://dia.org/collection/detroit-industry-murals/58537) Tadao Ando (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadao_Ando) Jean Nouvel’s “Opera House” adaptive lighting reference (https://www.jeannouvel.com/en/projects/opera-3/) Milan Design Week / BASE Milano (https://base.milano.it/en/series/design-week-base-2026/)

8. 

   11 May 2026

   Designing with Simulations: A New Era for Architecture

   In this episode of Innovation By Design, Angelos Chronis explores the growing role of AI in architecture and urban design. We talk about how neural networks and machine learning can accelerate simulations and expand what is practical to test during design, including daylighting and solar exposure studies. We also dig into generative components and optimization workflows in tools like Grasshopper, including the use of genetic algorithms to search design options. Finally, we touch on how creative AI tools such as Midjourney, along with new text and diagram workflows, are changing how designers ideate and communicate. About the guest Angelos Chronis is an architect and researcher working at the intersection of computation, machine learning, and design, with a focus on using AI-enabled workflows to improve analysis, iteration speed, and environmental performance in architecture and urbanism. Links infrared.city (http://infrared.city) website infrared.city (http://infrared.city) team page (https://infrared.city/team/) Angelos Chronis on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeloschronis/) Angelos on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/angelos_chronis) Angelos on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Fv4PF_IAAAAJ&hl=en) Wikipedia: Machine learning (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_learning) Wikipedia: Artificial intelligence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence) Wikipedia: Artificial neural network (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network) Wikipedia: Generative design (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_design) Scholarpedia: Genetic algorithm (http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Genetic_algorithm) Wikipedia: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_fluid_dynamics) NASA CFD intro (https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/cfd.html) Wikipedia: Daylighting analysis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylighting) Midjourney (https://www.midjourney.com/) Wikipedia: Generative adversarial network (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_adversarial_network)

9. 

   27 Apr 2026

   The Spec Whisperer — Why Every Building Needs Someone Like Amy Baker

   In this episode of Innovation by Design, Amy Baker shares a career path that runs counter to the typical “design-first” narrative in architecture. Amy explains how early exposure to specifications helped remove the intimidation factor, why the tactile reality of materials and construction drew her to the technical side of practice, and how she ultimately built a firm that focuses on specifications and technical consulting rather than design services. Evan, Candace, and Amy discuss how drawings and specifications work together as contract documents, why every building is effectively a prototype, and how collaboration with manufacturers, fabricators, and contractors helps keep increasingly complex building systems from going sideways. Amy also talks about the value of building a diverse set of mentors, the unexpected benefits of volunteering in professional organizations, and how she is pushing spec writing forward by helping shape and creatively repurpose spec software to improve accuracy and efficiency. Key topics Finding a niche in architecture by leaning into technical strengths Why specs matter as much as drawings in construction documents The role of manufacturers as category experts, not just product reps The “prototype” nature of every building and the logistics behind details How professional service and public speaking can expand impact and visibility Improving spec quality and speed through better templates and software workflows Links Amy Baker Architect (website): https://www.amybakerarchitect.com/ (https://www.amybakerarchitect.com/) Construction Specifications Institute (CSI): https://www.csiresources.org/ (https://www.csiresources.org/) Building Enclosure Council (BEC): https://www.nibs.org/page/bec (https://www.nibs.org/page/bec) Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA): https://www.airbarrier.org/ (https://www.airbarrier.org/) Specification Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP): https://www.scipnet.org/ (https://www.scipnet.org/) RIB SpecLink: https://www.rib-software.com/en/products/speclink (https://www.rib-software.com/en/products/speclink) Innovation By Design website: About the Guest Amy Baker is a Registered Architect and Specifications Consultant with over 20 years of experience in commercial construction. She specializes in the technical development of projects with a passion for enclosure detailing, building science, codes, and specifications. She founded her firm, Amy Baker Architect, in 2018, and serves in leadership roles with the Building Enclosure Council of Greater Detroit (BEC), the Detroit Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Specification Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP), and the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA). She is also on RIB SpecLink’s Product Innovation Advisory Board. Amy holds two degrees from Lawrence Technological University, where she has been recognized as the university’s 26th Distinguished Architecture Award Recipient.

10. 

    10 Apr 2026

    Smart Hospitals of the Future: Inside Detroit's Destination Grand Project

    Jesse Balok, Vice President of Planning, Design and Construction at Henry Ford Health, joins Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen to unpack Destination: Grand, the system’s historic $2.2 billion expansion of its Detroit campus. Jesse shares how Henry Ford Health is planning a once‑in‑a‑generation build while keeping a 110‑year‑old hospital campus running, and why phasing, decommissioning, and infrastructure renewal must happen alongside forward‑looking innovation. They discuss collaborative project delivery, early stakeholder engagement at scale, and designing for flexibility as care models evolve. Jesse also highlights sustainability initiatives, including a Central Energy Hub targeting an all‑electric hospital by 2030, and the broader community impact of the Future of Health: Detroit vision, including research partnerships, mobility, and neighborhood redevelopment. About the guest Jesse Balok is the Vice President of Planning, Design and Construction at Henry Ford Health. Jesse leads major campus planning and delivery efforts, including Destination: Grand, a transformative redevelopment of Henry Ford’s Detroit campus focused on patient experience, staff wellness, logistics modernization, and long‑term adaptability. Links Destination: Grand / Future of Health: Detroit (overview): https://www.henryford.com/future-of-health (https://www.henryford.com/future-of-health) News release: Henry Ford Health celebrates groundbreaking of Destination: Grand: https://www.henryford.com/news/2024/09/henry-ford-health-celebrates-groundbreaking-of-detroit-hospital-expansion-project (https://www.henryford.com/news/2024/09/henry-ford-health-celebrates-groundbreaking-of-detroit-hospital-expansion-project) Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (rehab partner reference): https://www.sralab.org/ (https://www.sralab.org/) Churchill and the Commons Chamber: https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/churchill/ (https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/churchill/)

11. 

    10 Apr 2026

    Neural Architecture — How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Design

    In this episode of Innovation by Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Dr. Matias del Campo, architect, theorist, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of architecture and artificial intelligence. Matias shares the trajectory that led him from the University of Applied Arts Vienna to co-founding SPAN, a practice built on computational design and experimental architecture. He discusses how his research into AI-driven design creates what he calls a "design ecology," merging technology, nature, and philosophical inquiry into a unified creative process. The conversation digs into how generative AI tools are transforming the way architects think about form, materiality, and authorship. Matias offers perspective on what these tools actually change in the design process, what they don't, and why the discipline of architecture is uniquely positioned to absorb and redirect these new capabilities. You'll also hear about SPAN's high-profile projects and how academic research feeds directly into built and speculative work that pushes the boundaries of what architecture can be. Key topics How AI and computational design are reshaping architectural practice and aesthetics The concept of "design ecology" and integrating technology, nature, and philosophy Generative AI's impact on architectural authorship and the creative process SPAN's approach to experimental, technologically driven architecture The relationship between academic research and professional practice What architects need to understand about AI tools and their limitations Links SPAN Architecture (https://www.span-arch.org/) Matias del Campo on LinkedIn (https://at.linkedin.com/in/matiasdelcampo) Matias del Campo on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matias_del_Campo) Neural Architecture (https://www.applied-ai-book.com/neural-architecture) (book) (https://www.applied-ai-book.com/neural-architecture) Diffusions in Architecture (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781394191802) (book) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781394191802) New York Institute of Technology — MS ACT program (https://www.nyit.edu/academics/degrees/architecture-computational-technologies-ms/)

12. 

    10 Apr 2026

    Building the Community That Drives AEC Innovation

    In this episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with David Mans, Director of AECtech at Thornton Tomasetti's CORE studio, to explore the intersection of computational design, community building, and hands-on innovation in AEC. David traces his path from undergraduate architecture at Pratt Institute through early computational design experiments to leading what has become one of the industry's most influential technology conferences. He explains how parametric and computational design opened the door to discovery and surprise in the design process, and how that same spirit of experimentation now drives the AECtech hackathon format. The conversation digs into what actually happens at an AECtech event, from hackathon teams building working prototypes in 24 hours to symposium panels on technology-driven career paths in architecture. David shares standout moments, including the hackathon project that became the foundation for Rhino Compute, and a recent London hack where agents simulated consultant negotiations before a project even started. David also reflects on the tension between automation and reflection, the value of cross-industry thinking, and why Thornton Tomasetti continues to invest in these events as a way to stay ahead of where the industry is headed. Key Topics How computational and parametric design introduced the idea of discovery and surprise into the architectural design process The origin and evolution of AECtech from a single New York hackathon to five global events per year Why the hackathon format works: constrained time, self-forming teams, and cross-disciplinary collaboration Standout hackathon projects, including the prototype that became Rhino Compute and an agent-based consultant negotiation tool The emergence of agentic AI workflows and MCP protocols at recent events Career paths for technologists in AEC and how senior leaders who started in computational design are now shaping firm culture The importance of reflection and downtime in an era focused on automation and speed What Thornton Tomasetti and CORE studio gain from hosting and participating in these events Cross-industry inspiration: bringing agile and Kanban workflows from software development into architectural project delivery About the guest David Mans is the Director of AECtech at Thornton Tomasetti's CORE studio. David oversees the AECtech conference series, which now runs five events per year across the globe, bringing together professionals from architecture, engineering, construction, software, and AI to explore emerging technologies through hackathons, workshops, and symposiums. David is also the author of over 20 Grasshopper plugins, a Visiting Associate Professor at Pratt Institute, and formerly the Senior Computational Designer at Grimshaw Architects, where David worked on projects including the award-winning Dubai Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion, Terra. Links AECtech: https://www.aectech.us/ (https://www.aectech.us/) Thornton Tomasetti CORE studio: https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/core-studio (https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/core-studio) David Mans on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mans-a359505/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mans-a359505/) CORE studio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-studio-tt (https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-studio-tt)

13. 

    10 Apr 2026

    Welcome to the Innovation by Design Podcast

    In this teaser episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen introduce Innovation by Design, a new podcast produced by Total Door Systems. You will hear what the show is about, why it exists, and what to expect in Season 1, including conversations on small firm excellence, design equity, healthcare mega-projects, and how specifications can be a strategic advantage in the building industry. Subscribe now so you get all the episodes. About the show The Innovation By Design podcast is a Total Door Systems and TRXL Media production. Learn more about Total Door Systems at https://totaldoor.com Learn more about TRXL Media at https://trxlmedia.com

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