Following the success of last year's program, AIA|DC and SEA-MW are once again bringing together architects, engineers, educators, and technology leaders to explore how AI is reshaping the design and construction professions.
Panelists will cover topics from AI-assisted design workflows and architectural education to digital twins and intelligent infrastructure, sharing practical insights into how organizations are moving beyond experimentation to real implementation. Through real-world examples and cross-disciplinary discussion, attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of the opportunities, limitations, and responsibilities that AI brings to the AEC community.
As AI grows more capable of generating images, concepts, analyses, and recommendations, the design professions face a fundamental question: when technology can produce countless possibilities, what is the role of human judgment? Join us as design professionals and educators consider how creativity, expertise, and professional responsibility are being redefined in an era of AI-assisted practice.
Credits: 1 HSW and 1 Structural PDH
Panelists:
Julian Arrington - AIA, Associate and Lead Designer, SmithGroup
Julian Arrington is an architect and multidisciplinary storyteller whose work explores the intersection of design, culture, and emerging technologies. Drawing from his experience leading museum and cultural projects, he will discuss how AI can expand creative possibilities while reinforcing the importance of human judgment, context, and design authorship.
Michael Ezban, RA, ASLA - Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC)
Michael Ezban is an architect, educator, and researcher studying the impact of generative AI on architectural education. His work examines how AI is reshaping design thinking, studio pedagogy, and preparation of future architects for professional practice.
Dr. Nadine Alameh - Founder, LunateAI
Dr. Nadine Alameh is a globally recognized leader in geospatial technologies, digital twins, and AI strategy. She advises organizations around the world on AI transformation and will share lessons on moving from experimentation to implementation, including the growing role of AI-enabled digital twins in the built environment.
Steve Kane, P.E. - Senior Associate and CORE Studio Representative, Thornton Tomasetti
5:30 p.m. Registration & Networking
6:00 p.m. Panel Presentation and Discussion
7:00 p.m. Panel Q&A
7:30 p.m. Close of event. Join us afterwards for rooftop drinks and networking.
Location: SmithGroup - 1700 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20006. The event will take place in Entry Level Conference Space and will move to rooftop for drinks afterwards.
Learning Objectives (HSW):
- Evaluate how AI-assisted tools and digital-twin technologies can support design, analysis, monitoring, and decision-making that affect the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants and communities.
- Identify limitations and risks associated with AI-generated design and engineering outputs, including issues of accuracy, bias, data quality, and reliability that may affect project performance and public safety.
- Assess the role of professional judgment, quality assurance, and human oversight in validating AI-assisted recommendations and maintaining accountability for design decisions.
- Examine how emerging AI applications in architecture, engineering, and intelligent infrastructure may improve resilience, sustainability, lifecycle performance, and risk management across the built environment.
This networking event and panel discussion will be held in partnership with AIA DC.
