Technology in Architectural Practice

Higher Ed Classroom design is an iterative process, and the Covid-19 pandemic presented new opportunities to explore alternative layouts and environments. I recently met with the Temple University, Fox School of Business team that developed a prototype classroom for the future. This was not your traditional walkthrough of a built environment via zoom or in person, it required complete immersion including a specialized Oculus headset. This new classroom is entirely virtual, only accessible via a cloud-based platform and the aforementioned Oculus headset. You can read more about the initial roll-out here.

What I was most surprised to learn was that this classroom was not built with BIM architectural tools or any form of consultation with an architect or interior designer professional; rather, it was developed with gaming software. A virtual built environment provides a distinct set of design challenges and more importantly opportunities for architects.

I recently pivoted careers and industries, moving from Architecture to Management Information Systems. This simply means that I moved from brick-and-mortar architecture to digital architecture, a seamless transition with countless overlaps and similarities. One of my new specialties is teaching UX Design. This virtual classroom example presents the perfect opportunity for me to combine my architectural experience with User Experience (UX) testing and introduce students to a combined analytical approach that will ultimately enable building better environments. The MIS professor in me is interested in the design potential combined with the data development. So, where will the intersection of these two fields lead?  How will architects navigate this next digital disruption?

Higher Ed Classroom design is an iterative process, and the Covid-19 pandemic presented new opportunities to explore alternative layouts and environments. I recently met with the Temple University, Fox School of Business team that developed a prototype classroom for the future. This was not your traditional walkthrough of a built environment via zoom or in person, it required complete immersion including a specialized Oculus headset. This new classroom is entirely virtual, only accessible via a cloud-based platform and the aforementioned Oculus headset. You can read more about the initial roll-out here.

What I was most surprised to learn was that this classroom was not built with BIM architectural tools or any form of consultation with an architect or interior designer professional; rather, it was developed with gaming software. A virtual built environment provides a distinct set of design challenges and more importantly opportunities for architects.

I recently pivoted careers and industries, moving from Architecture to Management Information Systems. This simply means that I moved from brick-and-mortar architecture to digital architecture, a seamless transition with countless overlaps and similarities. One of my new specialties is teaching UX Design. This virtual classroom example presents the perfect opportunity for me to combine my architectural experience with User Experience (UX) testing and introduce students to a combined analytical approach that will ultimately enable building better environments. The MIS professor in me is interested in the design potential combined with the data development. So, where will the intersection of these two fields lead?  How will architects navigate this next digital disruption?

Higher Ed Classroom design is an iterative process, and the Covid-19 pandemic presented new opportunities to explore alternative layouts and environments. I recently met with the Temple University, Fox School of Business team that developed a prototype classroom for the future. This was not your traditional walkthrough of a built environment via zoom or in person, it required complete immersion including a specialized Oculus headset. This new classroom is entirely virtual, only accessible via a cloud-based platform and the aforementioned Oculus headset. You can read more about the initial roll-out here.

What I was most surprised to learn was that this classroom was not built with BIM architectural tools or any form of consultation with an architect or interior designer professional; rather, it was developed with gaming software. A virtual built environment provides a distinct set of design challenges and more importantly opportunities for architects.

I recently pivoted careers and industries, moving from Architecture to Management Information Systems. This simply means that I moved from brick-and-mortar architecture to digital architecture, a seamless transition with countless overlaps and similarities. One of my new specialties is teaching UX Design. This virtual classroom example presents the perfect opportunity for me to combine my architectural experience with User Experience (UX) testing and introduce students to a combined analytical approach that will ultimately enable building better environments. The MIS professor in me is interested in the design potential combined with the data development. So, where will the intersection of these two fields lead?  How will architects navigate this next digital disruption?