AECtech 2022 NYC | Collaboration in Action

Thank you to everyone who attended the tenth annual AECtech Symposium & Hackathon! This year’s event was the largest yet in both scope and participation. Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio was excited to host a six day gathering of thought leaders from over 25 companies and organizations . This year featured 11 Virtual and 6 In Person Masterclasses hosted from experts from around the world. This year AECtech introduced a new event called the Tech Crawl where 6 local architecture and engineering firms welcomed guests to their offices to discuss how they approach innovation and apply technology with their practice. This lead up to this year’s Full Day Symposium live-streamed from the Center for Architecture in NYC where 22 presenters and panelists shared their insights and innovations. The event finished strong with a 27-hour hackathon that produced 14 uniquely innovative projects.

Masterclasses

Virtual Masterclasses

AECtech began with a full day of Virtual Masterclasses on Tuesday, November 1st. This year featured 11 Virtual Masterclasses explored a wide range of processes from Introductions to Cloud Computing to Software API Deep Dives and into Specialized AEC Process Workflows. Classes were taught by an equally broad range of experts from the AEC & Software development industries.

Check out all the classes on our AECtech Masterclass playlist

Archi-lab | Mastering Revit API.

KONRAD SOBON

In this course I want to continue building on last year's Revit API Masterclass. Last year we learned how to setup a Shared Project environment in Visual Studio to handle multiple Revit API versions. We also discussed creating your first plugin via External Command button. Finally we touched on creating user interfaces via WPF. This year, I want to take us a few steps further by creating a Dockable Window and embedding it directly into Revit's UI. We can use that Dockable Window to explore couple of more complex Revit API concepts like subscribing to events in Revit, using External Events to query the model from the UI thread and finally using events to communicate between External Event handlers and our app. At the end of this workshop we should have a real-time dashboard app that you can deploy to your office.

CORE studio | Parametric Structures

ROBERT OTANI, ALLOY KEMP, NICK MUNDELL

In structural engineering, forces, stresses, and deflections are all a result of a 3D equation with geometry, loads and sections. We all know that increasing load increases deflection, or reducing the cross section increases stress. But what if you wanted to show these effects on geometry in real-time, without building a SAP model? Karamba3D is a plugin for Grasshopper designed to give quick feedback of structures and shells modeled in the Rhino space. That means you could see instant results as you move grasshopper sliders around, showing an architect or client the effects of their requests without spending time "actually" analyzing it. Qualitative comparisons with reasonable reliability are one of the best tools to communicate. Through a series of examples, we will cover basic ‘stick’ modeling and analysis followed by ‘shell’ modeling approaches. Each example aims to teach the participant how to build a parametric Grasshopper script which will generate geometry, then using Karamba3d, structurally analyze that geometry and visualize the results.

New Balance Athletics, MIT | Image to Image to Image: Bitmap Processing & Data Vis

ONUR YÜCE GÜN, DIEGO PINOCHET, DANA MARINGO

This workshop will concentrate on the processes that are concerned with data and its representation, in the form of images. We will teach methods with which colored gradients and heatmaps can be converted into 3D representations. We will show how the 3D forms we generate, in turn, can be rendered to create images. We will experiment with emerging text-to-image and related AI tools to develop (fake!?) data images while utilizing Rhino Grasshopper as the environment to develop 3D expressions… so you can make the real ones later.

Autodesk Forge | Forge Masterclass

João Martins

Autodesk Platform Service Bootcamp is a hands-on training in the basics of APS development where developer advocates live-code various APS applications, and answer your questions as you follow their steps.

Who is it for?

The event is recommended for software developers who are getting started with the Autodesk Platform Service, or looking to refresh or improve their skills. Since Autodesk Platform Service is a cloud platform, a basic web development experience (both client- and server-side) is expected, but if you haven't done any web development and would still like to join our bootcamp, don’t worry, you will find a couple of learning resources at the end of this blog post that will get you ready.

Speckle | Become a Speckle Power User

ALAN RYNNE, BILAL GÖKER

The AEC industry has many specialized tools that target specific segments of the project delivery workflow: Model management, file storage, model and assembly coordination, data transfer, information extraction, communications. These solutions require time to master and are often prohibitively expensive. Speckle takes a completely different approach - vertically integrating the most essential segments of AEC project workflows so that the collaboration process is seamless and only requires you to learn one platform.

  • Participants will understand how to share only necessary parts of information with relevant parties instead of sharing big files with varying file formats

  • Understand the potential workflows and custom applications made possible by open data extracted from proprietary file formats

  • Learn how to communicate and collaborate across teams and disciplines in real-time

  • Understand how to do version control of projects from conceptualization to production.

Pollination | Pollination Revit Plugin Masterclass

MOSTAPHA SADEGHIPOUR ROUDSARI

This workshop shows you how to use the Pollination Revit plugin to use the Revit model for building performance modeling. You will learn how to:

  • Clean up and extract valid analytical models from your Revit model.

  • Manage linked models

  • Run studies using Pollination Cloud, and Pollination Apps

  • Export your model to 3rd party applications like IES-VE, DesignBuilder, and eQuest

McNeel | Rhino.inside.Revit

JAPHY WALTON

Cross Platform Data Flow and Management

In this workshop you will learn how to create robust Cross-Platform Data Flows in the Rhino.Inside.Revit environment.

  • Definitions Generated:

  • Rhino < > Grasshopper < > Revit and back again.

  • Blocks to Revit Families

  • Branched Data Management

  • Filter Rhino & Revit simultaneously

CORE studio | Introducing Nuada.CFD - A digital wind tunnel app

JEROEN JANSSEN

Join us to learn about CORE studio's new app that allows you to run complex and detailed digital wind studies directly in your 3d design models. From within Rhino, you can very easily launch your microclimate or structural loading studies and visualize the results back into the 3d models when finished. You will be shown how to access the app and get started with your own projects.

McNeel | Rhino Compute

Andy Payne

This workshop will focus on the development of functions which can be called using the Grasshopper Player, Hops, and/or Rhino.Compute. A “function” is simply a self-contained module of code that usually takes in some sort of data (like input parameters), processes it, and returns a result (like an output). In this session, we’ll learn how to break up large complex Grasshopper definitions into smaller sub-definitions which we will then turn into functions which can be called using the Grasshopper Player and Hops. Ultimately, we will learn how to package your functions into a library and/or plugin which can be shared with your team and colleagues.

Shop Architects | Interactive Visualization of Data

TIM LI, ARIF JAVED

In this workshop, we will cover how one can easily connect intuitive interfaces with out-of-the-box solutions such as Unity, Airtable, etc and spin up apps for data visualization.

Pollination | Pollination Rhino Plugin Masterclass

CHRIS MACKEY, MINGBO PENG

This workshop shows you how to use the Pollination Rhino plugin. You will learn how to:

  • Create an analytical model in Rhino

  • Quality-check your model

  • Repair the model

  • Run studies using Pollination Cloud, and Pollination Apps

  • Export your model to 3rd party applications like IES-VE, DesignBuilder, and eQuest

IN PERSON MASTERCLASSES

On Thursday, November 3rd, In Person Masterclasses were held at Thornton Tomasetti’s NYC offices. These 6 Masterclasses were presented by specialists in Cloud Service API’s, Machine Learning, and Next Generation Cloud Platforms.

Autodesk Forge | Forge Masterclass

JAIME ROSALES

Autodesk Platform Service Bootcamp is a hands-on training in the basics of APS development where developer advocates live-code various APS applications, and answer your questions as you follow their steps.

Who is it for?

The event is recommended for software developers who are getting started with the Autodesk Platform Service, or looking to refresh or improve their skills. Since Autodesk Platform Service is a cloud platform, a basic web development experience (both client- and server-side) is expected, but if you haven't done any web development and would still like to join our bootcamp, don’t worry, you will find a couple of learning resources at the end of this blog post that will get you ready.

Heatherwick Studio | Emergent Design Workflows

PABLO ZAMORANO MOSNAIM, ALFREDO CHAVEZ

We will move away from the approach of one size fits all and instead, we will be exploring a playground where existing tools can be leveraged to solve specific design, simulation, and visualization problems. We will use Rhino, Houdini, and Nvidia Omniverse.

AWS | AWS DeepRacer

ANTHONY YIMSIRIWATTANA

Developers of all skill levels can get hands on with machine learning through a cloud based 3D racing simulator. Learn more here

Pollination | Pollination Apps Masterclass

MOSTAPHA SADEGHIPOUR ROUDSARI, NICOLAS SCHMIDT, CHRIS MACKEY, MINGBO PENG

In this workshop, you will learn how to design, build and deploy Pollination Apps from scratch.

In the first section of the workshop, we will design, build and deploy a Pollination App. Then we will learn about Pollination input and output components and modify the apps to become Rhino and Revit plugins! By the end of this workshop, you should be able to start writing your custom app, deploy it to Pollination and share it with your colleagues or publicly on the web.

If you are staying around for the Hackathon, this workshop should give you everything that you need to hack an app together in less than a day!

Nvidia Omniverse | Omniverse: Design Collaboration Accelerated

ROBERT CERVELLIONE, SEBASTIAN MISIUREK

Learn how Nvidia Omniverse can help unlock collaboration and simulation at enterprise scales. Leveraging the full capabilities of GPU computing, we will explore various AEC workflows from conceptual design to simulations that utilize Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit, using full-scale data and real-time feedback. We will explore how multiple users can work together in their preferred tool, while maintaining an accurate source of truth model. We will also cover some of the foundations of Omniverse, such as USD, an open-source data storage system, and MDL, an open-source material definition. Omniverse for AECO | Omniverse Documentation.

Nvidia Omniverse | Omniverse: Developing Extensions

ROBERT CERVELLIONE, SEBASTIAN MISIUREK

Learn how to extend Nvidia Omniverse using our extension system built on Python. We will dive in the API and toolkits available to you inside Omniverse. We will work through a few examples of setting up extensions, using external modules such as Rhino.Compute, our UI toolkits, and some of our advanced SDKs such as Warp.  We will start with some basic examples that let you traverse the USD file, add UI elements and access and modify geometry and parameters in the models. Then we will build a simple extension that connects Omniverse to a Rhino.Compute server and build some UI elements on top, allowing you to run Grasshopper files and Compute functions directly in Omniverse Create. Omniverse for AECO | Omniverse Documentation.

Tech Crawl

On Wednesday, November 2nd, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio was excited to introduce a new event to AECtech, the Tech Crawl. Over 60 participants visited 3 pairs of local Engineering & Architecture Firms to tour their offices and learn about innovative processes that distinguish their practice. The evening concluded with a Social Event at Thornton Tomasetti’s offices.

Inaugural Hosts

SOM

ARUP

Woods Bagot

Walter P. Moore

SHoP Architects

Thornton Tomasetti

Symposium

On Friday, November 4th an inspirational group of leaders from the Design, Software, and AEC worlds came together to present and discuss the future of collaborative practice and technologies role in the transformation of this space.

Watch all the Presenters and Roundtable Discussions at our AECtech Symposium playlist

Presenters

MVRDV

SANNE VAN DER BURGH / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR・HEAD OF MVRDV NEXT

SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION

JIT KEE CHIN / CHIEF DATA & INNOVATION OFFICER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

CHRIS LANZISERA / VICE PRESIDENT, SUFFOLK ILLUMINATE

CORE STUDIO

SILA GULGEC / SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER

SEYEDOMID SAJEDI / AI ENGINEER

DAVID MANS / SENIOR ASSOCIATE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER

TVS DESIGN

MICHAEL HODGE / PRINCIPAL・DIGITAL PRACTICE/DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Emilio Hernandez / Director of Design Copmutation

NVIDIA

COBUS BOTHMA / NVIDIA OMNIVERSE

HEATHERWICK STUDIO

PABLO ZAMORANO MOSNAIM / SENIOR ASSOCIATE・HEAD OF GEOMETRY AND COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN

ZAHNER

JAMES COLEMAN / VICE PRESIDENT・INNOVATION & R&D AT ZAHNER

PERKINS & WILL

NICK CAMERON / PRINCIPAL, DIGITAL PRACTICE DIRECTOR

FOSTER + PARTNERS

MARTHA TSIGKARI / SENIOR PARTNER・HEAD OF APPLIED R+D

Roundtable | ML in Practice

Roundtable Moderator

DAN REYNOLDS / AI PRODUCT LEAD | WALTER P. MOORE

Panelists

ONUR YUCE GUN / CREATIVE MANAGER - COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN | NEW BALANCE

SERGEY PIGACH / ASSOCIATE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER | CORE STUDIO

PABLO ZAMORANO MOSNAIM / SENIOR ASSOCIATE・HEAD OF GEOMETRY AND COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN | HEATHERWICK STUDIO

BRIAN FURTAW / SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST AT NVIDIA | NVIDIA

MARTHA TSIGKARI / SENIOR PARTNER・HEAD OF APPLIED R+D | FOSTER + PARTNERS

Roundtable | Vertical Integration

Roundtable Moderator

CHARLIE PORTELLI / VICE PRESIDENT APPLICATION DEVELOPER | CORE STUDIO

Panelists

CHRISTOPHER DIGGINS / HEAD OF RESEARCH | VIM AEC

MATTHEW COMBER, SE PE / VICE PRESIDENT, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING | PROJECT FROG

CHRISTOPHER SHARPLES / CO-FOUNDER | ASSEMBLY OSM

CLIFTON HARNESS / CEO & CO-FOUNDER | TESTFIT.IO

Hackathon

On Saturday, November 5th, over 75 hackers from a variety of backgrounds came together for a 27 hour hackathon. Hosted both in person at Thornton Tomasetti’s New York offices and spanning the globe virtually created a unique environment for collaboration and innovation which lead to the creation of 14 incredible projects.

Watch the Project Presentations on our YouTube channel

A special thanks to this year’s panel of judges!

2022 HACKATHON WINNERS

BEST OVERALL HACK: Crash!
Real Time Rhino Collaboration.

Team: Curtis Wensley, McNeel / Morteza Karimi, McNeel / Russell Feathers, CORE studio / Erika Santos, AECOM / Moustafa El-Sawy, AECOM / Callum Sykes, StructureCraft / Lukas Fuhrimann, StructureCraft

BEST OPEN SOURCE HACK: Dreamhopper
A new Paradigm in 3D Modelling

Team: Francisco Landeros, INFORM Studio / Pedro Cortes, McNeel / Alfredo Chavez, Heatherwick Studio / Nathaniel Steinrueck, AIA / Sergey Pigach, CORE studio / Juan Arredondo, Columbia University / Jeffrey Moser, Grimshaw / Pablo Zamorano, Heatherwick Studio / Sasha Geremia, CORE studio

BEST COLLABORATIVE HACK: REmap
Reconciling as-design and as-built. Procedural /parametric logic in the real world.

Team: James Coleman, Zahner / Brian Gillespie, McNeel / Burçin Nalıncı, Zahner / Nathan Barnes, Zahner / Quoc Dang

Check out all the AECtech Hackathon projects at our archive!

Special Thanks

Thank you to the sponsors and venues who both made the event possible and a great experience.

CORE studio