Architects are continuously exploring AI tools to make their workdays smoother. While only 8% of firms have fully integrated AI, over 50% of architects are already experimenting with AI, as found in a recent study by the American Institute of Architects. 

But what does AI in architecture really look like? Let's break down how firms are actually using it to plan faster, catch errors earlier, and focus more on design.

Can AI be used in architecture?

Yes, and it already is! From design to construction administration, AI can be found in all areas of architecture. For example, generative design platforms like TestFit or Finch help architects produce dozens of site layout options in seconds, factoring in zoning rules, setbacks, and parking requirements. 

On the construction admin side, tools like Part3’s Submittal Assistant use AI to automatically compare incoming submittals against project specs, flagging discrepancies before they cause delays.

Can I use ChatGPT for architecture? 

Yes, and many architects are already using ChatGPT to streamline everyday tasks, enhance creativity, and reduce time spent on routine documentation. While it won’t design a building the way a licensed architect would, it can support your workflow in practical ways like drafting zoning summaries, interpreting code requirements, writing design narratives, or brainstorming early-stage concepts.

It can also help simplify technical language when communicating with clients or city officials. Just keep in mind that you still need to fact-check and apply your professional judgment, especially when dealing with local codes or detailed specs.

Is AI replacing architects?

AI isn’t replacing architects, it’s reshaping how they work and what they spend their time on. With tasks like code checks, massing studies, or submittal tracking now automated, architects can focus more on deeper design thinking and supporting their client.

While AI streamlines many such parts of architectural workflows, architects still define the goals, interpret the outcomes, and guide the vision of a project. Think of AI as a really fast assistant that doesn't hand you the final design, but lets you work faster, test more options, and make data-informed decisions.

For a detailed dive, check out our article - Will AI Replace Architects?

Real-world examples of AI in architecture

Let’s look at some examples of where AI tools made a tangible difference in architecture firms’ workflows and results.

1. IDEA Inc. uses Part3 to improve contract admin efficiency

AI tool: Part3’s Submittal Assistant
Firm: IDEA Inc.
Result: Faster submittal reviews, less admin overhead, improved client satisfaction

IDEA Inc., a mid-sized architectural firm in Ottawa, faced a common bottleneck during contract administration: submittal reviews. Manually sifting through lengthy documents to spot missing information, slowed timelines and drained staff resources. 

To address these delays, IDEA adopted Part3’s AI-powered Submittal Assistant. The tool automatically scans submittals, flags missing items based on project specs, and speeds up approval workflows. Tasks like signing, issuing, and organizing documents, which once took multiple days, are now done in just a few clicks.

The results:

• Contract administration tasks that once took hours (or even days) were reduced to just five minutes per document.

• Submittal reviews became up to an hour faster per submission.

• Clients appreciated the smoother experience, with fewer delays.

2. BSB Design uses TestFit to speed up site planning

AI tool: TestFit
Firm: BSB Design
Result: Shorter timelines, faster site iterations, more confident client recommendations

BSB Design, a US-based architecture firm, was spending up to two weeks manually generating site plans in CAD. This slowed down feasibility studies and delayed decision-making for developers. To streamline the process, the firm adopted TestFit, an AI-powered platform that automates site planning based on real-time zoning, setbacks, parking, and unit mix inputs. 

The results:

• Time spent on density studies dropped by up to 75%.

• Feasibility studies that once took two weeks could now be drafted in two days. 

• Teams could generate 8-10 design options live during client meetings.

3. RGA Atelier uses ArkDesign.AI to reimagine the Seattle Tower 

Tool: ArkDesign
Firm: RGA Atelier
Result: Faster schematic design, optimized unit layouts, better alignment with developer goals

RGA Atelier, led by architect Ramin Ghods, was tasked with reimagining the historic Seattle Tower, a 27-storey Art Deco office building, for a post-COVID world. With rising office vacancies and growing demand for urban housing, the firm proposed an adaptive reuse strategy that would convert the tower into a mixed-use residential development. To manage the building’s complex geometry and zoning constraints, RGA used ArkDesign to generate schematic plans, refine unit mix (studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts), and ensure compliance with residential codes. 

The results:

• Multiple layout options were generated in minutes instead of days, aligning with market demand and financial targets.

• 242 units were efficiently placed across 21 floors and spanning four distinct floor plates.

• Accelerated decision-making on unit mix, circulation, and layout efficiency.

4. Studio Ma uses ClimateStudio to design an energy-efficient student hub

Tool: ClimateStudio
Firm: Studio Ma 
Result: Lower energy use, better daylighting, reduced glare

Studio Ma was commissioned to design a 16-storey Arts Innovation hub and residence hall for Arizona State University in downtown Phoenix. The East-facing site offered generous daylight but posed major challenges around solar heat gain and glare, both of which could increase cooling costs and reduce occupant comfort. To find a solution, the team used ClimateStudio, a performance analysis tool powered by AI-driven simulation. They ran iterative tests during early design to optimize for daylight, thermal performance, and visual comfort. 

The results:

• 17% reduction in energy use intensity compared to a baseline design.

• Daylight autonomy improved from 97% to 99%, meaning more space was lit naturally.

• Annual sunlight exposure dropped from 10% to 4%, minimizing glare and over-lighting.

5. Balfour Beatty uses OpenSpace to accelerate site capture and analysis

Tool: OpenSpace
Firm: Balfour Beatty
Result: Faster image capture, improved quality tracking, reduced rework

Balfour Beatty, a global infrastructure leader, needed an efficient way to capture and manage progress photos across complex job sites. Traditional image documentation was time-consuming and often incomplete, requiring manual camera setups and tedious image sorting. 

To modernize the process, Balfour Beatty adopted OpenSpace, a 360° AI-powered reality capture platform. With a hard-hat-mounted camera and location-aware software, teams could document entire sites hands-free, capturing two images per second.

The results:

• 75x increase in photo capture speed versus previous methods.

• 160,000+ images captured in just 22 hours over five months.

• Faster progress tracking, QA inspections, and issue resolution.

• Reduced rework and change orders thanks to accurate visual records.

What are the real benefits of using AI in architecture?

From early concept development to construction closeout, here are some of the biggest benefits of using AI in architecture.

1. Quick feasibility checks

AI tools help determine whether a project is viable by using data on zoning restrictions, access to amenities, demographic trends, and site constraints. This helps firms choose the most strategic locations, speed up feasibility studies and reduce time spent on iterations that may never materialize.

2. Rapid design exploration

AI in architecture design helps generate multiple schematic layout options based on a project’s goals, site constraints, and program needs. Instead of spending hours drafting variations, architects can instantly compare different massing strategies, orientations, or unit mixes, giving them more bandwidth to focus on quality over quantity.

3. Data-driven decision making

AI tools make it easier to evaluate how a design will perform – whether in terms of daylight, energy use, or carbon impact. Instead of waiting days for simulation results, architects get instant feedback and adjust their designs in real time. This helps teams make better decisions about building orientation, materials, and envelope strategies.

4. Reduced admin workload

During construction administration, AI handles tedious but critical tasks like reviewing submittals, tracking RFIs, and issuing change orders. Tools like Part3 automatically check submittals against spec requirements and flag missing elements. This saves time, reduces delays and improves coordination with contractors.

5. Smarter collaboration across teams

AI-integrated platforms like OpenSpace or ArkDesign mentioned above make it easier for hybrid or distributed teams to stay aligned. For examples, OpenSpace uses AI-powered 360° imagery to document job site progress, syncing it to floor plans for remote walk-throughs and quality checks. This streamlines collaboration between the field and office, and reduces the risk of missed details or miscommunications.

6. Post-occupancy insights

AI’s role doesn’t end at project completion. AI-driven systems can monitor HVAC usage, occupant behavior, and energy performance in real time, offering insights that support ongoing sustainability and comfort goals. In some firms, post-occupancy data is even looped back into design tools, helping architects improve future layouts and system choices with real-world feedback.

7. More sustainable outcomes

AI platforms give real-time data on carbon impact, energy use, and lifecycle costs. That means you can make better decisions around insulation, mechanical systems, or renewable options, before designs are finalized. As a result, you can avoid costly revisions and help meet regulatory standards from day one.

8. Better communication with clients

AI-generated visuals and text summaries help teams communicate ideas more clearly to non-technical stakeholders. Whether it’s a simplified zoning summary for a city planner or a visual walkthrough for a client, AI helps bridge the technical gap, without oversimplifying the design intent.

What’s next for using AI in architecture?

Today’s AI tools focus on accelerating specific tasks, like zoning checks or submittal reviews, but the next wave of AI will be more integrated, adaptive, and strategic. 

Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Connected workflows - Instead of switching between siloed tools, architects will work in unified platforms that handle feasibility, design, code compliance, and documentation in one place, with AI guiding decisions throughout.

• Predictive intelligence - AI will help forecast project outcomes, from energy use and construction timelines to permitting risk, giving architects a stronger strategic role early in the process.

• Collaboration with BIM and digital twins - AI will be embedded deeper into BIM ecosystems, allowing real-time updates to site progress, clash detection, and post-occupancy analytics using live building data.

• More focus on ethics and transparency - As AI takes on more design decisions, architects are demanding greater accountability from these tools. In the same AIA study cited above, 90% of architects cited concerns about authenticity, while 94% flagged risks of inaccuracy and unintended consequences. Tools will need to not only justify their outputs but also be transparent about the data behind them.

• Automation of entire project phases – Software is beginning to move beyond isolated tasks and take on entire project stages. SWAPP is already targeting the automation of the construction documentation phase, and Part3 is aiming to do the same for construction administration—bringing structure, speed, and clarity to a historically manual and fragmented process.

Ready to put AI to work on your next project?

If reviewing documents is taking up hours of your week, it's time to streamline your workflow. Purpose-built for architects, Part3’s Submittal Assistant uses AI to automate some of the most tedious parts of construction admin – reviewing, organizing, and responding to submittals.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Cut review times from hours to minutes with AI-powered document checks.

• Catch missing items automatically before they become on-site problems.

• Track approvals, RFIs, and changes in one place—no more inbox chaos.

• Improve client satisfaction with faster turnaround times and fewer delays.

• Make your team happier by eliminating repetitive work.

Book a demo today to see how AI streamlines construction admin work and gives you back your design time!