This course is part of the Business and Technology of Architecture Academy

This webinar is part of the Business of Architecture Academy

This webinar will explore the challenges, solutions, and creative options available to architects and development planners looking to improve the modern community, specifically through the use of 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. In urban housing where space it tight, the use of BIM software can help ensure that internal systems don't clash and that structural elements align perfectly. It also helps with ongoing operations and maintenance, saving time and reducing waste. Speakers in this webinar will discuss both the challenges and opportunities in the landscape of multifamily housing design, and provide examples of how by embracing BIM, urban housing designers and builders can optimize space, reduce design errors, and enhance long-term efficiency. This technology-driven approach not only streamlines the construction process but also sets the foundation for accurate as-built models, facilitating ongoing operations, maintenance, and future renovations.

Bradley Khouri, AIA, Principal, b9 Architects, will present the Madrone Passivhaus project. Located in Seattle's Central Area on a mid-block infill lot in between the Liberty Bank Building and the surrounding residential neighborhood, the Madrone Apartments was designed to Passivhaus standards and with the evolving context of the neighborhood in mind.

Adam Feldmann, Partner, architects—Alliance / B Arch, B ES, OAA, AAA, will present the Maple House project at Canary Landing. The project, a City of Toronto pilot, addresses a pressing need for purpose-built high-quality rental housing at all income levels. a-A and its collaborator, Danish architects Cobe, drew heavily on Block 8’s context of vibrant street life, wild ravines, vestiges of 19th century industry, and intimate Victorian side streets. These elements are reinterpreted into a stacked massing of a robust, low-slung podium, followed by a finely detailed mid-rise component, and topped with sculpted towers that identify the new neighborhood on the skyline.

Al DeLuca, RA, LEED APSenior Associate, ThrivenDesign In this presentation, Al will discuss how utilizing a 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow in urban multifamily housing design provides architects and the entire project team the latitude to adapt the design to address physical site constraints, simplify complex tasks, and apply elements across multiple buildings through several phases of a neighborhood redevelopment site. He'll walk-through the design development of a new 5-floor, 65 unit senior residence in north NJ, that was an addition to an existing library and discuss the challenges encountered where new-meets-existing from the original deep foundations through the roof structure.

The presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion focused on how these innovative urban design projects address several key issues.

Photo courtesy of architects—Alliance

Maple House, Residential Mixed-Use, Toronto

Bradley Khouri, , AIA, Principal b9 architects inc. The founder of b9 architects is passionate about excellence and service. With a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, he focuses on the intersection of education, policy, design innovation, sustainability and real estate development. Bradley develops multifamily infill urban projects to enrich the community through walkable, vibrant density. Over the years, he has served as a member of several AIA Boards and Task Forces, including President of the Board of Directors, advocating for policies that encourage equitable urban policies focused on density and sustainability. Bradley also teaches Architectural Design studios part-time at the University of Washington, College of Built Environments and serves on juries regularly. An avid skier, he enjoys spending his free time hitting the slopes and teaching his children how to ski.

Adam Feldmann, Partner, architects—Alliance / B Arch, B ES, OAA, AAA is a seasoned architect and project manager with 25 years of experience in market and affordable housing, mixed-use developments, academic buildings, and waterfront public spaces. A founding member of the a—A studio, Adam uses intelligent and sustainable design to improve the quality of individual buildings and urban spaces, and enrich the lives of individuals and communities across Canada and the US. Adam is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and has served as a Guest Critic at Waterloo and the University of Toronto Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Design.

Al DeLuca , RA, LEED® AP Senior Associate, Director of Project Services. With over 15 years of experience in the design and construction industries, Al’s professional experience spans a wide variety of residential typologies. As a dedicated member of our firm’s housing studio, and with an intimate working knowledge of local, state and federal guidelines and regulations as they apply to designing for residential applications, Al’s primary focus has been primarily on single family, multifamily and senior residences. His attention to detail, as well as an innate ability to distill the design issues of a project into working solutions has made him an invaluable member of our team—both to colleagues and clients alike.