Winners of the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) National AI Design Award, Share Insights on Technology, Design Philosophy, and the Future of Architecture
Reza Rahimpour, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at SGA
Reza acts as Principal at SGA, where he takes on the critical role of leading SGA’s New York Architectural Practice. Reza brings with him a wealth of experience as a proven market leader, particularly in New York City and tri-state, where he has successfully contributed to the design and delivery of some of the city’s iconic award-winning architectural commissions.
At SGA, Reza focuses on Business Development, Architecture and Design Leadership, and is responsible for fostering a collaborative environment that empowers both the New York City and Boston offices.
Before joining SGA, Reza served as a principal at OBM International, Perkins Eastman, and S9 architecture, where he led the firm’s multi-family practice. His leadership has been instrumental in driving successful projects, and he is widely regarded for his ability to build strong client relationships.
Shin-Yau Huang, AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager at SGA
Shin-Yau is an architect, planner, and urban designer who always keeps the bigger picture in mind. Her goal is to create great spaces that respond to and shape neighborhood context, enhance surrounding environments, and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. At SGA, she draws on her extensive experience and technical expertise in master planning, programming, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use developments in order to supervise projects and work with clients and teams on design, coordination, and collaboration. She contributes to thoughtful approaches, pays special attention to details, and strives for excellence.
Shin-Yau began her career at Beyer Blinder Belle in New York City, starting as an urban designer and rising to project architect over the course of 10 years. There she honed her expertise in master planning, urban design, mixed-use development, and multi-family housing projects. Subsequently, she worked at ODA as a senior project architect specializing in multi-family housing. She continued to amass a portfolio in that sector at Cetra Ruddy, where she served as a project manager before joining SGA.
An interview conducted by Dity Ayalon, AIA, Founder and CEO of ArkDesign.AI
When SGA Architects won the prestigious SARA National AI Award, it marked a significant milestone not just for the firm, but for the broader conversation about technology’s role in architectural practice. In an extensive interview, Dity Ayalon sat down with two key members of the award-winning team—Principal Reza Rahimpour and Project Manager Shin-Yau Huang—to explore their groundbreaking work on the winning preliminary project study in New York City, and to understand how artificial intelligence is improving their design process without replacing the human creativity at its core.
The Award-Winning Project: Balancing Complexity and Vision
Dity Ayalon: Congratulations again on your amazing SARA award. Let’s start with an overview of your award-winning architectural project.
Reza Rahimpour: The project is a mixed-use, but predominantly residential building located in New York City. Due to the confidential nature of the project, we can’t disclose the exact location as of now. What makes this project particularly interesting is that it sits on a very complex site—one that’s divided between various zoning districts, a complex zoning special district, and a grandfathered zoning lot merger with existing buildings and opportunities to create a world-class unique experience for the future tenants.
With a prominent location offering magnificent views for a luxury condominium, we had to conduct numerous studies to maximize floor plate configuration aligned with views, which would be the primary selling point after the one-of-a-kind location of the project. At the same time, we should comply with all the zoning requirements and the attributed FAR (Floor Area Ratio) and zoning restrictions within each district. These constraints, along with maximizing natural light within each unit, directly informed the massing and how we shaped the building to maximize ROI for our client.
We tried to leverage the constraints to come up with creative solutions while being cognizant about where the value lies—in terms of layouts, how the building’s massing would take shape, and access from the surrounding streets. Our goal was to solve the massing and unit distribution in a way that maximizes the marketability of these units as state-of-the-art condos.
Shin-Yau Huang: To follow up on Reza’s points, value creation for this project is extremely important. The client is marketing this as a super luxury condominium catering very large units, comparable to the comparable New York City market. We’re optimizing the views and taking advantage of the building’s height potential—that’s why we proposed a super tall tower with strategic step-downs.
These steps aren’t just a massing move but a tool to create real value for the residents, especially at heights where views matter most. Interestingly, when you go above the 20th floor, most views become somewhat uniform—they flatten out. The real variety in the viewing experience occurs from approximately the third to the 20th floor, where the changes in the urban landscape are more noticeable.
We strategically placed extensive terracing at lower levels, so more units will have access to outdoor space where there’s minimal wind disturbance. At the same time, residents can enjoy outdoor terraces that take full advantage of these dynamic views.
Dity: I noticed that the units are really, really big, and every unit has almost 180 degrees of view. How did you lay out the cores and organize the apartments to achieve that kind of access?
Shin-Yau: We actually used the AI tool extensively for this, and it helped provide several options for us to choose from. But we carefully determined the best option for the project. Again, it comes back to optimizing the views and thinking strategically about the modules—where we could potentially place living rooms and bedrooms in the building—and actually utilizing those step-down terraces for both view and outdoor space potential.
Navigating Zoning Complexity and Design Constraints
Dity: So we’ve touched on your primary design objectives—maximizing views, light, and air. What were the most significant challenges you encountered?
Shin-Yau: Zoning was definitely a challenge on this site. As Reza mentioned, the site actually sits in various zoning districts. Each has limited height requirements, specific setback rules, and maximum FAR restrictions. We had to strategically approach this as a cohesive building, not three separate buildings, while working within all these constraints and also existing structures on the merged zoning lot.
We are quite happy with where we’ve achieved—a tower with strategic steps, value creation through terracing, maximizing views and natural light, and a sustainability approach. At the same time, we should mention that this was a very quick test-fit charrette, to provide clarity on the deal from a financial to marketability standpoint. We haven’t really delved into the actual architectural design of the building yet.
Reza: Exactly. Hopefully, if the deal goes through, we’ll have the opportunity to enhance and refine it. Additionally, adjacent buildings created limitations on massing and separation distances. Navigating these constraints required innovative solutions to balance compliance, efficiency, and design excellence—ultimately turning regulatory challenges into opportunities for creative problem-solving.
SGA: Three Decades of Innovation and Excellence
Dity: Now I’d love to hear about your practice—your company, your passions, your history. Please tell us about SGA.
Reza: Sure. SGA, which was established in 1991, is an award-winning Boston-based firm with an office in New York. We cover a large range of building typologies and practice areas from life science and office buildings to master planning, residential, healthcare, higher education and mission-critical facilities like data centers and battery storage. We also have significant experience in master planning and entitlement work.
We’re a 50-person-strong team of designers and architects and very proud of being design-sensitive while innovative in project delivery. We’re at the forefront of utilizing all available technologies, particularly BIM (Building Information Modeling), in very complex projects. This is especially important when designing laboratories, which require meticulous coordination.
The company has developed a proprietary system called Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) that brings decision-makers on board early to reduce design and construction time significantly and deliver the project with minimal change of orders. Our team leverages BIM early on to facilitate design decisions for the client and ensure quality construction documentation. When a client looks at the rendering, we can ensure that it is precisely what will be built. This has tremendously helped with budgeting and scheduling, especially on fast-track projects when clients need accelerated timelines.
Shin-Yau: On the sustainability side, SGA is quite advanced in its commitment to sustainable design and construction. Many LEED Gold and Platinum certified buildings in the Boston area have already been built by SGA and are currently occupied and performing well.
Another platform that’s been developed at SGA is a project management system that brings all decision-makers and service providers under one umbrella. It’s essentially a centralized communication and documentation platform.
Reza: It’s accurate to describe it as a comprehensive project coordination platform. All records are saved to keep every team member informed about project status at all times. This helps us be very transparent and open with the entire project team and deliver quality projects every single time.
Shin-Yau: Consultants and the construction team—when they’re brought on board early—typically have access to the latest information all the time on their desktop. It eliminates frustrating questions like, “Where is the latest schedule?” or “Where can I find the most recent drawings?” Everything is organized, and everyone has constant access.
Dity: Amazing! So you developed this tool internally at SGA?
Shin-Yau: Yes, that’s right. It came out of the Virtual Design and Construction process. We now use the same platform for every single project, even if we’re not providing VDC on that particular project. We still use what we call the SGA Dashboard.
Dity: That’s impressive. Anything else about your personal careers—your passions, what you’re good at, what you’d love to do?
Design Philosophy: Contextual Modernism and Lasting Impact
Reza: I can give you a bit of my history. I started practicing architecture in 2001 after graduating with a master’s degree in architecture. I’ve worked in different practice areas—from mixed-use and large-scale master planning to residential developments— across the U.S. and overseas. Many of the projects I’ve been involved with have been in the tri-state area: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. I’ve also worked on large master planning projects in the Middle East.
In terms of design approach, I’ve always believed in what we call “contextual modernism.” Meaning that I don’t look at buildings as individual design expressions or fancy sculptures or reflections of personal decisions in a specific architectural style but, in my view, buildings are part of an organic, living environment called a city.
Not every project should be a landmark. Sometimes we want to create a cell as part of the organic fabric of the city that reflects the identity and unique characteristics of its context. When we approach a project, we look at the context, the history, and the surrounding buildings. We try not to copy, but to be inspired by the context and reflect it in our design. At the same time, the building must have its own timestamp. Two hundred years from now, we don’t want future generations to look at our building and the one next door and think they were built at the same time when they were actually two centuries apart.
Additionally, every project presents a unique chance to make a lasting impact. Given the limited number of projects an architect undertakes that will actually be built, and considering that most of these structures will outlast us and stand for generations, it is important that we consistently deliver our best. We must seize every opportunity to create the finest possible outcome.
Of course, there are so many other aspects to consider—budget, schedule, and sometimes design becomes a very personal and opinion-driven process but considering all those factors, we try to provide the best answer we can. I’m proud of many of the opportunities I’ve had so far, and I look forward to being able to contribute more during the rest of my career.
Dity: Very inspiring, Reza. Truly beautiful. It’s inspiring to think about being part of that legacy.
Shin-Yau: I share similar thoughts with Reza. I actually started my career as an urban planner and designer, looking at the overall urban context from a planning perspective—how to build a city—and then gradually moved into the architectural world.
When designing a building or architectural project, I always have that bigger picture in mind. How do you work with the context? How do you take advantage of adjacent views, height restrictions, open space, and the public realm? How do we create something not just for the building itself or its users, but also contribute to the surrounding neighborhood and context?
I love all these aspects of projects and try to seize every opportunity, making sure we optimize each project’s potential for our client, for society, and for the city as a whole.
Creating Containers for Life: Project Typologies and Methodology
Dity: Tell me about your passions—what projects you’d love to do, your methodology, philosophy, or specific typologies you’re excited about creating.
Reza: I think regardless of the project type—and of course, each project requires a certain level of specialized knowledge—at the end of the day, all projects in architecture involve creating a container for the contained, which is life at its core.
The building occupants inhabit the spaces we design as part of their life experience, to be protected, to work, to create, to help others, or to find comfort. In that sense, the building typology doesn’t really matter as long as we look at it as an opportunity to serve and leave a timeless legacy.
The only difference is what goes into each type of architecture. If you’re designing a lab, of course, there’s a different set of rules and requirements. If you’re designing an office, the concept is the same, but the requirements would change slightly. In reality, we’re creating a built environment for our fellow human beings and sometimes in conjunction with other creatures, for example, a zoo or an aquarium, and we try to do the best we can.
In the process, we aim to gain knowledge and tap into the expertise of team members. We try to connect the dots between clients, builders, consultants, and the design team. We become a vehicle to conduct the design with a coherent team that can deliver a successful project.
But the DNA of what I talked about earlier—that each building is just a vehicle, and we are only a channel to connect all the dots and bring this product to life remains almost the same across all project types.
Shin-Yau: The process is also a team effort to achieve the result everybody wanted. Going through that process and seeing the successful result of a project that meets the owner’s goals, with the team working together to make it happen, is an enjoyable process in itself.
Real Estate Development: Balancing Metrics with Design Excellence
Dity: You’re working on larger buildings, not single-family homes—really impactful urban projects in Boston and New York. You work with clients who are more likely to be companies and real estate developers rather than private homeowners. I’m sure that what you discussed about buildings being successful vehicles and providing good environments for inhabitants is paramount. But real estate developer clients also need metrics, efficiency, optimization, and hard numbers. How do you approach this aspect? What’s your advantage or differentiation with clients regarding planning and the initial design stages?
Reza: Most of these metrics and demands are part of the overarching design process. Architecture, unlike visual art, isn’t just a reflection of what an architect likes. It’s something that has to work with function, code requirements, budgets, timelines, and the availability of certain materials.
The architect’s role is to be able to respond to all these aspects simultaneously. That’s why I think it’s crucial to have not just design talent, but a comprehensive understanding of all these factors. When working with real estate clients, the most critical performance metrics and project outcomes are those that directly influence value, marketability, and long-term return on investment.
We focus on maximizing net rentable area and efficiency ratios, ensuring the building achieves optimal floor plate utilization without compromising design quality. Market alignment is equally important—unit mix, floor plate flexibility, and amenity programming must respond to current and projected demand.
From a financial standpoint, cost per square foot, construction schedule, and leasing velocity are key drivers of success. On the performance side, sustainability and energy efficiency metrics—such as LEED certification, Energy Use Intensity, and operating costs—significantly impact operating expenses and long-term asset value.
Finally, we consider placemaking and design quality outcomes, such as daylight access, views, and integration with the surrounding urban fabric. These elements support tenant satisfaction, higher absorption rates, and stronger long-term returns. It’s about finding that balance between the quantifiable metrics and the qualitative experience that ultimately drives value.
Balancing Innovation with Practical Constraints
Dity: How do you balance innovation with practical constraints like budget, timeline, and regulatory requirements?
Reza: Innovation involves the ability to adapt to constraints in all forms. We approach design with a dual lens: pushing for inventive solutions that enhance value—through massing, material choices, or spatial efficiency—while rigorously testing them against budget, schedule, and regulatory frameworks.
Close collaboration with consultants, contractors, and city agencies ensures that forward-thinking design strategies remain feasible. Value engineering and phased planning help keep projects on track without compromising architectural quality. The constraints could become the creative catalyst rather than limitations.
Sustainability: Embedded from the Beginning
Dity: What role does sustainability play in your design process?
Reza: At SGA, sustainability isn’t a separate layer in our design process—it’s embedded from the very beginning. We approach every project with an eye toward orientation, massing, and natural light to reduce energy demand before mechanical systems are even considered.
Material selection is equally critical. We favor durable, low-impact materials that age well and minimize embodied carbon. At the planning phase, we incorporate green infrastructure, stormwater management, and mobility options that support healthier urban environments.
We also evaluate life cycle costs and adaptability, ensuring that buildings can be repurposed or recycled in the future. For us, sustainability is about creating architecture that is environmentally responsible today while remaining resilient and beneficial for generations to come.
Measuring Success Beyond Initial Delivery
Dity: How do you measure the success of a completed project beyond initial client satisfaction?
Reza: We measure success not only by the client’s initial satisfaction but by how a project performs and endures over time. Ultimately, most buildings outlast the team that designed and constructed them, and we must be cognizant of that fact. Our responsibility is to leave behind places that not only serve current needs but also benefit future generations.
A truly successful building demonstrates a timeless design vernacular that feels relevant and engaging long after completion, while its materials age gracefully, gaining character without compromising performance. I also look at the life cycle cost of the project—whether operating and maintenance expenses align with sustainable, efficient goals—and the flexibility of the structure to be recycled, adapted, or repurposed as needs evolve.
Most importantly, the long-term satisfaction of occupants—their comfort, productivity, and connection to the space—is the strongest indicator that the design continues to provide value well beyond its delivery. For SGA, a project is only truly complete when it creates lasting value for both clients and the communities it serves.
The AI Advantage: Time Savings and Design Flexibility
Dity: Now, I’d love to understand more about designing with an AI tool. Can you share your thoughts—maybe an example of how it helped you, or recommendations for other architects considering using such tools?
Reza: I should admit that ARK Design is a big, big, big time-saver. At the same time, compared to other AI platforms, it still keeps the architect in the driver’s seat. There’s enough flexibility for the architect to intervene, which is crucial. Sometimes with other platforms, it becomes difficult to make corrections because they lack that flexibility.
This platform provides a balance between the time-saving aspects of design and feasibility studies, while also giving you the flexibility to inject the architect’s vision—or the client’s expectations—directly into the platform and get results very fast. The fact that it almost eliminates the most time-consuming processes—crunching numbers, drawing all the demising walls one by one—is invaluable. It provides the initial concept of unit blocking diagrams, which are really, really helpful in the feasibility study process. The amount of time saved is amazing.
On the other hand, other AI tools are becoming better by day, taking prompts from the architect and delivering outstanding outputs in minutes. While these techniques are evolving day by day, I think we shouldn’t raise the expectations too high. Decisions are made in a much more complex process than just a quick rendering, a look and feel presentation, or the preparation of a set of plans. Cost and budget, available materials and labor, ever-changing codes and regulations and market demand are some of the examples that impact the final decision in design. The complexity of these decisions makes AI by itself not completely independent from its operator to be able to perform on its own, and I don’t believe that can happen anytime soon in the field of architecture, or I hope so at minimum.
Shin-Yau: I agree completely. It was actually my first time using it for this project, and having access to this AI platform was really eye-opening. The user-friendly interface and intuitive process for architects to manage the design process impressed me. Also, seeing the summary of the product presented in such a quick and simple way, I really like the design of this platform. It’s definitely a valuable tool for architects.
Reza: I have to add that you’ve done a great job creating an intuitive, user-friendly platform. Someone without necessarily deep knowledge of drafting or using complex software can get up and running in maybe two or three hours. That’s really amazing, and we should acknowledge that.
A Specific Example: Mixed-Use Concept Design
Dity: Can you share a specific example of how AI tools helped you overcome a particular design challenge or enhance project outcomes?
Reza: On a recent mixed-use residential project, we integrated AI tools early in the concept design phase to quickly test massing strategies. By leveraging the AI with parameters such as the allowable zoning envelope, unit mix, and contextual height restrictions, we were able to generate multiple massing iterations in hours rather than weeks.
Through targeted prompting, we achieved a strong first draft of the concept design that balanced aesthetics, efficiency, and sustainability—providing a solid foundation for refinement. It ultimately saved significant design time while improving project outcomes. This approach allowed our team to focus more on the creative aspects and fine-tuning rather than getting bogged down in the initial technical iterations.
The Future: AI as a Collaborative Partner
Dity: Looking ahead, how do you envision AI and other emerging technologies transforming architectural practice in the next five to ten years?
Reza: In the next decade, I see AI and emerging technologies profoundly reshaping architecture into a more adaptive and collaborative practice. AI-driven design tools will accelerate early-stage concept development—from space planning and test-fits to massing studies and sustainability simulations—allowing architects to explore and refine far more options in less time.
Automated documentation and code compliance will streamline delivery, while AR/VR and digital twins will become standard in engaging clients, managing construction, and monitoring building performance long after occupancy. These tools will not only optimize efficiency and reduce risk but also deepen our ability to design for resilience, sustainability, and adaptability—creating buildings that can evolve with future needs.
Shin-Yau: One of the most transformative trends is the deeper integration of AI and data-driven design tools, which allow us to optimize massing, orientation, and energy performance from the earliest concept stages. Generative design and parametric modeling are streamlining workflows, enabling rapid iteration while aligning projects with sustainability goals and market demands.
BIM is evolving into a holistic lifecycle management tool, integrating design, construction, and facilities operations in a single platform. Immersive technologies like AR/VR are reshaping client engagement and decision-making, while digital twin models are redefining how we measure performance and maintain buildings long after completion.
Importantly, AI is expanding beyond analysis into space planning, test-fits, and even early design visualization, accelerating the production of presentations, renderings, and concept narratives that help clients evaluate options more effectively. Collectively, these advancements are making architectural practice more collaborative, efficient, and responsive to both environmental and economic challenges.
Final Thoughts: AI as an Enabler, Not a Replacement
Dity: Based on your experience, what recommendations would you offer to fellow architects considering integrating AI tools into their design workflow?
Reza: AI should be seen as an enabler, not a replacement. It streamlines time-consuming aspects of the design process, freeing architects to focus on creativity and critical thinking. However, it’s essential not to let the tool dictate the design.
While it’s common for our tools to influence our methods, flexibility is key. When software reaches its limits, designers must be prepared to sketch, iterate, and innovate by hand or through other methods. In short, embrace AI as part of a flexible toolkit while staying rooted in the fundamentals of design thinking.
Shin-Yau: I believe that the careful utilization of AI will empower it to become a powerful collaborator, enhancing efficiency and amplifying the most human aspect of design: our capacity to shape meaningful and enduring spaces.
The conversation with Reza Rahimpour and Shin-Yau Huang reveals a firm deeply committed to both technological innovation and timeless design principles. As SGA continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI-integrated design tools, their focus remains steadfast on creating architecture that serves people, respects context, and leaves a lasting positive impact on the built environment. Their SARA National AI Award recognition is not just acknowledgment of a single project’s success, but validation of a thoughtful, human-centered approach to integrating technology into architectural practice—one that promises to shape the future of the profession while honoring its essential purpose: creating containers for life.
