How SGA is Redefining Multifamily Feasibility Studies with ArkDesign.AI

Inside the SARA Award–Winning Process Showcasing the Future of AI-Augmented Architecture

At the 2025 SARA National AI Design Awards, SGA—a leading architectural practice with offices in Boston and New York—was recognized for its innovative use of ArkDesign.AI in its multifamily feasibility workflows. During the award presentation, Shin Yau Huang, Senior Project Manager at SGA, delivered a comprehensive walkthrough of the firm’s process, demonstrating exactly how AI is shaping early-stage design decision-making.

This article captures the full narrative of SGA’s presentation, offering a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at how the firm integrates AI into its practice while maintaining strong architectural authorship.

About SGA: A Technology-Driven Architectural Practice with Nearly 40 Years of Leadership

Founded in 1991, SGA has grown into a highly respected, design-forward practice specializing in master planning, life sciences, higher education, multifamily housing, adaptive reuse, and workplace design. With 50 professionals across Boston and New York, the firm is known for its:

Commitment to Design Innovation

• Fully BIM-enabled workflows (100% Revit)
• The proprietary SGA Dashboard for owner-architect-contractor collaboration
• Established digital processes enabling transparent communication and streamlined decision-making

Excellence in Sustainable Design

• Net-zero buildings
• Passive House leadership in New York and New England
• Climate-responsive design strategies across markets

Proven Track Record

• 80% repeat business
• Long-term partnerships with developers, institutions, and corporate clients

SGA’s strong embrace of emerging technologies—including AI-assisted design tools—positions the firm at the forefront of architectural innovation.

Why Feasibility Studies Matter in Multifamily Development

Beyond delivering built work, SGA frequently collaborates with developers at the earliest stage of a project: the feasibility study. These studies answer essential questions:

• What is the site’s development potential?
• What massing configurations unlock the best yield?
• How do zoning constraints affect height, bulk, and setbacks?
• What mix of units aligns with the market and client goals?
• How quickly can a coherent vision be presented?

This is where ArkDesign.AI amplifies architectural intuition with computational precision.

Project Spotlight: “NISA” — A Luxury Condo Tower Feasibility Study in NYC

One of the award-winning projects highlighted by SGA is a confidential super-luxury condo development in New York City, referred to as “NISA.”

Although the exact address remains private, the site presented one of the most complex zoning analyses the firm had encountered:

• The parcel spans three zoning districts
• Portions of the site have transferred development rights
• Height and setback rules vary dramatically across the lot
• The north side offers unique long-range open views
• Rear yard and open space constraints required creative solutions

Despite these complexities, SGA leveraged the combined power of human expertise and ArkDesign.AI to craft a visionary, feasible concept: a 47-story luxury tower with 87 high-end residences.

SGA’s Step-by-Step Design Workflow Using ArkDesign.AI

Shin Yau Huang outlined the detailed methodology behind the project. While AI played a critical role, the design process remained deeply human, structured, and thoughtfully executed.

STEP 1: Comprehensive Site & Context Analysis

SGA began by studying the full ecosystem surrounding the site:

Contextual Conditions

• Building footprints and heights in the immediate area
• Solar access and daylighting opportunities
• Noise, views, and neighbouring uses

One key discovery:
→ The north side of the site offered exceptional open views, making it a priority to maximize exposure in that direction.

Zoning & Regulatory Analysis

Using NYC zoning sources such as ZOLA and municipal datasets, SGA mapped:

• Maximum building envelope
• Height restrictions
• Required setbacks and step-backs
• Rear yard requirements
• Lot line conditions
• District-specific rules

Because the parcel intersected multiple zoning districts, SGA had to calculate allowable floor areas both individually and collectively, ensuring compliance across boundaries.

These insights were translated into early hand sketches, which established the design intent and conceptual direction long before AI tools were introduced.

STEP 2: Strategic Massing & Vision Development

Before touching the AI tool, SGA clarified the architectural strategy:

• Prioritize view corridors toward the north
• Create stacked terraces to enhance indoor/outdoor living
• Shape a tower profile inspired by “a mountain of abundance and beauty”
• Consolidate circulation into a centralized core
• Optimize structural continuity across 47 floors

With the vision defined, the team began integrating AI.

STEP 3: Setting Up ArkDesign.AI with Zoning Inputs

ArkDesign.AI became the central design engine once the groundwork was established.

SGA entered:

• Site boundary
• Zoning district-specific controls
• Maximum height and base height
• Floor-to-floor targets
• Setback rules
• Optional zoning deductions (e.g., all-electric building incentives)

The platform instantly produced a zoning-compliant buildable envelope—something that traditionally requires hours of manual modelling.

STEP 4: AI-Assisted Massing Generation & Adjustment

With parameters defined, ArkDesign produced multiple massing iterations:

• Height variants
• Setback configurations
• Different core placements
• Volume adjustments

SGA would then manually refine each iteration, ensuring the geometry aligned with the conceptual framework developed earlier.

The result was a cohesive tower massing generated far more rapidly than traditional modelling processes.

STEP 5: AI-Generated Unit Blocking & Manual Refinement

One of the most impactful features for SGA was ArkDesign’s unit-layout generator.

SGA customized:

• Minimum room width (e.g., 10 feet for luxury units)
• Unit size ranges across studios, 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR typologies
• Desired number of units per floor
• Layout preferences

With a single click, the platform generated valid typologies across the floor plate.

But this is where human expertise was critical:

• Adjusting units to maximize northern views
• Ensuring proper corridor access
• Upgrading specific units (e.g., converting a 2BR to a 3BR)
• Realigning walls to meet luxury standards
• Ensuring core connections remain efficient
• Refining unit boundaries after each regeneration

The combination of rapid iteration + thoughtful manual tuning resulted in high-quality, highly optimized unit configurations.

STEP 6: Real-Time Area Analysis & Zoning Validation

ArkDesign’s built-in quantitative tools allowed SGA to:

• Compare gross area vs. zoning floor area
• Apply zoning deductions (including NYC’s 5%–10% sustainability incentives)
• Check efficiency ratios
• Verify unit mix alignment with the target program

Instead of waiting until the end, SGA validated feasibility during design—making every early move more informed.

STEP 7: Final Deliverables Generated in a Single Platform

For the final presentation to the client, ArkDesign.AI supplied:

• Massing diagrams
• Annotated plans
• Core layouts
• Unit mix charts
• Zoning area tables
• 3D conceptual views
• AI-enhanced renderings (via OpenAI & Gemini)

SGA added graphic polish and annotations, resulting in a refined feasibility package—completed in a fraction of the typical time.

Additional SGA Projects Completed Using ArkDesign.AI

1. New Jersey Wood-Frame Multifamily Development

This project, a four-over-one wood frame residential development with a parking podium, involved multiple phases (Phases 1, 2, and 3).

Using ArkDesign.AI, SGA generated:

• Multiple building configurations
• Residential area and unit summaries
• Typical floor plans for each phase

The entire feasibility package was delivered within one week, significantly accelerating client approval and internal decision-making.

2. Waterfront Luxury Residential Tower

Another recently completed feasibility study involved a waterfront site:

SGA used ArkDesign.AI to explore:

• Aggressive setback strategies
• Angled volumes maximizing waterfront exposure
• Indoor/outdoor terraces
• Varied massing forms for client comparison

In both these projects, the ability to test multiple large-scale options quickly was invaluable.

SGA’s Reflections: Benefits & the Role of the Architect

Shin concluded the presentation with thoughtful insights on how AI fits into the design process.

Key Advantages of ArkDesign.AI

1. Centralized ecosystem for zoning, massing, floor plans, and unit layouts
2. Intuitive user experience, accessible even to first-time users
3. Significant time savings, enabling more client interactions and design refinement
4. Flexible generative options, supporting rapid iteration and decision-making
5. Clear documentation, ideal for feasibility and early concept presentations

But AI Does Not Replace Architects.

Shin emphasized that while ArkDesign.AI accelerates workflows, the architect remains at the core:

• Interpreting zoning nuance
• Crafting design vision
• Making judgment calls
• Refining layout quality
• Ensuring technical feasibility
• Communicating with clients
• Leading the direction of the project

The AI is a tool—the architect is the driver.

Conclusion: A New Standard for AI-Enhanced Feasibility Studies

SGA’s work demonstrates how architectural expertise and AI-enhanced workflows can coexist seamlessly. By blending human creativity with computational efficiency, SGA delivers feasibility studies that are:

• Faster
• More precise
• More visually compelling
• Better aligned with zoning realities
• More grounded in strategic design thinking

This successful integration is why SGA was honoured with the 2025 SARA National AI Design Award and why the firm continues to lead the conversation on the responsible, high-impact use of AI in architecture.