SGA Wins AI Design Award for Innovative Generative Design Approach to Multi-family Projects

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

Reza Rahimpour, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at SGA & Shin-Yau Huang, AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager at SGA

At the 2025 SARA (Society of American Registered Architects) 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 multi-family feasibility workflows. Shin Yau Huang, AIA, Senior Project Manager at SGA, delivered a comprehensive presentation demonstrating exactly how artificial intelligence is reshaping early-stage design decision-making while maintaining strong architectural authorship.

This article captures the full narrative of SGA’s award-winning approach, offering a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at how the firm integrates AI into its practice to deliver faster, more precise, and strategically grounded feasibility studies.

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

Founded in 1991, SGA has built nearly 40 years of expertise in the architecture industry. With 50 professionals across Boston and New York offices, the firm has established itself as a highly respected, design-forward practice specializing in master planning, life sciences, higher education, multifamily housing, adaptive reuse, workplace design, and amenity space fit-outs.

Commitment to Design Innovation

SGA is known for its technology-forward approach:

• Fully BIM-enabled workflows: All projects are executed in Revit, ensuring precision and coordination
• Proprietary SGA Dashboard: A custom platform developed by the firm to enhance communication between architects, owners, and construction teams
• Digital processes: Established workflows enable transparent communication and streamlined decision-making

Excellence in Sustainable Design

SGA has earned particular distinction in sustainable design:

• Net-zero buildings
• Passive House leadership: First architect to design passive house projects in New York and New England
• Climate-responsive design strategies across markets

Proven Track Record

The firm reports an impressive 80% client return rate, demonstrating 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 Multi-family Development

Beyond delivering built work, SGA frequently collaborates with developers at the earliest stage of a project: the feasibility study. A significant portion of their work involves conducting initial analyses for developers, answering 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?

These studies allow SGA to analyze site potential, understand yield opportunities, and develop strategic visions for new multi-family projects. This is where ArkDesign.AI amplifies architectural intuition with computational precision.

Multi-family Practice Focus

Led by Principal Reza Rahimpour and Huang, SGA’s multi-family portfolio spans the Northeast region, including projects in New York City, Boston, Massachusetts, Washington DC, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Providence, Rhode Island. The practice encompasses:

• High-end residential developments
• Luxury condominiums
• Luxury rentals
• Affordable housing projects in New York City and the DC region

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

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

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

• The parcel spans three different zoning districts
• Portions of the site have transferred development rights to adjacent properties
• 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.

Design Philosophy

The design concept, described as “a mountain of abundance and beauty,” required navigating intricate zoning requirements while maximizing views and natural light. The project exemplifies how SGA integrates AI tools while maintaining architectural expertise and judgment throughout the design process.

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, gathering data from ZOLA (New York City’s Zoning and Land Use Application) and analyzing the surrounding context.

Contextual Conditions:

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

Key Discovery: The north side of the site offered exceptional open views, making it a priority to maximize exposure in that direction—creating opportunities to capitalize on adjacent open space for enhanced views and natural light.

Zoning & Regulatory Analysis:

Using NYC zoning sources and municipal datasets, SGA mapped:

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

Because the parcel intersected multiple zoning districts with air rights transfers, SGA had to calculate allowable floor areas both individually and collectively, ensuring compliance across boundaries. The analysis required examining not only the subject site but also neighboring properties to understand the complete picture.

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 Planning & Vision Development

Despite utilizing AI for data gathering, the team emphasized the continued importance of human analysis and judgment. Before touching the AI tool, SGA clarified the architectural strategy through initial hand sketches:

• Prioritize view corridors toward the north
• Create stacked terraces to enhance indoor-outdoor living and maximize project value
• Shape a tower profile inspired by “a mountain of abundance and beauty”
• Consolidate circulation into a centralized core
• Optimize structural continuity across 47 floors
• Establish optimal building positioning to embrace indoor-outdoor living

With the vision defined and strategic planning complete, the team began integrating AI tools.

STEP 3: Setting Up ArkDesign.AI with Zoning Inputs

ArkDesign.AI became the central design engine once the groundwork was established. SGA employed the platform for massing and floor plan development through several key steps:

Establishing Site Boundaries and Zoning Constraints:

SGA entered critical parameters:

• Site boundary
• Zoning district-specific controls
• Maximum height and base height parameters
• Floor-to-floor targets and story counts
• Setback rules and locations
• 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 modeling.

STEP 4: AI-Assisted Massing Generation & Floor Plan Development

With parameters defined, ArkDesign.AI produced multiple massing iterations and floor plan configurations:

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

Core Layout Strategy: SGA laid out floor plans with centralized core locations, working from top floors downward to ensure continuous, logical core placement. This top-down approach ensures that the core—containing three elevators, mechanical space, and scissor stairs—remains structurally continuous and positioned optimally for the tower design.

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 modeling processes.

STEP 5: AI-Generated Unit Blocking & Manual Refinement

One of the most impactful features for SGA was ArkDesign.AI’s unit-layout generator, which Huang described as his “favorite part” of the process.

Setting Unit Parameters:

SGA customized the AI generation by establishing:

• Minimum room width and depth (e.g., 10 feet for luxury units)
• Unit size ranges across studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom typologies
• Desired number of units per floor
• Layout preferences and desired square footage for each unit type

With a single click on the “AI-generated feature,” the platform generated valid unit typologies across the floor plate in minutes.

The Critical Role of Human Expertise:

However, this is where architectural judgment became essential. After the initial AI generation, architects made critical refinements:

• Adjusting units to maximize northern views and create view opportunities for nearly all units
• Ensuring proper corridor access (correcting units without hallway connections)
• Upgrading specific units (e.g., converting a 2-bedroom to a 3-bedroom where appropriate)
• Realigning walls to meet luxury standards
• Ensuring core connections remain efficient
• Refining unit boundaries after each regeneration

The platform allowed designers to quickly test multiple layout options, then modify and regenerate designs iteratively. The combination of rapid AI iteration plus thoughtful manual tuning resulted in high-quality, highly optimized unit configurations—a process that would traditionally take days compressed into hours.

STEP 6: Real-Time Area Analysis & Zoning Validation

ArkDesign.AI’s built-in quantitative tools allowed SGA to validate feasibility during design rather than waiting until the end.

Floor Area Review:

The platform generates comprehensive area tables showing:

• Gross building area
• Zoning deductions
• Final zoning floor area calculations
• Verification of compliance with allowable zoning square footage

For this project, SGA took advantage of a 10% zoning deduction available for all-electric or ultra-low energy buildings (an additional 5% beyond standard deductions), easily adjustable within the platform. The team could modify assigned deduction percentages based on current city regulations and immediately see the impact on overall floor area.

Unit Mix Summary:

The platform’s unit mix summary feature allows teams to:

• Verify alignment with client programs and desired unit distribution
• Analyze floor area efficiency
• Review opportunities for improvement
• Compare options across different layout scenarios

Instead of waiting until the end, every early design move became more informed through continuous validation.

STEP 7: Final Deliverables Generated in a Single Platform

For the final presentation to the client, ArkDesign.AI supplied immediate visualization tools and comprehensive documentation:

• Schematic sections (conceptual, vertical building organization)
• Conceptual typical floor plans
• Core layouts showing all circulation components
• Massing diagrams and 3D models
• Unit mix charts
• Zoning area tables
• Annotated plans

These components could be easily communicated to clients during initial project phases. SGA enhanced the platform-generated content with additional graphic polish, clear annotations, design intent statements, and summary charts as final presentation materials.

AI-Enhanced Visualization:

Additionally, SGA used OpenAI and Gemini to generate compelling daytime and nighttime exterior renderings, providing clients with photorealistic views of the proposed tower.

The entire feasibility package was refined and professional—completed in a fraction of the typical time.

Additional SGA Projects Completed Using ArkDesign.AI

SGA has successfully applied this AI-enhanced methodology to other recent projects, demonstrating the versatility and efficiency of their approach.

1. New Jersey Wood-Frame Multi-family Development

This project featured a four-over-one construction (four stories of residential units over a one-story parking podium) and was developed in multiple phases.

Project Evolution:

• Phase 1: Single U-shaped building
• Phases 2 & 3: Expansion into a comprehensive master plan

ArkDesign.AI Applications:

Using the platform, SGA generated:

• Multiple building configurations across phases
• Residential floor area summaries
• Unit mix analysis
• Typical floor plans for each phase, clearly showing unit layouts on every residential level

Results: The program helped generate clear, simple documentation that facilitated rapid decision-making. The entire feasibility package was delivered to the client within one week, significantly accelerating client approval and internal decision-making. The client was extremely satisfied with both the speed and quality of deliverables.

2. Waterfront Luxury Residential Tower

Currently in progress, this feasibility study involves a premium waterfront site where views are paramount.

Design Strategy:

Similar to the NYSA luxury condo project, this development emphasizes:

• View optimization through strategic setbacks
• Aggressive setback strategies ensuring nearly all units capture water views
• Angled volumes maximizing waterfront exposure
• Maximum light and air exposure
• Indoor-outdoor living opportunities for residents through terraces
• Varied massing forms for client comparison

ArkDesign.AI Impact:

The ability to rapidly test multiple large-scale massing options and unit configurations proved invaluable, allowing SGA to present diverse scenarios and help clients understand trade-offs between different design approaches.

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

Shin Yau Huang concluded the presentation with thoughtful insights on how AI fits into the architectural design process, emphasizing both the technology’s advantages and the irreplaceable role of human expertise.

Key Advantages of ArkDesign.AI

The firm identified four primary benefits:

1. Centralized Platform: Single, integrated ecosystem for zoning analysis input, massing generation, floor plan development, and unit layout and complete area tables—eliminating the need to work across multiple disconnected tools
2. Intuitive Interface: User-friendly design that facilitates rapid adoption, accessible even to first-time users without extensive training
3. Time Efficiency: Significant time savings throughout the design process, enabling more client interactions, design refinement, and exploration of alternatives
4. Design Flexibility: Multiple AI-generated alternatives for unit mix and layout configurations, supporting rapid iteration and informed decision-making with clear documentation ideal for feasibility and early concept presentations

But AI Does Not Replace Architects

While enthusiastic about AI capabilities and the potential it offers, Huang emphasized a critical principle: architects remain essential to the design process and are still in the driver’s seat.

The Architect’s Irreplaceable Responsibilities:

• Checking facts and verifying AI-generated outputs against regulations and best practices
• Providing interpretations of complex zoning requirements and site constraints
• Making judgments about design quality, feasibility, and appropriateness
• Articulating vision for clients and stakeholders
• Developing strategies and sketches that establish design direction
• Refining layout quality to meet project-specific standards
• Ensuring technical feasibility across all building systems
• Communicating with clients and translating their needs into design solutions
• Leading the design direction and decision-making throughout the entire process

The Human-AI Partnership:

As Huang stated: “The AI tool now offers a lot of possibility and flexibility. However, the architects are still in the driver’s seat to check facts, provide interpretations, make judgments, initiate our vision for the client and develop the strategies and sketches for the design and eventually lead the design direction and decision in this process.”

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

Conclusion: A New Standard for AI-Enhanced Feasibility Studies

SGA’s award-winning 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: Projects completed in days or a single week rather than weeks or months
• More precise: Real-time zoning validation and area calculations eliminate errors
• More visually compelling: Professional-quality visualizations and documentation from day one
• Better aligned with zoning realities: Continuous compliance checking throughout design
• More grounded in strategic design thinking: AI accelerates execution of human-developed vision

This successful integration—maintaining architectural leadership while leveraging AI for speed and precision—is why SGA was honored 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.

The presentation showcased not just a technological achievement, but a thoughtful methodology that respects the architect’s role while embracing tools that make the profession more efficient, responsive, and capable of exploring more design possibilities in service of clients and communities.

As the architecture industry continues to evolve, SGA’s approach offers a compelling blueprint: embrace AI not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a powerful amplifier that allows architects to focus more energy on creativity, strategy, and the aspects of design that truly require human judgment and vision.