Key Takeaways
- The rise of artificial intelligence is driving the demand for data centers, with a forecasted $5.2 trillion investment in AI infrastructure by 2030.
- Internet outages, such as the Amazon Web Services outage, can have significant impacts on architects and web users who rely on cloud-based services.
- Artificial intelligence is being used in innovative ways, such as in building inspections and 3D printing, to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- The biotech building boom is slowing down, but there remains a need for flexible and adaptable laboratory and biotech facilities.
- 3D printing is becoming a viable and cost-effective way to build, particularly for affordable housing.
Introduction to the Rise of Technology
With each passing year, technology holds users more and more captive. The proliferation of artificial intelligence and its applications is becoming increasingly pervasive, and it’s hard to predict what the future holds. In 2025, the rise of ChatGPT and image-rendering generators kept internet users engaged, and the demand for data centers continues to grow. As architects and designers look to the future, they are considering the potential implications of these advancements on their work and the built environment.
The Growing Demand for Data Centers
The rise of artificial intelligence is further propelling the already demanding need for data centers. A report from McKinsey forecasts a $5.2 trillion investment in AI infrastructure by 2030, with 15 percent of that flowing to builders for land, materials, and site development. Architects and developers delivering data centers are forced to reckon with the building typology’s significant environmental toll. The Vantage datacenter designed by Corgan in Goodyear, Arizona, is an example of the type of facility that is being built to meet this growing demand. As the demand for data centers continues to grow, it will be important for architects and developers to consider the environmental implications of these facilities and to design them in a way that minimizes their impact.
The Impact of Internet Outages
While we may view the infrastructure that supports the internet as invincible, it has bad days too. On October 20, an Amazon Web Services outage temporarily shut down many internet-reliant services, including Autodesk, which affected hundreds of products and forced architects to stop work. Additionally, Cloudflare, a Content Delivery Network (CDN), went dark a few times, leaving many websites and internet-based services shuttered and unusable. These outages highlight the importance of having robust and reliable internet infrastructure and the need for architects and designers to have backup plans in place in case of outages.
Innovative Uses of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is capable of much more than just answering prompts. For building inspectors in Detroit, it’s the mechanics behind a pilot program that is uncovering thermal deficiencies in buildings. Via drone, the technology developed by Lamarr.AI scans rooftops, facades, and building envelopes with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras able to detect heat loss, insulation gaps, and structural vulnerabilities that often go undetected. This innovative use of artificial intelligence has the potential to improve building efficiency and reduce costs. Other examples of innovative uses of artificial intelligence include 3D printing, which is becoming a viable and cost-effective way to build, particularly for affordable housing.
The Future of 3D Printing
Conversations around 3D printing continue to be top of mind, especially in terms of delivering affordable housing, quickly and cheaply. This year, AN spoke with Ronald Rael, an architect who has been experimenting with the method for years. Rael talked about his rig set-up and how his practice is grappling with AI-image generators to convey building designs and ideas. Other 3D-printed projects include a row of affordable houses in rural California and a fully 3D-printed, multi-story home in Singapore. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see more innovative and cost-effective uses of this technology in the built environment.
The Biotech Building Boom
The building boom the biotech industry saw in recent years is fizzling out. The pandemic brought an onslaught of life sciences investment in 2021 and 2022, but recent cuts from the federal government to subsidies that supported the research underway in these laboratory spaces have worsened the situation. While it appears to be most bleak for academic institutions, there remains a need for space to develop and manufacture medical devices and conduct pharmaceutical research. For those designing laboratory and biotech facilities, flexibility is key, as the needs of these facilities are constantly evolving. The Center for Novel Therapeutics in Jolla, California, designed by Perkins&Will, is an example of the type of facility that is being built to meet the needs of the biotech industry.
Conclusion
As technology continues to advance and become more pervasive, it is likely that we will see significant changes in the way that architects and designers work and the built environment. The rise of artificial intelligence, the growing demand for data centers, and the innovative uses of technology, such as 3D printing and drone inspections, are just a few examples of the ways in which technology is changing the field. As architects and designers look to the future, it will be important for them to consider the potential implications of these advancements and to design buildings and facilities that are flexible, adaptable, and sustainable.