Note: The image above was created with the assistance of generative AI.
What will the future bring for architecture and regulation? From resource scarcity and the impact of the built environment on mental well-being, to the future of space architecture and artificial intelligence (AI), emerging trends and rapidly evolving technology provide both threats and opportunities to the architecture profession and the regulatory landscape.
The Futures Collaborative, a committee of dedicated NCARB volunteers, has identified five future-focused aspects of practice that will influence health, safety, and welfare in the built environment: AI, resource stewardship, space architecture, wellness, and the role of the architect. Read the Future Trends Report to understand each theme’s impact on architecture, as well as considerations and recommendations for architectural regulators.
The Future of AI: Is AI actively transforming the role of the architect? The rise of generative design software, machine learning-enhanced simulation platforms, and natural language processing assistants has introduced both unprecedented opportunities and new forms of uncertainty. As AI systems increasingly inform design outcomes, architects are placed in the position of validating, endorsing, or relying upon the outputs of these tools. In response, regulators should take proactive action on the integration of AI in architectural practice.
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The Future of Resource Stewardship: How can architects adapt to increasing resource scarcity and volatility while advancing the long-term health and safety of the built environment? The architecture and construction industry is rapidly approaching a materials crisis due to three key factors: scarcity, volatility, and environmental impact. With these factors raising costs and threatening to disrupt the industry, architects must explore lower-energy, renewable materials that are more locally accessible. Through educational resources, assessment tools, and policy adjustments, regulators have the opportunity to encourage a shift toward greater stewardship of the planet’s limited resources—as well as public health.
The Future of Space Architecture: What role can architects play in this unregulated domain, and how can space architecture inform health, safety, and welfare (HSW) on Earth? Space architecture is a growing industry with the potential to inform and disrupt current architectural practice. Its lack of regulatory boundaries allows for rapid experimentation but may also lead to public safety risks that could ultimately affect architectural practices on Earth if they remain unchecked. As humanity continues working toward inhabiting extraterrestrial environments, there should be significant research and testing to ensure public health, safety, and welfare outside of the current U.S. jurisdiction-bound system.
The Future of Wellness: Do architects have a responsibility to influence mental well-being through the built environment? Architects have a responsibility to protect the HSW of the public. The inclusion of mental well-being within the definition of welfare has the potential to both add value to the role of the architect and to shape the regulatory environment. New technical advancements in neuroscience data collection and biometric analysis allow architects to study the effects of the built environment on public well-being. As these metrics advance, regulators increasingly have the ability to define well-being standards and incorporate measurable guidelines into building code.
The Future of the Architect: How are changing systems and technologies transforming the role of the architect? Changing systems within design and construction are reshaping the role of the architect. The current licensure system and its education, experience, and examination requirements may not be capable of sufficiently assessing practitioners’ competency in the face of an evolving profession. By proactively adapting to this evolution of practice, introducing a more agile licensure system, and exploring and encouraging post-licensure specializations, architects and regulators can redefine how society perceives and engages with the profession, ultimately enhancing the value of the architect.
Explore each of these themes—and their potential impacts on the future of architectural regulation—through the Future Trends Report.