{"id":26462,"date":"2024-07-02T16:24:30","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T23:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/building-optimization-with-testfits-new-generative-design\/"},"modified":"2024-07-02T16:24:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T23:24:32","slug":"building-optimization-with-testfits-new-generative-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/building-optimization-with-testfits-new-generative-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Optimization with TestFit’s New Generative Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In the 1980s, I was a young architect assigned to a laboratory project with a more senior professional. At the outset, the client wanted us to present alternatives. We developed three solutions. If TestFit\u2019s new generative design tool had been available back then, the number would have been around twenty-five thousand.<\/p>\n

Why did we settle with three at the time? My more experienced colleague explained that three is a perfect number. It gives room for all those involved to have a say without a fight over two opposing designs.<\/p>\n

The trick was to make one of the solutions unacceptable and another OK, but with some issues that would not please anyone. The third\u2014which you wanted to win\u2014should be superior and likable. The client would be satisfied because they could choose and pick the clear winner.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2024<\/h2>\n
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Clifton Harness, TestFit Co-Founder and CEO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, we can use generative AI to churn out a massive volume of designs from given constraints. Will that lead to better outcomes, or will building design follow the music industry\u2019s lead, resulting in a lot of content with little creativity?<\/p>\n

I talked with Clifton Harness<\/a><\/strong>, the Co-Founder and CEO at TestFit, to learn more about their approach to generative design.<\/p>\n

TestFit, an optimizer since 2016<\/h2>\n

TestFit<\/a>, a Dallas, Texas startup, has been at the forefront of building optimization since 2016. Clifton explains that they\u2019ve been \u201csuccessful in housing and very successful in warehousing\u201d \u2013 two opposites of the spectrum.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided that we wanted to spend our lives working on something meaningful and try to dream a big dream that could be something that could change the world,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are not going to be able to change how Americans live, but we can certainly minimize the impact of parking and cars on our environment using AI.\u201d<\/p>\n

TestFit Site Solver, one of the most potent computational AI co-creation tools today, allows users to generate site plans instantly with real-time insights into design, cost, and constructability.<\/p>\n

The new Generative Design<\/h2>\n

On June 26, 2024, TestFit launched Generative Design, a building optimization tool that uses computational artificial intelligence. It is the company\u2019s answer to feasibility study and early design needs where tools like Revit are too cumbersome.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want the parti to be the best parti that you could ever get out of this site. That\u2019s our goal,\u201d Clifton summarizes the purpose of the new application.<\/p>\n

Generative Design allows AI to test site solutions independently based on specific project requirements. Users can easily define the targets they need for the following building types:<\/p>\n