NEW TOOLS, OLD WALLS: INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE

Abstract

This thesis explores the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the architectural design process by introducing experimental approaches involving algorithmic logic, conversational tools, and formal manipulation. AI is presented not as a trend but as an evolving design assistant to which Neil Leach refers to as “extended” intelligence. This concept suggests that architectural thinking can now extend beyond human cognition through technological systems increasing complexity and expanding possibilities of process and form. This project applies AI through adaptive reuse of existing buildings in downtown Dayton, Ohio, proposing mixed use programs while focusing on the process. Architectural operations such as subtraction, layering, and void generation are guided by data-driven parameters including solar exposure, site-specific context, and AI-assisted feedback. In this context, AI is not a replacement for the architect, but a tool that broadens the capacity to explore, iterate, and respond to complex design challenges. It enables a shift in how we think and design, while remaining rooted in the foundational principles of architecture, evolving traditional methods through new tools rather than discarding them. Ultimately, this thesis positions AI as a catalyst for reimagining the design process and uncovering architectural possibilities that were previously inaccessible.