cultivating relationships
BOUDREAUX’s Yearly Professional Development Retreat Focused on AI
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries across the globe, our team recently took a step back from our day-to-day work to reflect, learn, and plan for the future. We hosted a firm-wide professional development retreat focused on the impact of AI in architecture. This was a thoughtful pause designed to explore both the opportunities and challenges this rapidly evolving technology presents.
The setting for our retreat was meaningful: the Arras Foundation’s Crescent Building in Lancaster, South Carolina. Our team helped renovate this beautiful building in phases. It served as the perfect backdrop for reflection and innovation. The transformation of the former bank building into a dynamic community foundation headquarters mirrors the essence of architectural practice, honoring the past while designing for the future. It was especially rewarding to gather in a space our own team helped bring to life.
Stepping away from the studio allowed us to reframe our thinking and collaborate. The retreat format gave our team members time to engage deeply with new ideas, share perspectives, and collectively imagine how AI can become a valuable tool in our creative and technical processes. We discussed everything from automated design generation to construction documentation tools, material lifecycle analysis, and AI-assisted project management platforms. More importantly, we examined where human judgment, creativity, and empathy must continue to lead – these are qualities no algorithm can replicate. Our conversations were grounded in curiosity and care: What can AI do for us, and what should it never replace?
Hosting this retreat is always a reminder to us of the power of intentional time together. Architecture is a collaborative art, and any meaningful innovation happens when people can connect, share ideas, and challenge each other in a supportive space. That’s what made this retreat so impactful – not just the topic, but the opportunity to step away and grow as a team.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue learning, testing, and exploring how technology can support our mission: designing places that serve people. We’re grateful to the Arras Foundation for hosting us in a space that reflects our values and legacy, and we look forward to many more conversations at the intersection of design and technology.
