187: ‘It’s Just Poly’s on a Map’, with Rob Asher and James Blackwood
Rob Asher and James Blackwood join the podcast to talk about the real-world complexity of designing and delivering projects—and how their work at Giraffe is bridging the gaps between technology, governance, culture, commercial intent, and design.We explore the limits of traditional tools and approach, the pitfalls of over-simplified models, and why real integration requires more than just good geometry. Rob and James share insights from their experience building Giraffe—a collaborative platform that combines design tools, mapping, data, and financial modeling—to empower better, faster, and more informed decision-making across teams and disciplines.Learn more about Giraffe.To learn more about Rob Asher and James Blackwood, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/187To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Episode Sponsors:GiraffeGiraffe is a powerful, web-based tool that sits in the AEC stack to help architects, planners, and more design beautiful human cities. Giraffe offers two product tiers - Enterprise and Core - to serve different needs in the industry. With a focus on making their tools accessible, Giraffe's Core product is available to architects for just $45/month. Learn more at https://www.giraffe.build/designers?ref=TRXL-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback
--------
1:18:26
186: ‘Bringing a Bazooka to a Banana Fight’, with Clifton Harness
Clifton Harness joins the podcast to talk about the future of architectural technology, the challenges of competing with established software giants, and the importance of staying true to a focused vision. Clifton shares insights about TestFit's journey, the role of AI in architecture, and why attempting to compete directly with Revit might be missing the bigger opportunity. We also explore the human side of architecture, discussing the industry's spirit, its challenges, and the passionate people who make it what it is.To learn more about Clifton Harness, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/186To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Episode Sponsors:AVAILAVAIL's content management system (CMS) simplifies access to your firm's content in one easy-to-use platform. Search and access files from anywhere, create standards-compliant models, streamline documentation, and onboard new hires faster. Try AVAIL for free and request a demo at https://getavail.comConfluence Events & PodcastJoin AEC industry technology leaders at Confluence, a series of in-person events and a podcast fostering conversations between firms and tech companies to support innovation. Learn more, explore upcoming events, and listen to podcast episodes at https://confluence.getavail.comTRXL+ MembershipThis episode of TRXL is brought to you by TRXL+ members! Join our community of supporters to get exclusive benefits like ad-free episodes and our AEC Leadership Edge newsletter. Your support keeps these valuable conversations going. Click here to learn more and become a member today.-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback
--------
1:34:23
185: ‘Radical Transparency’, with Robert Yuen
Robert Yuen joins the podcast to talk about data integrity, the evolving business of architecture, and why “radical transparency” is something the AEC industry must adopt and incorporate. In this conversation, we examine the problems with traditional industry benchmarking, the risks of making decisions based on flawed data, and how Monograph’s new Benchmark Report is reshaping how firms understand performance. Robert shares how real-time, anonymized data is being used to empower teams, improve financial literacy, and shift firm culture toward accountability and alignment. He also discusses how transparency must become the new standard if the profession is to move forward—offering a clear and compelling vision for what sustainable, profitable practice can look like.To learn more about Robert Yuen, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/185To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Episode Sponsors:AVAILAVAIL's content management system (CMS) simplifies access to your firm's content in one easy-to-use platform. Search and access files from anywhere, create standards-compliant models, streamline documentation, and onboard new hires faster. Try AVAIL for free and request a demo at https://getavail.comConfluence Events & PodcastJoin AEC industry technology leaders at Confluence, a series of in-person events and a podcast fostering conversations between firms and tech companies to support innovation. Learn more, explore upcoming events, and listen to podcast episodes at https://confluence.getavail.comTRXL+ MembershipThis episode of TRXL is brought to you by TRXL+ members! Join our community of supporters to get exclusive benefits like ad-free episodes and our AEC Leadership Edge newsletter. Your support keeps these valuable conversations going. Click here to learn more and become a member today.-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback
--------
1:02:00
184: ‘Chaos Evolves’, with Stephan Sieber and Bill Allen
Stephan Sieber and Bill Allen join the podcast to talk about how and why Chaos and EvolveLba have combined forces, and we talk about tools from AI rendering with Veras to innovative tools like Glyph and Envision, change in the industry, complacency, disruption, and more.To learn more about Stephan Sieber and Bill Allen, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/184To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Episode Sponsors:AVAILAVAIL's content management system (CMS) simplifies access to your firm's content in one easy-to-use platform. Search and access files from anywhere, create standards-compliant models, streamline documentation, and onboard new hires faster. Try AVAIL for free and request a demo at https://getavail.comConfluence Events & PodcastJoin AEC industry technology leaders at Confluence, a series of in-person events and a podcast fostering conversations between firms and tech companies to support innovation. Learn more, explore upcoming events, and listen to podcast episodes at https://confluence.getavail.comTRXL+ MembershipThis episode of TRXL is brought to you by TRXL+ members! Join our community of supporters to get exclusive benefits like ad-free episodes and our AEC Leadership Edge newsletter. Your support keeps these valuable conversations going. Click here to learn more and become a member today.-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback
--------
1:12:11
183: ‘An Appetite for Transformation’, with Natalia Bakaeva
Natalia Bakaeva joins the podcast to talk about the topics of rethinking data, process, and innovation and discuss the challenges of redundant work, the myth of spontaneous innovation inside firms, the value of knowledge retention, and how AI and purpose-built tools like ARKI are transforming how architects access information. Natalia shares her personal journey from practicing architect to tech founder, offering insights into software design, user behavior, and what it really takes to build a more sustainable and creative practice.To learn more about Natalia Bakaeva, see the full show notes with links at https://trxl.co/183To get more great conversations with AEC technology leaders on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Episode Sponsors:-AVAIL-AVAIL's content management system (CMS) simplifies access to your firm's content in one easy-to-use platform. Search and access files from anywhere, create standards-compliant models, streamline documentation, and onboard new hires faster. Try AVAIL for free and request a demo at https://getavail.com-Confluence Events & Podcast-Join AEC industry technology leaders at Confluence, a series of in-person events and a podcast fostering conversations between firms and tech companies to support innovation. Learn more, explore upcoming events, and listen to podcast episodes at https://confluence.getavail.com-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback
Join architect Evan Troxel as he explores important topics surrounding the co-evolution of technology and architecture. Guests from the architectural community and beyond join in long-form conversations about the influence digital transformation is having on the profession with long digressions on leadership, change management, knowledge transfer, where all this may lead to in the future of the building industry, and more.