AI is already here and, as part of a human-centred process, will maximise the opportunities to transform the building industry – including optimising buildings at an early stage, enhancing creativity in design, developing new building materials, and delivering more sustainable buildings – explained Diego Padilla-Philipps, director, Decarbonisation and Innovation in Building Structures, WSP, in his JCT Povey Lecture, on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
Diego’s presentation, titled “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design”, introduced the concept of ‘Co-Design’, a multidisciplinary approach to optimising building design.
Co-Design combines the perspectives of architecture, engineering, and building services, with performance-driven data modelling and automation, incorporating AI tools, to deliver the most efficient design solutions, from which clients can make informed decisions about their building projects at an early stage.
The use of AI, rather than replacing traditional roles, becomes a powerful tool to assist in the organisation and flow of information, enabling the design team to make use of sophisticated automation models to optimise a building’s performance for a range of given parameters.
With humans at the centre of the decision-making process, this framework provides the intelligence to deliver projects that not only meet the client’s design requirements, but do so by maximising value, efficiency, and sustainability.
Diego Padilla-Philipps, said:
“When we think about automation and AI, we need to think about upskilling, not deskilling. So, thinking about AI as a tool that can help us enhance our intelligence, which is why today’s talk is called ‘Augmented Intelligence’. It’s about people, and it’s about augmenting what we can do to deliver better projects.
“It is about putting the engineer, the designer, at the centre with access to all these tools so that we can, through analysis, through simulation, through early-stage valuation of buildings, really augment our intelligence and really transform how buildings are designed.”
Following the presentation, Diego took part in an interactive audience Q&A, hosted by JCT vice-chair, Sean Smylie .
Watch On Demand
The full presentation and Q&A is available to view at: corporate.jctltd.co.uk/povey-lecture-2025.
Visit the web page for more information, including downloadable presentation slides and lecture notes.
About the JCT Povey Lecture
The JCT Povey Lecture is an annual event at which an eminent person is invited to give their thoughts on significant matters that are relevant to the construction and property industry. The purpose of the lecture is to stimulate thought and encourage ways of continuing to improve the quality and value of construction output.
The event was inaugurated in 2003 to acknowledge and pay tribute to Philip Povey, who served JCT for fifty years.
The JCT Povey Lecture is delivered as part of JCT’s ‘digital first’ approach, which encompasses a range of digital-only and hybrid activities. It provides a flexible and interactive way for construction professionals across the industry, and regardless of location, to access high quality content from industry experts.