205: ‘Rethinking Your A/E Practice’, with Robert Otani and Alexandra Pollock
A conversation with Robert Otani and Alexandra Pollock rethinking architectural practices through technology, measuring innovation ROI, and embracing product thinking to enhance efficiency and collaboration in AEC firms while leveraging AI for knowledge management and professional development.
Robert Otani and Alexandra Pollock join the podcast to talk about how they’re rethinking Thornton Tomasetti’s engineering practice by making technology the foundation rather than an add-on. They share practical lessons on bringing computation into practice at scale, adopting product thinking inside a services business, measuring the ROI of innovation, and eliminating redundancy so teams can focus on the work that actually moves projects forward.
Rob traces CORE Studio’s origins and early bets on parametric tools like Grasshopper, then walks through some other tools they’ve developed that sparked healthy debates about accuracy, transparency, and trust and informed how newer AI tools are designed. Alex highlights how open, community-driven learning at their AECtech conferences and hackathons accelerates capability building and open-source collaboration. The trio also dig into how AI can compress the path to professional proficiency and why leaders must proactively redesign their business model to stay ahead as “conventional consulting” shrinks.
Episode Links:
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Connect with the Guest
- Robert (Rob) Otani — LinkedIn
- Alexandra (Alex) Pollock — LinkedIn
- CORE studio (Thornton Tomasetti) — Website · LinkedIn · YouTube · GitHub (tt-acm)
- Thornton Tomasetti — Website · LinkedIn
AI Tools and Emerging Technologies
- Asterisk (CORE studio)
- Overview — TT’s machine-learning–powered conceptual structural optioneering tool.
- Mentioned in the episode when discussing trust, transparency, and AI tooling inside practice.
- CORE studio: AI & ML at Thornton Tomasetti
- CORE studio page — background on applying AI/ML to AEC.
- AECtech Conference & Hackathons (hosted by CORE studio)
- AECtech NYC Conference · AECtech site — community, workshops, and hackathons referenced in the conversation.
- Grasshopper and Visual Programming for Architects
Visualization & Design Tools
- Rhino 3D and Grasshopper Tools
- Rhino Official Website
- Grasshopper figured prominently in CORE studio’s early evolution and client collaboration.
- Open-source & CORE studio tools mentioned/related
- Design Explorer — GitHub Pages
- Dynamo for Rebar — GitHub
- DynamoSAP — GitHub
- Beacon (embodied carbon plugin) — GitHub
Events and Podcasts
- AECtech (CORE studio)
- Confluence S2E7 - The Evolution of Computational Design and AI in Structural Engineering with Rob Otani
About Robert Otani:
Robert K. Otani, PE is Chief Technology Officer and Managing Principal at Thornton-Tomasetti, Inc., a 1800+ person multidisciplinary engineering and applied science firm, and founded the CORE studio, a digital design, application development, AI, and R&D group at his firm. He has 30 years of structural design experience involving commercial, infrastructure, institutional, cultural and residential structures on projects totaling over $3 billion USD of construction and has led numerous software applications including Konstru, Design Explorer, Beacon, and the first ML-powered structural engineering application Asterisk in the industry. He has served as President of the Structural Engineers Association of New York in 2007 and has been an Adjunct Professor at Pratt Institute School of Architecture and Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.
About Alexandra Pollock:
Alexandra is the Senior Director of CORE studio, Thornton Tomasetti’s technology and R&D group. She collaborates across the studio’s focus areas and with firm leadership to develop and implement strategies that drive innovation and accelerate impact.
