Signals: What We're Tracking
Robots will help build more than 1,250 D.R. Horton homes. The country's largest builder just announced a multi-year deal with Promise Robotics, whose AI tools read home plans and direct factory robots to produce the components. Promise plans to open a Phoenix plant in early 2027 to serve more U.S. builders. Read the announcement→
Inside the private wood collection at George Nakashima Woodworkers in New Hope, Pa., is some of the rarest wood in the world. The American architect and woodworker, who was known for using Japanese joinery methods, died in 1990 but the shop still works with rare Persian walnut and East Indian rosewood acquired decades ago (and now unavailable for import), says craftsman Michael Veith. Watch the workshop tour →
An outdoor kitchen is spending the winter uncovered at the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington, where winds reach hurricane force about 110 days a year. Jay Broccolo, weather operations director at Mount Washington Observatory, says the summit experiences hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles each year. RTA Outdoor Living installed the concrete-panel kitchen in August to test how its materials hold up in those conditions. Watch the kitchen live→
Most architecture firms using AI say it hasn't made them more productive yet. In a recent AIA/Deltek survey, 76% of firms using AI said productivity has remained the same, while 22% said it has increased "substantially." Only 15% of firms reported having a budget for AI. The survey was part of the latest AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index, where 29% of firms said they expect billings to decline in the coming quarter. View the report→
