Artificial Intelligence and Architecture: Reflections from FIL 2025 

As part of the 2025 International Book Fair (FIL), the School of Architecture at Universidad Panamericana hosted a roundtable discussion focused on a topic that has become unavoidable for the discipline: the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in architecture. Aimed at current students, prospective applicants, and practicing architects, the event sought to critically examine the impact of A.I. on contemporary professional practice.

The panel featured Arch. Índira de Alba (University of Guadalajara), Arch. Jorge López de Obeso (Eosis), and Mtro. Luis Arturo Méndez Alba, Dean of the School of Architecture at Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes campus. From complementary academic and professional perspectives, the speakers addressed the disruption caused by A.I. in architectural methodology, its ethical and legal implications, and both the risks and advantages associated with its implementation.

A.I. and Heritage: The Palacio de Cañedo Case Study

Arch. Índira de Alba presented a research project focused on the analysis of the Palacio de Cañedo in Guadalajara. Her work demonstrated a structured integration of A.I. tools across multiple stages of architectural investigation.

In an initial phase, super-resolution models such as ESRGAN and SwinIR were used to enhance low-resolution historical images, enabling the recovery of relevant morphological and ornamental information. Subsequently, colorization processes based on trained neural networks were applied for segmentation and chromatic prediction, generating visual hypotheses regarding the building’s original materiality.

The project advanced into geometric restitution using SketchUp Match Photo, reaching a Level of Development between LoD 200 and LoD 300, and culminated in the generation of a detailed three-dimensional model in 3ds Max with Corona Render. Finally, a neural network model was trained using Google Cloud Vision API and Vertex AI to estimate the building’s possible authorship, producing probabilistic results that contributed to historiographic analysis.

This case study demonstrated that A.I. can function as a powerful tool for historical research, digital reconstruction, and analytical support—without replacing the architect’s critical judgment.

Intelligent Automation in Professional Practice

Arch. Jorge López de Obeso shared Eosis’ experience implementing internal chatboxes powered by large language models. These systems operate as virtual assistants capable of temporarily substituting team members when they are absent, ensuring operational continuity, facilitating access to technical information, and streamlining internal processes.

This application highlighted a pragmatic dimension of A.I.: beyond formal generation, its value lies in organizational optimization, knowledge systematization, and the reduction of communication friction within professional practice.

Spatial Innovation at UP Aguascalientes

Mtro. Luis Arturo Méndez Alba presented the We Proudly Serve UP project, developed at the Aguascalientes campus. The proposal includes a service bar connected to both the cafeteria and the library, as well as the addition of a terrace projected at the front of the cafeteria. The intervention involved a comprehensive interior transformation and the functional articulation between study and social spaces.

While not exclusively centered on A.I., the project illustrates how contemporary architectural innovation increasingly relies on digital tools to optimize design processes, visualization, and decision-making.

Ethics, Phases of Integration, and the Professional Horizon

A central theme of the roundtable was the identification of strategic phases for integrating A.I. into architectural methodology:

1. Contextual research and analysis (computer vision and data processing).

2. Conceptual exploration and assisted formal generation.

3. Advanced modeling, simulation, and visualization.

4. Management, documentation, and operational automation.

The panelists agreed that the key does not lie in uncritical adoption of technological tools, but in understanding their scope, limitations, and regulatory frameworks. Professional ethics, intellectual authorship, and technical responsibility must remain at the core of architectural practice.

The roundtable concluded with a clear message: Artificial Intelligence does not represent a threat to architecture, but rather an expansion of its capabilities. Its effective integration requires technical training, critical thinking, and disciplinary leadership. Within that balance between technology and architectural judgment lies the future of the profession.