International architecture firm SOM has harnessed artificial intelligence tools to shape the geometric design of the West Bund Convention Centre, which now stands alongside the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China.
This newly completed convention centre is located within Shanghai’s West Bund AI Valley, a growing hub for China’s artificial intelligence industry. It is situated near the AI Tower and Plaza skyscraper, designed by Japanese studio Nikken Sekkei.
For the 60,000-square-metre building, SOM adopted an AI-assisted design workflow. The result is a distinctive, multifaceted glass façade inspired by the structure and geometry of a diamond.
“The vision was for the building to embody the innovative spirit of its surroundings, which led us to explore an AI-assisted, multi-objective optimization workflow that informed its design,” said SOM design partner Scott Duncan in an interview with Dezeen.
“This process enabled us to develop a geometry that excels environmentally, remains feasible to construct, and satisfies the project’s spatial and experiential goals.”
“The resulting building is a faceted, highly rational form, with its clarity reflecting the logic of the design process,” Duncan added.
SOM’s AI-driven approach began by establishing spatial boundaries, program requirements, and performance objectives.
The algorithm generated hundreds of design models, each based on a range of parameters. These models were then evaluated against architect- and engineer-defined criteria.
According to SOM, this methodology enabled a “more comprehensive and informed design solution,” which contributed to reducing structural steel use, enhancing energy efficiency, and simplifying the complex geometry of the building.
The exterior of the centre features illuminated, steel-framed glass panels, while the ground level is bordered by tree-lined walkways.
Inside, visitors are welcomed into a central atrium, where escalators lead to two stacked halls located on the upper floors. The largest hall offers 6,000 square metres of space for conferences and events.
“The stacked layout of the building was deliberately shaped using the same computational tools it was designed to highlight,” the studio noted.
Along the building’s perimeter, meeting rooms and communal spaces are arranged to take advantage of the abundant daylight and to offer framed views of the river.
Landscaped terraces on the upper floors, envisioned as “outdoor rooms,” further extend the centre’s capacity and provide additional gathering areas.
SOM notes that integrating AI into the process accelerated early-stage research and delivered a level of precision that is often hard to achieve manually.
“The primary advantage was being able to explore a vast range of design options very quickly,” Duncan said.
“Instead of testing only a few concepts, we could analyze hundreds of variations and determine which best aligned with our six key design goals.”
Duncan points out, however, that the approach is still dependent on human expertise.
“The challenge, of course, is that computers do not inherently understand what architects value; we needed to set the rules, prioritize the objectives, and carefully review the results to make sure the proportions, constructibility, and overall architectural quality were maintained,” he explained.
“While the workflow speeds up decision-making, human judgment remains essential throughout every step.”
