CASE Director Dennis Shelden Moderates AIA NY Environmental Intelligence Panel

May 28th, 2025

AIA NY Center for Architecture hosted ‘Environmental Intelligence’ a panel discussion that addressed the increasing roles of AI technologies embedded into the built environment and becoming part of the architectural experience. Moderated by the Director of CASE, Dennis Shelden, a diverse group of industry experts tackled topics surrounding occupant behaviors and building performance, space planning, operations, user experience and more.

Panelists included: Sarah Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP, Treasurer of ASHRAE, Chrisoula Kapelonis, Senior Design Lead for Home Intelligence at Google Home, Islay Burgess, AIA, RA, NE Regional Design Technology Director at Gensler and Phillip Youakim, Vice President of Customer Success & Strategy at Saltmine. 

With uniquely different roles and relationships to the development of the built environment, the panelists sparked a dynamic and insightful conversation about the significance of AI. They examined how it is currently used in their individual work, how their companies are leveraging it’s power and what potential it holds for the future.

The discussion was the second session of a four-part Artificial Intelligence in Architecture (AI+A) Salon series. The salon hopes to foster productive discussion and explore solutions for leveraging AI technology in AECO by bridging the gap between practice and academic research.