TT5: The Judgement Gap

February 26, 2026
This weekly email is my curated selection of interesting and useful topics related to BIM, design, and technology. I aim to provide you with some good information and a few laughs along the way. So, what did I find interesting this week? Read down to find out!

I need your help with something. I've been writing this newsletter for a while now, and I want to make sure I'm pointing you toward the stuff that actually matters to you. Not what I think matters to you, but what genuinely helps you in your day-to-day work. So I put together a short survey to learn more about what topics you care about, what you're wrestling with, and what you'd like to see more of. It'll take two minutes, tops. Click here to take the survey. I'd really appreciate it.

In other news, the latest cohort of the Revit Add-in Academy kicked off on Monday with a fresh batch of students diving into C# and the Revit API. It's always energizing to see a new group get started, and I'm looking forward to watching what they build.

This week's links share a common thread: the gap between having a tool and knowing how to wield it. Whether it's AI, clash detection, your own design expertise, the way your firm operates, or even how you spend your evenings, the pattern is the same. The tool alone doesn't get you there. It's the judgment and intention behind it that makes the difference.

Alright, here are five things to check out this week.

#1: Five Ways to Use AI on Real Project Work

Most architects I talk to have tried AI once or twice, maybe to rewrite an email, and moved on. Fair enough. But the ones getting real value from it aren't using it for parlor tricks. They're using it as a thinking partner for scope negotiations, code reviews, and meeting prep. I wrote this article to bridge that gap with five specific, practical use cases you can try today.

Click here to read the full article at ArchSmarter.

#2: The One BIM Coordination Rule Nobody Ever Told You

If you've ever sat through a two-hour clash review meeting wondering why every red dot gets the same level of panic, this one's for you. BIM Corner lays out the hidden hierarchy behind MEPF coordination, from gravity systems that can't budge to electrical runs that can adapt. Once you understand the pecking order, you stop chasing hundreds of minor clashes and start focusing on the ones that actually threaten the project.

Click here to read the full article at BIM Corner.

#3: Architecture's Busyness Trap

Evan Troxel sits down with Joachim Viktil of Reope to unpack something most firm leaders feel but rarely name: the tension between staying busy and making meaningful progress. They dig into why billable-hour models can trap your best people into producing deliverables rather than improving the systems behind the work. If you've ever wondered whether your firm's structure is setting people up to thrive or just keep them occupied, this conversation is worth your time.

Click here to listen to the episode at TRXL.

#4: Designing Your Own House

Bob Borson tackles the question every architect eventually faces. Designing your own home sounds like the ultimate creative freedom, right? Turns out, being your own client removes the one thing that keeps most projects moving: a clear external filter. Bob explores why knowing too much can become its own kind of paralysis, and why the house you'd design at 35 isn't the house you'd design at 57. It's honest, funny, and surprisingly relatable even if you never plan to build.

Click here to listen to the episode at Life of an Architect.

#5: The Relaxation Paradox

Scott Young is back with an article that might change how you think about your evenings. His argument: zoning out on the couch doesn't actually restore your energy the way you think it does. The research shows that passive relaxation reduces fatigue, but it does nothing for motivation. Meanwhile, more active pursuits, such as hobbies, exercise, or personal projects, replenish both. The catch? When you're most drained, you're least likely to choose the thing that would help the most.

Click here to read the full article at Scott H. Young.

That's all from me. I hope you're having a great week.
Michael