TTF: Back to School Edition

August 28, 2025
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. What did I find interesting this week? Read down to find out!

Well, today it's back to school for my kids. I don't know about you, but the start of the school year always feels like a bigger reset than New Year's. Back in 2017, I wrote about how the back-to-school season is better for setting resolutions than January 1. That crisp autumn air and the fresh notebook smell make it perfect for new beginnings. Speaking of new beginnings, a new cohort of the Revit Add-in Academy is starting on September 22 if you're ready to level up your Revit skills this fall. I'll have more information soon. Now, let's dive into this week's finds!

#1: The Secret Life of Fake Buildings 

Ever wonder about those mysterious buildings in cities where nobody ever seems to enter or exit? This video from Stuart Hicks explores the hidden world of urban infrastructure disguised as ordinary buildings. From transformers behind fake windows to entire substations masquerading as apartment buildings, it's a look at how we've shifted from celebrating infrastructure as "industrial sublime" to hiding it in plain sight. 
Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

#2: BIM 2.0 is Here

Arcol is making waves with what's being labeled "BIM 2.0" – a browser-based platform that promises to revolutionize how we collaborate on building projects. This article from AEC Magazine explores how Arcol is tackling the industry's biggest pain points around coordination, version control, and real-time collaboration. 
Click here to read the full article at AEC Magazine.

#3: Decentralizing Project Data for Better Collaboration

Autodesk's latest blog post tackles a crucial question: how do we empower collaboration when project data is scattered across different platforms? They propose a shift from centralized to decentralized data management via the AEC Data Model API. It's an interesting read about the future of project coordination and data ownership.
Click here to read the full article at Autodesk Blog.

#4: From 100 Rejections to Six-Figure Success

What happens when an architect faces 100 job rejections? For David Drazil, it led to creating Sketch Like an Architect, a thriving business teaching sketching skills to thousands worldwide. In this inspiring video, David shows how he identified a gap in architectural training and built a successful practice on his own terms while raising two young kids. 
Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

#5: What If AI Doesn't Get Much Better?

Cal Newport poses a provocative question: What if current AI capabilities represent a plateau rather than just another step toward artificial general intelligence? This thoughtful piece challenges the assumption of inevitable AI advancement and explores what it means for how we plan and adapt our work. For those of us investing heavily in AI integration, it's a valuable reality check.
Click here to read the full article at Cal Newport.

That's all from me. Enjoy the last days of summer, and here's to fresh starts – whether it's back to school or just back to the grind!
Michael