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Commercial Observer | VC money is starting to come in behind firms that use artificial intelligence to make the normally paper-heavy architecture world more efficient.

Commercial Observer | FEATURE: Proptech AI Has Designs on Architecture

Commercial Observer: Proptech AI Has Designs on Architecture | cove

ATLANTA--(COMMERCIAL OBSERVER) – As artificial intelligence continues to address virtually every aspect of life, proptech entrepreneurs are finding opportunities to design digital advances in the analog-first world of architecture. In particular, proptech firms are consistently drafting new ways to make architecture firms more efficient and profitable using AI.

Several weeks to a few days, potentially cutting down on construction costs and errors, said Maor Greenberg, co-founder and CEO at Spacial AI, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup whose goal is to replace structural as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineers in the architectural design process.

“Spacial is coming to replace these people in the entire design process, meaning architects can focus on the creative part — which is the floor plan, elevations, working with you as a homeowner on the programming of what you want in the house — and then giving it to Spacial,” said Greenberg.

At that stage, Spacial matches the structural MEP plans and architectural digital drawings, bringing them into alignment with each other. The company’s AI converts PDF files to a 3D model, too. “It is an object-based model that also gives us the power to do code validation and design conflict detection,” said Greenberg.

There’s a big reason why Greenberg says more architecture firms are adopting AI.

“Architects do not enjoy being architects anymore,” he said. “They used to be focused on being creative and designing amazing homes. Now, they basically need to act like a lawyer. There are so many regulations, mostly in the blue states, that the amount of paperwork needed to build a house went up from 20 to 30 pages to 100 to 120 pages per house. And that’s not the part that the architect wants to be doing. So, AI technology is coming.”

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However, architects with such a mindset might have much more to worry about: Having a proptech AI company replace their firms entirely.

That is the aim of [cove], said Sandeep Ahuja, CEO and co-founder of the Atlanta-based, AI-powered architecture and design firm.

“We’re a full-service architecture firm,” Ahuja said. “And we’re the world’s first AI-powered architecture firm. There’s literally no one else that does this.”

Having invested $25 million over the last decade in creating its proprietary software, Vitras.ai, [cove] exited stealth mode four months ago with total funding of $37 million, said Ahuja. All the funding came from generalist VCs, she added.

[cove]’s AI is designed as an end-to-end platform for coordination, quality and speed in architectural projects, avoiding common issues like miscoordination and delays. That scope differentiates it from other proptech AI for architecture companies, Ahuja said. The firm focuses on multifamily, hospitality, retail, data centers and warehouses.

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A picturesque museum set in a nature preserve, capturing the essence of local heritage amidst stunning fall scenery.

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A modern farmhouse-inspired senior living facility, offering a warm and inviting interior design for comfortable community living.

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Discover how Cove Architecture used AI to design a 200-unit garden-style multifamily project, maximizing density, ROI, and sustainability.

AI-Designed Garden-Style Multifamily Development | Cove Architecture

Garden-style mixed-use multifamily over concrete podium

Can AI Deliver High-Performance Architecture?

In a quiet corner of Connecticut, a multifamily development redefines what’s possible for suburban housing. Designed entirely with AI, this project represents a bold leap toward a future where speed, precision, and sustainability are not competing priorities - but integrated outcomes.

From real-time zoning analysis to embedded ESG strategies, this project reveals how cutting-edge technology enabled a developer to streamline delivery, elevate performance, and stay on budget, all while enhancing community value.

Stay tuned for how this multi-family development is setting a precedent for how AI is reshaping architecture.

Learn more about cove's AI-Powered Multi-Family Complex Slashing Costs by 20% and increasing profitability for developers.

AI-Powered Design Multi-Family Complex | cove

1247 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 

Affordable Architectural Innovation on the Atlanta BeltLine

In one of Atlanta’s most historic and rapidly evolving neighborhoods, a quiet revolution is underway. At 1247 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, a 15-townhome project is setting a new standard for how affordable housing can be delivered with speed, scale, and sensitivity to place.

Designed by cove in collaboration with RPL Management, this project responds directly to Atlanta’s urgent need for equitable housing in BeltLine-adjacent neighborhoods. It blends architectural tradition with cutting-edge AI to unlock greater density, reduce cost, and accelerate delivery without sacrificing livability or neighborhood context.

For RPL Management, the goal was clear: increase density and keep costs within reach, all while respecting the character of the neighborhood. 

As RPL Management Developer Lovnish Mahajan noted during an early meeting, "We look into a multi-family. We look into row houses. The proposition that came from another architect firm was only nine units…with the current market situation, with the construction cost going up—lumber, concrete, everything going up—the nine unit doesn't fit in the whole value proposition."

At the core of this development is a two-part AI-driven design process built by cove’s research and development team, refined over the last decade through $15 million. 

The first layer is Vitras.ai, an intelligent system that can scan and interpret complex building codes, FEMA flood zones, and cost variables with 95%+ accuracy. What traditionally took weeks of manual coordination now happens in real-time, helping architects and developers avoid red tape while ensuring code compliance and design feasibility from day one.

From there, automated simulation and cost analysis tools allow teams to rapidly test design alternatives, optimize construction assemblies, and iterate without delays. Collaboration happens live across disciplines, cutting through rework cycles and allowing value-driven decisions at every stage.

It was this intelligence that allowed cove to identify the potential for greater density, turning an initial concept of nine units into a feasible 15, possibly even 17. 

As RPL Management Developer Rajesh Dhuri recalls, "We brought our concern to [cove]. Within a matter of a few days actually, they came back and they said 'hey, we can develop 15 townhomes,” he joyfully explains. "Now that's an exciting project for us because it does bring a big value proposition based on the cost of construction and the cost of land. We are talking about the pricing and that particular market—we can bring affordability to the city of Atlanta in the West End."

This shift in density transformed the financial outlook of the project. As Mahajan elaborated, "When cove came back with saying that, 'hey, we can do more density. We can fit the similar unit like, you know, similar set like 15, 1600 square feet approximately with the 17 unit'—it was no brainer. I mean, it just fits. It just fits automatically."

Walking Distance to the BeltLine: A Community-First Vision

This is not density for density’s sake. Every unit is thoughtfully designed, preserving the neighborhood’s historical rhythm while introducing modern upgrades. The townhomes will include smart home technology, high-efficiency systems, and layouts that support intergenerational living—all just steps away from the BeltLine.

From day one, the project team understood the cultural and geographic significance of the West End. During a site visit, Lovnish reflected, "I mean, West End, Southwest, what is going around in the BeltLine is just… that project fits naturally in that price point, with that density, walking distance to the BeltLine. I mean, the community needs it. I mean, it’s a no brainer. There's nothing like this out there."

His sentiment echoed the broader vision for the project. "This neighborhood has always embraced innovation while honoring its roots," he said, pointing to the unique synergy of tradition and transformation.

Dhuri added, "The West End's legacy offers the perfect canvas for such technological breakthroughs."

cove’s process has already delivered remarkable results:

95% accuracy in early-stage cost estimates

50% faster project delivery from concept to permit

For the RPL team, these time and cost efficiencies are part of a broader evolution in how projects get done. 

As Mahajan emphasized, "I know what AI is bringing today. This is the future. This has to be. I mean, there's no other way. I mean, you can't have a project which takes 12 months from the drawing board to the execution, and if the technology, APIs, can deliver that in the, you know, three-month time frame with all the data which is out there, which is proven data, why not?"

Yet the true innovation lies in how this technology is applied—not as a replacement for human expertise, but as an amplifier of it.

"While AI drives the process, the human touch remains indispensable."
— Patrick Chopson, Principal, cove

Having spent 20 years in traditional practice, cove Principal Patrick Chopson designed this AI process not to replace architecture, but to remove its bottlenecks. The result is a more agile, affordable, and developer-friendly workflow, one that can meet today’s urgency without sacrificing vision.

AI in Architecture: Blueprint for the Future of Housing

The West End townhome project is more than a local success story—it’s a model for future development across Atlanta and beyond. With AI and architecture working hand-in-hand, cove has proven it’s possible to design smarter, build faster, and serve communities more responsibly.

This project represents what’s possible when technology meets mission, and when developers partner with teams who can see both the vision and the bottom line.

Smart design. Affordable living. Community impact. This is the new standard—and it's already breaking ground.

AI-designed data center by Cove Architecture unites sustainability, efficiency, and ROI with solar, agrivoltaics, and smart systems for future-ready development.

Data Center Designed By AI for Sustainability & Cost | Cove Architecture

10,000 sq ft data center, 11.25-acre solar photovoltaic array, 10-acre greenhouse

Mixed-use data center with integrated agriculture (agrivoltaics)

Rapid AI-driven design and feasibility analysis

The integrated Tier III data center in Hartsel, Colorado, represents a groundbreaking step as the world's first AI-designed, human-centered data center. Leveraging Cove Architecture’s advanced AI technologies, the facility integrates sustainable energy solutions, agricultural productivity, and innovative environmental management. The design was completed swiftly and effectively by employing sophisticated AI-driven analyses and optimization algorithms.

Using Vitras.ai, Cove Architecture accelerated the design-to-delivery timeline by transforming early-stage feasibility into detailed layouts within days, not months.

Generative site modeling enabled precision placement of cooling systems, solar arrays, and agricultural zones to minimize inefficiencies.

System coordination was handled by AI agents that flagged and resolved design conflicts across mechanical, electrical, and agricultural systems, reducing change orders and construction risk.

Permitting prep was streamlined through automated code compliance checks, enhancing jurisdictional readiness.

For developers seeking faster approvals and minimal design risk, this level of automation delivers a competitive edge.

Optimal Efficiency Through Intelligent Building Performance

Thermal management simulations refined cooling strategies, resulting in an industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2.

Real-time monitoring algorithms manage and adapt power and water distribution dynamically, reducing excess loads and preventing downtime.

AI-enhanced mechanical systems communicate with agricultural and greenhouse operations to balance shared resources efficiently.

This AI-enabled operational synergy ensures long-term performance resilience and scalability for future tenant loads and expansions.

Cove Architecture’s integrated AI tools offered developers a full lifecycle financial snapshot before breaking ground:

Incentive mapping algorithms pinpointed tax credits, renewable energy subsidies, and water conservation grants that boosted the target IRR by 5–7%.

Predictive CAPEX/OPEX modeling produced highly accurate estimates, reducing investor uncertainty.

Cash flow simulations aligned with ESG investment goals, unlocking access to green bonds and sustainability-linked funding mechanisms.

For developers looking to de-risk investment and attract impact capital, Cove Architecture’s AI-driven approach provided a clear financial roadmap.

Sustainability and Innovation: Human-Centered, Planet-Conscious

This project goes beyond environmental compliance, it redefines what it means to build with purpose.

The AI-designed solar array offsets up to 40% of energy needs and feeds surplus power into nearby microgrids.

Advanced heat recovery systems redirect waste heat to maintain optimal temperatures in the adjacent greenhouse, reducing the need for fossil fuel-based heating.

Smart water reuse systems, optimized by AI, capture, treat, and repurpose site runoff and mechanical condensate, cutting potable water usage by up to 90%.

The agrivoltaic system, co-designed by AI and agriculture experts, maximizes dual land use by allowing solar energy generation above pastureland used for sheep grazing.

This seamless blend of infrastructure and ecology embodies Cove Architecture’s commitment to human-centered sustainability.

For this project, AI-optimized energy solutions and resource management significantly reduced projected capital and operational costs. In contrast, the advanced integration of renewable energy, water conservation, waste heat reuse, and ecological grazing systems maximized sustainability.

Data Center Keeping Financial Sustainability and Community In Mind

This project isn’t just a win for the environment, it’s a catalyst for economic and social transformation.

Target IRR: 16–21% with available incentives

Job creation: Cross-sector employment in construction, data center operations, agriculture, and clean tech

Local resilience: Year-round food production via greenhouse operations reduces reliance on regional supply chains

Educational outreach: The site doubles as a learning lab for students, researchers, and community members interested in sustainable technologies

This AI-powered data center marks a pivotal shift in how critical infrastructure can be conceived, developed, and operated. Traditionally viewed as a high-consumption sector with outsized environmental impacts, data centers have long posed challenges to sustainability goals. However, through Cove Architecture’s advanced AI-driven design approach, this project proves that even the most resource-intensive facilities can evolve into models of climate-conscious development.

By integrating renewable energy, water reuse, and agrivoltaics—all orchestrated by intelligent algorithms—the facility meets technical and financial benchmarks and aligns with broader ESG targets. For developers, this represents a compelling opportunity: AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency, it’s a catalyst for reimagining infrastructure as a regenerative asset. As market expectations grow around sustainable performance and resilient design, projects like this one illustrate how innovation can turn environmental liability into long-term value creation.

Explore how cove has helped firms achieve success.

cove optimized the Southeast Community College Learning Center, cutting operational carbon by 65% and meeting AIA 2030 targets with energy and daylight strategies.

Southeast Community College Beatrice: A Low-Energy Learning Center

For the Southeast Community College Beatrice Multidisciplinary Learning Center, cove was used to optimize energy performance, daylight, and glare while staying within budget. The design team reduced operational carbon by 65% and achieved a predicted EUI of 50.5 KBTU/sf/year. By analyzing 360 design options, the team identified cost-effective solutions for HVAC, insulation, and glazing, meeting AIA 2030 targets. The integration of high-performance systems and materials resulted in a sustainable, low-energy building that enhances occupant comfort with minimal glare and abundant natural light.
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Project Type: Higher Education, Learning Center

Services Used: Sustainability Analysis • Compliance Services 

cove optimized energy use for a classroom building in MD, achieving a 29-34 EUI with data-driven design, balancing cost and efficiency for research spaces.

Engineering Research Classroom Building in Saint Mary’s County

The classroom building in Saint Mary's County, MD, serves as a collaboration hub for industry, government, and academia, with a focus on innovative engineering research. Targeting a highly efficient Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 29-34—well below the national average—cove was used to conduct climate analysis and optimize energy use and daylight performance through various massing options.

Parametric modeling allowed the design team to explore multiple iterations, balancing energy efficiency with cost. The final design achieved an optimal 55 EUI, delivering significant energy savings while maintaining cost-effectiveness, demonstrating how advanced tools can streamline sustainable building design.

Commercial Observer | FEATURE: Proptech AI Has Designs on Architecture

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