The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has released a new Future Trends Report highlighting key aspects of architectural practice driving the evolution of health, safety, and welfare (HSW) in the built environment.

The report explores five trends shaping the future of architectural practice: artificial intelligence (A.I.), resource stewardship, space architecture, wellness, and the role of the architect.

NCARB’s Future Trends Report focuses on five emerging trends with far-reaching HSW impact within architecture practice:

• The future of A.I.: As architects increasingly use artificial intelligence to inform design outcomes, the Future Trends Reportidentifies opportunities for regulators to take proactive action to ensure AI is integrated safely into architectural practice.
• The future of resource stewardship: Factors like scarcity, volatility, and environmental impact are affecting the availability of traditional design materials. To address these factors, the report highlights several opportunities to encourage architects to shift their stewardship of the planet’s resources.
• The future of space architecture: As the space architecture industry expands, so does the question of regulatory boundaries. The Future Trends Reportidentifies how regulators might collaborate across industries to ensure HSW in extraterrestrial exploration.
• The future of wellness: New technological advancements are allowing architects to better measure the impact of the built environment on public well-being. As these metrics advance, regulators increasingly can define well-being standards in code and law.
• The future of the architect:As changing systems, technologies, and tools shape the role of the architect, regulators must consider how the licensure process can adapt to maintain public protection.

To read NCARB’s Future Trends Report, visit www.ncarb.org/future-trends.