Kate Grimes, Director of Knowledge, Snøhetta
Chad Carpenter, Senior Project Leader, Snøhetta

Talk Description
In this spirited back-and-forth between Snøhetta’s Director of Knowledge, Kate Grimes, and their Design Technology Lead, Chad Carpenter, two longtime collaborators explore the promise and pitfalls of AI in architecture practice. One brings a cautious, human-centered perspective; the other sees potential for creative acceleration—and together they wrestle with the real implications of AI in the studio today.

Grounded in active projects and tool testing—from AI Search to emerging design technologies—this session unpacks how AI is reshaping how professionals access knowledge, learn new skills, and collaborate across disciplines. What happens to information architecture when AI can pull answers from anywhere in your firm’s knowledge base? Should we still train for broad knowledge, or shift to just-in-time learning in the flow of work? And how do we balance trust in automation with the responsibility to stay sharp and informed?

Kate and Chad will share real-world use cases, tough trade-offs, and evolving insights from inside their practice. If you’ve ever wondered how to bring AI into your firm without losing what makes your people great, this conversation is for you.

Speaker Bios
Kate Grimes is an imaginative, conceptual thinker with a background in art and design as well as extensive experience in project management and leadership. As Snøhetta’s Director of Knowledge, Kate leads Information Technology, Knowledge Management, and Office Operations for the U.S. studio. She excels at managing complex projects, fostering collaborative partnerships with colleagues, and creative problem-solving.

Chad Carpenter is interested in the intersection of culture, technology, and the built environment, focusing on digital and material craft. He holds a Master's in Architecture from the California College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Philosophy from Miami University. His work ranges from furniture and product design to pavilions and train stations. In addition, his artwork has been published by the Harvard Design Magazine and shown in San Francisco, New York, and London. With a background in mechanical engineering and the history of technology, Chad finds inspiration in the rich potential of interdisciplinary design and material innovation.

Christopher Parsons of Knowledge Architecture interviews Kate Grimes and Chad Carpenter of Snøhetta at KA Connect 2025.

Q+A Timeline

00:00 What does the foundational AI course look like?
03:07 How is the discussion about adopting AI going?
04:46 Have you deliberately turned down good AI tech?
07:48 How do you create experimentation best practices?
10:46 How wide is the tech vs identity discussion?
11:28 Do you have a matrix for evaluating new tools?
13:00 Do you see AI as a tool or collaborator?
14:37 Were there moments that shifted your perspective?