210: ‘Computational Design to Business Value in AEC’, with Matt Goldsberry
A conversation with Matt Goldsberry about computational design in AEC, how it drives business value, the importance of data-driven project delivery, and the shift towards lightweight geometry combined with rich data for effective architectural communication and decision-making.
Matt Goldsberry joins the podcast to talk about how data is reshaping architecture practice. From computational design roots to leading digital strategy, Matt shares how Power BI and analytics can uncover insights that drive better business and design outcomes. The conversation covers building dashboards that matter, translating BIM data into meaningful decisions, and helping architects evolve from tool users to data-informed leaders. It’s a grounded look at how to start small, build momentum, and create measurable impact through data in AEC.
Original episode page: https://trxl.co/210
Watch This Episode on YouTube:
Episode Links:
Connect with the Guest
- Matt Goldsberry — LinkedIn
- Matt Goldsberry — HDR Profile
- HDR (Data-Driven Design / D3)
- HDR — Company Website
- HDR — LinkedIn
- Interview: Prove It — Big Ship Computation (with Matt Goldsberry)
- Autodesk University 2016: Mainstream Computation—from Specialized Skill Set to Core Capability (Matt Goldsberry & Nate Miller)
Tools and Emerging Technologies
- Power BI for AEC Analytics
- Build interactive dashboards connecting practice data to design decisions.
- Fragments — Open Source Library for AEC
- Store, display, navigate, and edit massive amounts of BIM data with exceptional efficiency—on any device.
- Stability AI — Stable Diffusion
- Image-generation models for concept visualization and experimentation.
- OpenAI
- Large language models for research synthesis, workflow automation, and code assistance.
- Speckle — Open Source Data Platform for AEC
- Interoperable data exchange and versioning across tools and teams.
- Proving Ground — AEC Data & Computation (LunchBox, Conveyor, etc.)
- Plugins and services at the intersection of data, computation, and practice.
Visualization & Design Tools
- Rhino 3D
- Grasshopper (Visual Programming for Architects)
- Autodesk Revit
- LinkedIn Learning — AEC Courses
- Ladybug Tools (Environmental Analysis)
Events and Networks
- Autodesk University
- BILT Conference (DBEI)
- CDFAM — Computational Design / Digital Fabrication
Practice & Knowledge Management
- Knowledge Architecture (KA) — Knowledge Management for AEC
- AIA TAP & COTE (Technology in Architectural Practice; Committee on the Environment)
About Matt Goldsberry:
Matt is a Computational Design Principal that has been working in AEC for the last 16 years. He is the Global Director of Data-Driven Design and is responsible for developing new computational tools and workflows to facilitate design exploration, automated analysis, and advanced data management. He has led the development and implementation of HDR's data-driven suite of tools and web applications. These tools have been implemented on over 250 projects and continue to support HDR project teams across the globe. Matt is also a Lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he teaches courses on advanced geometry and building information modeling.
