Our Mission
The San Francisco Computational Design Institute (SFCDI) brings together programmers, developers, architects, engineers, and designers who are passionate about technology in relation to buildings. The group meets once a month in San Francisco to foster the exchange of innovative workflows, explore programming ideas, and share case studies of computational design.
Who We Are
Members describe themselves as visual programming enthusiasts. The community spans programmers, developers, architects, engineers, and designers working across the AEC industry. Past meetings have explored stadium design, digital twins, structural optimization, spatial computing, AI in MEP engineering, Rhino.Inside, and machine learning for architecture.
- Programmers & engineers
- Architects & designers
- Visual programming enthusiasts
- Digital fabrication specialists
- BIM coordinators
- Students & researchers
Our History
SFCDI celebrated its 5th year anniversary in August 2020, marking five years of community-led conversations around computational design and visual programming in San Francisco.
Visual programming has reshaped how designers and engineers approach their craft, turning complex geometry into readable logic. At gatherings of computational design communities, members share workflows that translate intent into structure and code into constructible form. Discussions often center on parametric modeling, algorithmic thinking, and the bridges between architecture, engineering, and digital fabrication. The appeal lies in making the design process both rigorous and exploratory.
Monthly meetups serve as informal studios where practitioners compare notes about plugins, data structures, and best practices. Speakers from across the industry walk through live demonstrations, breaking down projects that range from small pavilions to large infrastructure. Attendees leave with sharp ideas for extending what their tools can do, and they return home with refreshed inspiration for the next challenge waiting on their screens.
A thriving design community depends on more than software mastery; it depends on shared curiosity. Conversations wander into artificial intelligence, digital fabrication, scientific visualization, and the philosophy behind making. Some members focus on mechanical systems, others on structural optimization, and many on the imaginative edges where computation meets spatial reasoning. The mix cultivates mentorship, friendship, and a friendly collegial spirit extending across the wider industry.
Workshops and remote collaborations extend the institute's reach beyond its home city, inviting broader participation through recorded talks and online discussion forums. Topics range from machine learning and computer vision to twin building, sustainable practice, and the ethical questions surrounding automation. By uniting partners across silos, the institute cultivates a culture where learning continues long after the closing remarks and applause fade away.
Featured Speakers
Past presenters at SFCDI events have included Achintya Bhat, Zigmund Rubel, Arturo Tedeschi, Phil Langley, Satoru Sugihara, Dave Alpert, Michael Hoppe, Mac Dean, among others.