Empowering the Design-Build Community Through AI Education
Barrett's Technology Solutions Brings Practical AI Training to Chicago's Architecture, Design, and Construction Professionals
While Barrett's Technology Solutions has a long history in AV technology retail and home integration, we’ve also been an active member of Chicago's design-build community. Through our active involvement in organizations like ASID Illinois, ICAA, and AIA-CRAN, we remain connected to the challenges our partners face. Recently, one topic (which no one can escape these days) kept surfacing: artificial intelligence. Everyone recognized its potential to transform how they work, but few knew where to start or how to use it effectively. So, this past November, we decided to take action. We hired AI expert Isar Meitis to deliver comprehensive training at Monogram Design Center in Chicago's historic Mart, bringing together professionals from across the luxury residential community for practical, actionable education they could start using immediately.
Why We Organized This Event
Organizing this event reflects how we see our role in the industry: we're invested in the success of everyone we work with. When you're active in professional communities like we are, you hear what keeps people up at night, and AI kept coming up in conversations. Designers wondered how it could streamline their material research. Architects were curious about its applications in project documentation. Builders saw potential for scheduling optimization but were unsure where to start.
Seeing the need, we brought the expertise to Chicago. We hired Isar Meitis, an AI implementation specialist, four-time CEO, and host of the "Leveraging AI" podcast, to deliver hands-on training. The goal wasn't to make everyone an AI expert overnight. Instead, it was to give our design-build partners practical tools they could start using right away.
What the Event Covered
Isar brought a unique perspective to the topic. He's a former F-16 pilot turned serial entrepreneur who now specializes in helping businesses effectively implement AI. The event featured two comprehensive sessions that transitioned smoothly from fundamentals to practical applications.
The training covered six key areas. First, prompt engineering and context, which explores how to communicate with AI tools to get useful results. Second, advanced brainstorming for using AI personas to explore ideas from multiple angles. Third, research and data synthesis for quickly gathering and analyzing information. Fifth, creative content generation for producing marketing materials and client presentations. Sixth, business automation and efficiency for streamlining repetitive tasks, and avoiding common mistakes, and understanding AI's limitations. These limitations include issues like hallucinations and memory constraints.
Each topic is directly connected to real-world scenarios. Architects could see how AI might help with design exploration. Designers learned approaches for research. Builders discovered applications for project coordination. And integrators like us found new ways to improve system documentation and client education.
Immediate Impact and Real-World Applications
The response confirmed we'd addressed a real need. Within days of the event, attendees were putting what they learned into practice. Some automated their lead nurturing to stay connected with prospective clients. Others tackled social media management more efficiently. Many dove into deep research, exploring building materials, new technologies, and design trends at a faster pace than traditional methods allowed.
The applications span every aspect of the design-build process. We can use AI for system design documentation and technical research. Architects apply it to conceptual exploration and code compliance checking. Designers leverage it for material sourcing and trend analysis. Builders find value in project scheduling and subcontractor coordination.
The key insight from the training is that AI enhances professional expertise rather than replacing it. It handles time-consuming tasks so designers can focus on creativity, builders can concentrate on craftsmanship, and integrators can deliver more thoughtful solutions.
Building a Stronger Community
Events like this reflect our broader philosophy. When everyone in the design-build community strengthens their capabilities, clients benefit. Our investment in education doesn't just benefit our team; it also helps elevate the entire ecosystem of luxury residential projects. This aligns with our decades-long commitment to industry collaboration. Whether through professional organizations or events like this AI training, we believe in partnerships that go beyond individual transactions.
Contact Barrett's Technology Solutions to learn more about how we serve as both a technology partner and a resource for Chicago's design-build community.
