

TRXL
Evan Troxel
Join architect Evan Troxel as he explores important topics surrounding the co-evolution of technology and architecture. Guests from the architectural community and beyond join in long-form conversations about the influence digital transformation is having on the profession with long digressions on leadership, change management, knowledge transfer, where all this may lead to in the future of the building industry, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 36min
145: ‘The Gordian Knot, Part 1’, with Phil Read
Phil Read joins the podcast to talk about the value of an in-person conversation, Phil’s personal journey, his experiences in AEC tech over the last few decades, the value of an architect, advice for students interesting in pursuing architecture, advice for those thinking about starting their own firms, investing in tools versus buying toys, how to gain the luxury to say ‘no’, how Phil got into Revit and Enscape, the importance of systematizing processes, a look ahead at the future of the industry, and more.To learn more about Phil Read, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coEpisode SponsorsAVAILAVAIL is helping AECO firms better manage, organize, and navigate information today. Trust a leader with a proven track record for reliability, relatability, and success. Learn why the top AECO firms choose AVAIL. Visit https://getavail.com/stranded and book a meeting with Will Rouse to learn more.Confluence EventsConfluence is an intimate, invite-only conference event for AEC professionals and technology providers to discuss industry trends and ideas, together. Learn more about the next regional event coming April 2024 in NYC at https://confluence.getavail.com/2024-nycArchITEmbrace a technology team that enhances—not hinders—your design process. Visit GetArchIT.com for your free IT assessment and start transforming your firm and your tech experience today.-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback

Jan 16, 2024 • 1h 24min
144: Campfire Series - ‘The SketchUp Story’, with Brad Schell
In this special Campfire Series episode, Brad Schell joins the podcast to tell us the story of SketchUp. We hear about his experiences that led to creation of SketchUp, deep insights into building the @Last company culture and how it ultimately contributed to the product's success, his leadership philosophy and style, what he looked for when hiring, how they got funding, what they did differently than other CAD and 3d modeling packages available at the time, how they created a product that to this day—24 years later—continues to resonate so deeply with the hearts and minds of its users, how it got its name, and so much more.To learn more about Brad Schell, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedback

5 snips
Jan 9, 2024 • 1h 17min
143: ‘The Future AEC Software Specification’, with Andy Watts and Aaron Perry
Andy Watts and Aaron Perry join the podcast to talk about the need for a next-generation data framework in the AEC industry. Together they are leading the charge, along with many others, in developing the Future AEC Software Specification. The goal is an industry-wide dialogue to create a modern technology foundation that fosters competition in the AEC software market. Not a small task by any means.We chat about the journey that led to the creation of the specification, the context in which the specification was developed, how architectural practices have reevaluated their processes during and after the COVID-19 lockdown, the Autodesk Open Letters and the media attention they garnered, the changes being made by Autodesk as a result, what the specification is, Aaron’s presentation of the specification at NXTBLD (for which a link to watch can be found in the show notes), the reception of the presentation and other feedback since, how one can get involved with the development of the specification, and more.Overall, this conversation emphasizes the importance of industry engagement, collaboration, and the long-term process of implementing the specification to drive positive change in the AEC industry.To learn more about Andy Watts and Aaron Perry, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.co-----Support TRXL by becoming a member or by making a donation.Click here to subscribe and get the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed to you when new episodes are released. It’s free!Provide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: ArchITEmbrace a technology team that enhances—not hinders—your design process. Visit GetArchIT.com for your free IT assessment and start transforming your firm and your tech experience today.Sponsor: Confluence EventsConfluence is an intimate, invite-only conference event for AEC professionals and technology providers to discuss industry trends and ideas, together. Learn more about the next regional event coming April 2024 in NYC at https://confluence.getavail.com/2024-nycSponsor: AVAILAVAIL is helping AECO firms better manage, organize, and navigate information today. Trust a leader with a proven track record for reliability, relatability, and success. Learn why the top AECO firms choose AVAIL.
Visit https://getavail.com/stranded and book a meeting with Will Rouse to learn more.

Dec 19, 2023 • 1h 55min
142: ‘Reverse Engineering’, with Emil Poulsen
Emil Poulsen of CORE Studio at Thornton Tomasetti and Modelup joins the podcast to talk about the challenges and opportunities of implementing new technologies in the AEC industry, both internally in a firm but also externally as products. We delve into the importance of communication, buy-in, and cultural change when introducing new tools and processes, the culture of AEC tech and the entrepreneurial spirit at TT, Emil’s insights from his experience in developing tools and pushing for adoption within a global engineering firm, the benefits of participating in hackathons like the recent 2023 AEC Tech event hosted by CORE Studio in New York City, and we talk about his work on web-based 3d configurators for digital products at Modelup. To learn more about Emil Poulsen, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.cGet the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed you you when new episodes are released at https://www.trxl.co/#/portal/signupProvide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: AVAILAVAIL is helping AECO firms better manage, organize, and navigate information today. Trust a leader with a proven track record for reliability, relatability, and success. Learn why the top AECO firms choose AVAIL.
Visit https://getavail.com/stranded and book a meeting with Will Rouse to learn more.Sponsor: Confluence EventsConfluence is an intimate, invite-only conference event for AEC professionals and technology providers to discuss industry trends and ideas, together. Learn more about the next regional event coming April 2024 in NYC at https://confluence.getavail.com/2024-nycSponsor: ArchVisionThis episode of TRXL is supported by ArchVision. Save 5% off everything, including any type of license of the just-released Rhino versino 8 when you buy from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL at checkout before December 31, 2023.

5 snips
Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 21min
141: ‘AI is Not Your Strategy’, with Mehdi Nourbakhsh and Scott Thompson
Mehdi Nourbakhsh, Ph.D. of YegaTech and Scott Thompson of SSOE Group join the podcast to talk about how YegaTech and SSOE are working together to create an AI implementation strategy for a 1,000 person AEC firm. We also talk about Mehdi’s latest book on AI for AEC, why firms should be working to develop technology implementation strategies based on business goals rather than simply chasing after the shiny new thing, the importance of focusing on people in the implementation of AI in the AEC industry, the need to address people-related challenges to create a culture of innovation, and more.To learn more about Mehdi Nourbakhsh and Scott Thompson, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coGet the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed you you when new episodes are released at https://www.trxl.co/#/portal/signupProvide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: AVAILAVAIL is helping AECO firms better manage, organize, and navigate information today. Trust a leader with a proven track record for reliability, relatability, and success. Learn why the top AECO firms choose AVAIL.
Visit https://getavail.com/stranded and book a meeting with Will Rouse to learn more.Sponsor: Confluence EventsConfluence is an intimate, invite-only conference event for AEC professionals and technology providers to discuss industry trends and ideas, together. Learn more about the next regional event coming April 2024 in NYC at https://confluence.getavail.com/2024-nycSponsor: ArchVisionThis episode of TRXL is supported by ArchVision. Save 5% off everything, including any type of license of the just-released Rhino versino 8 when you buy from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL at checkout before December 31, 2023.

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 43min
140: ‘You Had Me at Anger’, with Håvard Vasshaug
Håvard Vasshaug of Anker joins the podcast to talk about his passion for AEC tech and the challenges in the industry. He tells the story of his journey with the Bad Monkeys, Reope, and Anker, and we also chat a lot about why it’s healthy to be dissatisfied—angry even—at the software we all use. We also cover change management, BIM and the necessity of consistent and quality data, and the problems he and the team are currently solving at Anker regarding the use of BIM in operations and facilities maintenance. We conclude with a discussion on the future of BIM and the potential for liberating architects and engineers from data management tasks and bad software.To learn more about Håvard Vasshaug, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coGet the TRXL AEC Tech Newsletter and episode show notes emailed you you when new episodes are released at https://www.trxl.co/#/portal/signupProvide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: TRXL+ MembershipWith a TRXL+ membership you will get your own private feed for ad-free episodes of the podcast, the show notes right in your podcast app and in your inbox, your own ad-free copy of every TRXL AEC/tech newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, and additional member-only content over time. Get $20 off your first year when you sign up today. Go to https://trxl.co/launch20Sponsor: ArchVisionThis episode of TRXL is supported by ArchVision. Save 5% off everything, including any type of license of the just-released Rhino versino 8 when you buy from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL at checkout before December 31, 2023.

Nov 28, 2023 • 1h 4min
139: ‘The Importance of Knowledge Sharing’, with Nicolas Catellier
Nicolas Catellier of BIM Pure joins the podcast to talk about his transition from being an architect to becoming a BIM consultant and content creator. From his early passion for tech to his journey of specializing in BIM, Nicolas shares his insights and experiences. Tune in to learn more about the power of content creation, the value of being a specialist in the field, and the importance of sharing knowledge in the AEC industry.To learn more about Nicolas Catellier, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coProvide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: ArchVIsionLooking to upgrade or buy AEC design software before the end of the year? Save 5% off everything you buy (including Rhino v8, SketchUp, Enscape, V-Ray, and more) from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL during checkout through December 31, 2023.Sponsor: TRXL+ MembershipWith a TRXL+ membership you will get your own private feed for ad-free episodes of the podcast, the show notes right in your podcast app and in your inbox, your own ad-free copy of every TRXL AEC/tech newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, and additional member-only content over time. Get $20 off your first year when you sign up today. Go to https://trxl.co/launch20

Nov 21, 2023 • 1h 29min
138: ‘The Opposite of Garbage-In, Garbage-Out’, with Marty Rozmanith
Marty Rozmanith of Skema joins the podcast to talk about his journey through the world of AEC tech. From self-taught programming skills to pioneering the use of 3d in AutoCAD in the early days, to Revit, then post-Autodesk with Dassault Systèmes and beyond, Marty shares unexpected twists and turns that shaped his career with the common thread of always trying to better connect design to construction. Join us as we explore the fascinating path that led Marty to where he is today and what challenges he’s got his sights set on solving for our industry with his latest venture, Skema.To learn more about Marty Rozmanith and Skema, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coProvide feedback for this episode at https://trxl.co/feedbackMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: Confluence PodcastConfluence is now more than an intimate, invite-only conference. It’s now also a video podcast where AEC industry software developers take us behind the scenes to show how they make the digital tools we use to design the built environment. Find it on YouTube and Spotify. Learn more at https://www.trxl.co/confluence/Sponsor: AVAILAVAIL is the content management system you deserve, and it’s recently been updated! With its beautifully simple interface, AVAIL makes it easy to to manage, organize, find, and use your information. Check out the new features including the all-new Project Navigator for Revit at https://getavail.com/revit-project-navigator/Sponsor: ArchVIsionLooking to upgrade or buy AEC design software before the end of the year? Save 5% off everything you buy (including Rhino v8, SketchUp, Enscape, V-Ray, and more) from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL during checkout through December 31, 2023.

Nov 7, 2023 • 1h 19min
137: ‘Accelerating Tech in AEC’, with German Aparicio, Jr.
German Aparicio, Jr. of Trimble Ventures joins the podcast to talk about Trimble Ventures’ new venture fund program to stimulate innovation in AEC, the importance of connecting the job site with design, mentorship and the value of real-world experience, the use of AI and machine learning in the AEC industry, and the potential of multimodal models and natural language interfaces in the latest AI tools.To learn more about German Aparicio, Jr., see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: AVAILAVAIL is the content management system you deserve, and it’s recently been updated! With its beautifully simple interface, AVAIL makes it easy to to manage, organize, find, and use your information. Check out the new features including the all-new Project Navigator for Revit at https://getavail.com/revit-project-navigator/Sponsor: ArchVIsionLooking to upgrade or buy AEC design software before the end of the year? Save 5% off everything you buy (including Rhino v8, SketchUp, Enscape, V-Ray, and more) from https://archvision.com/store and use code TRXL during checkout through December 31, 2023.Sponsor: Confluence PodcastConfluence is now more than an intimate, invite-only conference. It’s now also a video podcast where AEC industry software developers take us behind the scenes to show how they make the digital tools we use to design the built environment. Find it on YouTube and Spotify. Learn more at https://www.trxl.co/confluence/

Oct 31, 2023 • 1h 11min
136: ‘Rhino.Inside.TRXL’, with Japhy Walton
Japhy Walton of McNeel and Associates joins the podcast to talk about his journey in AEC and how that plays into his current role at McNeel, the ongoing development of Grasshopper and Rhino.Inside.Revit, the evolution of their relationship with Autodesk, the importance of user input and feedback, the improvements in tools for architects in the upcoming Rhino v8 release, and other topics.To learn more about Japhy Walton, see the full show notes with links, find more episodes, and find the past guests on the TRXL podcast please visit https://trxl.coMentioned in this episode:Sponsor: Confluence PodcastConfluence is now more than an intimate, invite-only conference. It’s now also a video podcast where AEC industry software developers take us behind the scenes to show how they make the digital tools we use to design the built environment. Find it on YouTube and Spotify. Learn more at https://www.trxl.co/confluence/Sponsor: AVAILAVAIL is the content management system you deserve, and it’s recently been updated! With its beautifully simple interface, AVAIL makes it easy to to manage, organize, find, and use your information. Check out the new features including the all-new Project Navigator for Revit at https://getavail.com/revit-project-navigator/