Dave Moyes is a partner at SimpsonHaugh Architects, bringing 20 years of experience in IT to the architectural sector, with the last 14 spent at his current firm. He started as IT manager and became a partner in 2017, watching the company grow and evolve.
“The people are why I’ve stayed,” Dave says. “When you leave a job, you leave your colleagues. Being around a good team makes work enjoyable.”
In his partner role, Dave notices a key difference from CIO positions in other industries. He focuses on enhancing business processes with innovative data and digital services, while also maximizing existing systems and data.
“I set the strategic direction for technology but also dive into the hands-on work,” he explains. “I manage support, system upgrades, and IT operations. My responsibilities include information management—tracking what we receive and the associated risks—and overseeing certifications like ISO, cyber essentials, and health and safety.”
His role is diverse, touching on many areas—from cloud applications to AI and BIM. “The work comes in waves,” he says. “You create a strategy, then it’s all about implementation. The role keeps changing, and that’s why I’ve been with the firm so long; it’s never boring.”
The demand for digital and data in architecture has surged over the last decade. “Ten years ago, we produced about 300-400 drawings for a client package. Now it’s 1,000-1,500,” he notes. The complexity and detail of these drawings, especially with BIM models, have also increased.
Every project demands some form of data deliverable, with varying expectations from clients. Dave anticipates significant changes ahead. “AI is going to shake the industry within two years. The transformation with BIM took a decade; AI will accelerate that,” he says.
However, more data also brings challenges. As firms rely on various digital services, Dave highlights data interoperability as a looming concern. “We used to navigate these issues with workaround strategies, but as things become more locked down, interoperability is an industry-wide concern,” he emphasizes.
To prepare for ongoing digital changes, Dave focuses on building firm foundations. “We need to ensure we’re ready for whatever comes next. We’re architects, not technologists. IT is an overhead, so we must be smart with our spending,” he remarks.
SimpsonHaugh upgraded its IT infrastructure significantly. They are enhancing their corporate network to a 25GB Ethernet backbone and have invested in 2K and 4K screens, alongside Nutanix data storage for managing their virtual server environment.
Security is also a priority. “Client confidentiality is critical,” Dave states. “With strict non-disclosure agreements, we have to handle client data and contracts carefully, which leads to top-tier project designs.” SimpsonHaugh is known for revitalizing urban areas, with projects like Deansgate Square in Manchester and One Blackfriars in London.
Reflecting on past projects, he’s particularly proud of Blackfriars, where they exchanged computational scripts—not just drawings. “From a technology standpoint, that was groundbreaking for us,” he recalls.
One of his major initiatives has been the implementation of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The firm is investing over £1.2 million in technologies like Citrix and VMware. This VDI setup allows staff secure access from anywhere, ensuring their IT needs are met efficiently. “Users never feel like their machines are frozen,” he points out, highlighting improvements in productivity and decreased downtime.
“We’re in a better place now,” Dave says. “The practice is people-centric, and our IT should empower staff to design effectively while maintaining a work-life balance.”
As he drives digital transformation, he envisions a future shaped by innovative tools. “Technology through AI should disrupt our processes for the better,” he explains. SimpsonHaugh is exploring AI across three key areas: word AI, image AI, and generative AI. For instance, word AI could help reduce the time spent on report summaries or emails, while generative AI focuses on parametric design informed by algorithms.
“We’ve been implementing this for a while, especially with tools like Grasshopper,” he adds, emphasizing that generative AI might be a new term, but the concept isn’t new to architecture. Image AI aims to expedite design proposals from sketches, enhancing project pitches.
“AI has potential to make a huge difference in our field,” Dave says, considering the sensitivity of their data, they’re exploring internally hosted solutions and have implemented ComfyUI as part of their toolkit.
He remains optimistic about the future of architecture with AI—a transformation he’s excited to lead.