Design and Delivery of Parametric Architecture in the Caribbean

Picture the world's largest swim-up pool bar in Nassau, Bahamas, crowned by a sweeping free-form canopy that seems to float over the water. Now picture actually building it.

This session takes you behind the scenes of a project that pushed every rule of design, coordination, and fabrication. You'll follow the canopy from bold first sketch to final installation and see how architects, engineers, contractors, and specialty fabricators turned a wildly complex geometry into something real. That meant tight schedules, tough technical limits, and plenty of on-site problem-solving.

You'll see the digital workflows that made it possible: how the team rationalized complex forms, kept every discipline on the same page, and carried design intent into the shop and the field. You'll also leave with practical lessons on protecting design ambition, reducing risk, and making smarter decisions when architecture, technology, and construction all have to perform at their best.

Ideal for architects, designers, engineers, builders, and anyone curious about how the most ambitious projects get built.

This program is being presented by the Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Knowledge Community.

Presenter:

Brendan Mullins, AIA | Stantec 

Brendan Mullins is a Principal Architect and Design Computing leader at Stantec, focused on delivering complex, design-driven projects that balance design intent, technical execution, and multidisciplinary coordination. He has served in project architecture and design leadership roles on significant projects including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Royal Caribbean’s Paradise Island development, the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Building, and the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, as well as a confidential flagship cruise ship for a major global brand.

In parallel, Brendan leads Design Computing for Stantec’s Buildings practice, advancing the integration of visualization, computational design, automation, and artificial intelligence into project delivery. His work focuses on helping teams make better decisions, improve coordination, and deliver high-quality outcomes on technically complex projects.