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Picture this: you type a short description of a five-story apartment building, and within seconds a 3D model appears—ready to explore in mixed reality. No advanced software, no coding. Just words turning into structures.

At Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture, researchers are making that vision possible. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), they are developing new tools that merge artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and spatial reasoning to reshape how buildings are designed and taught in classrooms.

Leading Innovation in Design Technology

The initiative is led by Dr. Wei Yan, professor, researcher, and interim head of the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M. As he marks his 20th year at the university, Yan continues to guide a team of doctoral students pushing the boundaries of architectural technology.

Their efforts are drawing national recognition. In May 2025, the team won Best Paper Award at the IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the growing importance of their work in merging design with AI-driven tools.

Text2VP: From Words to 3D Worlds

One standout project is Text-to-Visual Programming GPT (Text2VP), created by doctoral student Guangxi Feng. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, the system generates editable 3D models directly from text prompts.

Instead of spending hours on traditional design software, users can describe a building in plain language and instantly adjust its size, shape, or layout. Designers remain in control, while AI handles the technical groundwork.

“This way, human designers and AI collaborate on the project,” Yan explained. The tool accelerates early design phases, freeing architects to focus on creative exploration rather than repetitive tasks.

Lowering Barriers for Future Architects

For students, this breakthrough means a more intuitive way to understand design logic. With Text2VP, complex ideas become interactive lessons rather than abstract concepts. The team is also testing the tool in mixed reality environments, allowing users to step into their creations, walk through spaces, and reshape designs in real time.

“This lowers the barrier to entry,” Yan said. “It allows students to experiment and learn design logic more intuitively.”

Reshaping Architectural Education

Although still under development, Text2VP signals a shift in how future architects may approach their work. By combining generative AI with immersive visualization, the technology could redefine how ideas move from imagination to built form—both in the classroom and in professional practice.