ORGANIZATION
GUEST
Mark Davis, John Ritter
RESULTS
4-6 hours → 5 min
time to research and document a complex code compliance question
Research + documentation
answers thorough enough to justify design decisions with clients and jurisdictions
Enhanced value to clients
Significant cost savings from more precise code analysis better support Target Value Design
A conversation with Mark Davis, Principal, and John Ritter, Senior Associate, at DGA
The Challenge: DGA needed an AI partner built for architects — not another general-purpose tool
DGA didn't come to Ichi with a single broken workflow. They came with a bigger question: where and how should an architecture firm start to use AI?
"Our biggest challenge was figuring out how to actually adopt AI for the practice of architecture," said Mark Davis, Principal at DGA. "We wanted help with code research and improving efficiency in other processes, but even more we were looking for someone who understands and is building AI specifically for the architectural design profession."
Code compliance research was a clear pain point. DGA's projects are complex and can involve hazardous materials, mixed use occupancies, and intricate fire barrier and separation requirements and more — all of which demand cross-referencing dozens of code sections across multiple jurisdictions, a process that's not just time-consuming, but error-prone. A seasoned architect might spend 4–6 hours researching and documenting a single complex code question. For less experienced staff, it could take even longer.
Mark Davis, Principal, DGA
The risk wasn't just slow work — it was incomplete work. And the challenge extended beyond research. Even with AI tools like ChatGPT available, DGA's team found that getting a reliable answer requires deep domain knowledge and knowing how to frame the question — something a general-purpose tool couldn't solve on its own.
The Solution: A true partner and AI software the team can trust
DGA chose Ichi because of how the team operated — less like a vendor, more like an extension of the team.
"I can use ChatGPT, but I don't have anyone to discuss the result with or better understand the reference," Davis said. "Working with Ichi is different — they work with our team, listen to our challenges, and build solutions around our problems. It's like having a dedicated AI resource for DGA, something we wouldn't be able to support on our own. We view Ichi as a partner, not just another AI platform."
Mark Davis, Principal, DGA
Ichi's code compliance capabilities quickly became central to the team's workflow. The platform doesn't just surface answers — it surfaces defensible answers. On a project for a large corporate laboratory client, DGA had a significant line item for rated shafts and fire dampers that had a significant impact on a constrained budget. Davis queried Ichi and within five minutes validated that fire dampers weren't required — and had a clear, cited summary he could share directly with the client. That single query during design saved the client approximately $250K and future rework, delayed deadlines, and additional costs.
Mark Davis, Principal, DGA
Beyond code research, Ichi became a knowledge-sharing tool across the firm. John Ritter, Senior Associate at DGA, pointed to how working alongside senior architects in Ichi accelerates learning. "Even with AI tools, it's hard to get a reliable answer if you don't have deep domain knowledge and know how to frame the question," Ritter said. "When I work on projects in Ichi, I'm able to see how senior leadership approaches code challenges and learn the correct approach for future projects."
The Results: Immediate time savings and efficiencies today, with a clear path to even bigger impact on QA/QC
A single code compliance question that would have taken a seasoned architect 4–6 hours to research and document was resolved in under 5 minutes — with output polished enough to send directly to the client. Multiply that across the dozens of code questions that arise on any given project, and the cumulative time savings, accuracy improvements, and potential cost savings for the client are substantial. Driven by results like these, over the course of a few months DGA expanded from a handful of users to 20+ users and is now rolling out Ichi across the firm.
DGA also saw firm-wide benefits from a shared Ichi workspace. Staff can review code decisions from past projects, understand the reasoning, and apply those learnings to current work. "Before Ichi, staff would have to ask senior architects to understand past decisions," Davis said. "With Ichi, DGA's staff saves time on code research and gets instant access to past decisions, requiring minimal interface with senior architects."
And as more staff access this organizational knowledge base, Ichi doubles as an educational resource that raises the whole team's code expertise.
Mark Davis, Principal, DGA
Looking ahead, DGA sees significant opportunity for Ichi in QA/QC. On one of their larger projects, the firm recently spent roughly 20 person hours in meetings to quality control the organization of a complex 500+ sheet planset — and that only reflects meetings. On top of meetings, individual tasks outside of meetings, such as sheet index reviews, can currently take 6 hours of effort, but early collaborations with Ichi are showing a path toward reducing that review to under 1 hour — with those efficiencies expected to compound over time.
