{"id":17172,"date":"2026-06-23T14:32:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17172"},"modified":"2026-06-23T14:32:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:32:03","slug":"ai-wont-eliminate-architects-retired-ktgy-ceo-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17172","title":{"rendered":"AI won\u2019t eliminate architects, retired KTGY CEO says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Architecture\u2019s swift change \u2014 highlighted by technological innovation \u2014 was a key reason why Tricia Esser stepped down as chief executive of the KTGY design powerhouse earlier this year.<\/p>\n

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But retirement is no surrender. Esser knows it sounds a bit crazy, but she believes that all these new tools \u2014 including widely discussed and feared artificial intelligence \u2014 will only make architects better, not slash their need or value.<\/p>\n

Thirty-five years ago, Essser joined a small design startup in Irvine and in 2006 became its CEO. During her two decades as the big boss, the company grew a nationwide footprint with 400-plus employees, as it added design studios in Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, Denver and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Today, she\u2019s quite open about her retirement logic, saying she felt it was time for someone else to lead. Esser remains on KTGY\u2019s board of directors and will serve as an adviser to the new CEO, William Bate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to keep learning in this role,\u201d she said. \u201cI used to have a passion for \u2018teach me something new\u2019 that has waned. So it really became a combination of what\u2019s best for me and what\u2019s best for KTGY. At the size that we are now, I really feel like we need somebody who understands the business at that size and then can grow it even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

All these evolving technologies are clearly part of that required learning curve. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is an unsettling challenge for CEOs in nearly every industry.<\/p>\n

Although change will be stressful, Esser believes AI will benefit the field of architecture.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fear, but I don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s going to be anything but positive for our business,\u201d she says. \u201cHonestly. I know that sounds crazy, but our business is relationship-based, so you\u2019ve got to really understand what the client wants and needs. Solve their problems, that\u2019s what our designers do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Yes, Esser knows technology will change how work gets done. It has for years. But she says, \u201cit\u2019s called artificial intelligence for a reason, because it\u2019s not real intelligence. We\u2019re just coaching architects not to be fearful of this. Let\u2019s embrace it and figure out how it makes us better at what we do. I think it\u2019s going to take a long time, if ever, before it\u2019s enough on its own to replace an architect.\u201d<\/p>\n

During our interview with Esser, which has been edited for length and clarity, she looked back over her career to note what\u2019s changed and what the industry\u2019s next generation could learn from it.<\/p>\n

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What is the biggest change you\u2019ve seen in your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe level of design when it comes to affordable housing. Now, there are still political issues, but 20 years ago, objections were often due to the design being so poor. I\u2019m super proud of where it is now. You can drive down the street and not know whether something\u2019s an affordable project or a market-rate project. I wish some of the politics around affordable housing would have changed as much as the ability to put a great project out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s something that makes you proud?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a stat that showed how much the buildable square footage of buildings has grown in the last 10 to 15 years, and how energy use has stayed the same. That\u2019s pretty fantastic. I don\u2019t think people realize what architects and developers are doing to change the materials and make the buildings more efficient. And we need to talk about it more, because I think we haven\u2019t done enough.\u201d<\/p>\n