BROOKLYN, NY, March 3, 2025 — Acelab today announced the launch of Materials Hub, an AI-powered platform that transforms how architects and designers discover, evaluate, and specify building materials. The platform combines artificial intelligence with firms' institutional knowledge to address the increasingly complex challenges of material selection in modern architecture.

"As an architect, I've experienced firsthand how the explosion of material options has made specification increasingly complex," said Vardhan Mehta, AIA CSI, Co-founder and CEO of Acelab. "Every day, architects juggle performance requirements, sustainability goals, and aesthetic vision while trying to tap into their firm's collective expertise. We built Materials Hub because we knew there had to be a better way than hunting through scattered product data and hoping someone in the office had used a material before. This platform finally brings together everything architects need - comprehensive data, firm knowledge, and intelligent recommendations - in one place, transforming how teams make material decisions.

Early access trials with industry leaders have proven Materials Hub's transformative potential, with Acelab's platform delivering value through three core strengths: 

Acelab’s approach to the Firm Library: Preserving & Growing Institutional Knowledge

• Captures and digitizes decades of material expertise and project experience
• Evolves continuously with each successful specification
• Makes critical knowledge instantly accessible across your entire firm
• Enables seamless knowledge transfer as teams change or expand
• Preserves insights from senior architects for the next generation

AI-Powered Material Intelligence

• Ask naturally - "Show me slip-resistant tiles for freeze-thaw conditions" - and get precise answers
• Harnesses data from over 100,000 building materials and understands architect terminology
• Surfaces hidden options by understanding intent - not just matching keywords
• Provides comprehensive analysis of aesthetics, performance, and sustainability
• Delivers complete documentation for LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge
• Makes every team member a material expert through intelligent recommendations
• Transforms complex specifications into actionable insights through natural dialogue

Streamlined Decision-Making Workflow

• Coordinates team collaboration across all locations
• Automates documentation and specification generation
• Optimizes material choices for each unique project
• Evaluates options across performance, cost, and sustainability metrics
• Integrates seamlessly with existing firm processes
• Reduces time from research to specification

"Materials are the foundation of architectural innovation and sustainability," said Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Hon. ASLA, Design Principal and Founder of Ross Barney Architects. "Materials Hub has fundamentally changed how we approach material selection, ensuring that our choices not only meet performance requirements but also align with our sustainability goals and design vision. Having access to this depth of material knowledge, curated by architects for architects, is transformative for our industry."

Leading architecture firms including BIG, Stantec, SHoP, AECOM, CookFox and others have already joined Ross Barney Architects in adopting Materials Hub through early access programs. The platform will be available free of charge to all architecture and design firms starting March 3rd.

"Materials Hub represents more than just a technological advancement – it's a paradigm shift in how we approach design and sustainability," said Dave Lemont, Acelab's Executive Chairman and former CEO of Revit. "The world of architecture is at a critical juncture where material choices have never been more important. By combining AI-powered search with collaborative tools and a firm's own project history, we've created a platform that will change the world of material selection. This is exactly what the industry needs to move forward and create a more sustainable built environment."

To celebrate the launch, Acelab is also announcing Materials Month, a month-long exploration of material innovation in architecture featuring daily insights from industry leaders and deep-dives into building materials.