In the past two years, generative AI and algorithmic design have surged into architecture’s mainstream, fundamentally altering how designers create. Nearly half of architects and designers surveyed in late 2024 were already using AI tools in their projects – with another quarter planning to start shortly. Many are self-taught, experimenting with image generators and parametric software to rapidly iterate on ideas. This trend marks a paradigm shift in design methodology. Today’s architects combine creative intuition with computational power using these tools. Rubo Sun, an architectural designer at New York’s 212box, is at the forefront of this movement.

Embracing AI and Parametric Tools at 212box

Rubo Sun has positioned herself at the forefront of architecture’s tech evolution. Since joining 212box in 2023, she has championed the use of generative AI imagery and parametric modeling in the firm’s design process. Sun routinely employs image-generation models like Stable Diffusion to visualize concept atmospheres and interiors, and uses Rhino’s Grasshopper plugin to develop complex geometries and custom details. This hands-on fluency in digital tools aligns with a broader industry push toward innovation – 46% of designers now report using AI to streamline workflows and explore creative options. At 212box, a studio long known for its narrative-driven, “no-holds-barred” approach to design, Sun’s technological savvy adds a new dimension. By integrating AI-generated visuals and algorithmic models into her projects, Sun expands that narrative toolkit – enabling the team to imagine richly detailed spaces faster and more collaboratively than ever before.

One example is how Sun prototypes interior atmospheres with AI. Using Stable Diffusion, she can transform hand sketches into polished renderings in hours, sparking discussions with clients and teammates early in the design phase. This rapid visualization echoes the larger industry trend of generative design, where algorithms produce a spectrum of options based on a designer’s prompts. Meanwhile, Sun’s proficiency with Grasshopper allows 212box to push the envelope of custom fabrication – from intricate screen walls to organic furniture forms – by mathematically iterating through design permutations. In short, she personifies the new generation of designers fluent in both creative storytelling and coding, bringing computational power to a firm celebrated for its creativity.

Bridging History and Pop Culture through Design

Sun’s ability to merge innovation with narrative is evident in the diversity of her projects – from revitalizing a Prohibition-era landmark to crafting a cutting-edge streetwear boutique. In late 2023, she was part of the design team behind the renovation of W Hotel Minneapolis – The Foshay, a historic 32-story Art Deco tower. The project involved transforming 229 guest rooms with a Roaring Twenties meets modern chic sensibility. The updated interiors blend Jazz Age motifs (bold geometric patterns, plush textures) with contemporary amenities, reviving the 1929 skyscraper’s glamour for today’s travelers. By weaving historical narrative into a fresh luxury experience, Sun helped “bring back the Roaring ’20s” in a way that resonates with modern guests. The hotel’s grand reopening in October 2023 showcased this fusion of past and present, and underscored Sun’s knack for storytelling through design details – an approach enriched by the visualization tools at her disposal.

Sustainability and Innovation in Conceptual Work

Beyond built projects, Sun is equally passionate about forward-thinking conceptual design – especially work that addresses sustainability and community needs. Earlier this year, she earned international recognition at the 2025 MUSE Design Awards for two experimental projects that she led. One, titled “ReStore Hub,” envisions a factory-warehouse hybrid reimagined as a civic marketplace. The concept “transforms the traditional warehouse into a multifunctional ecosystem bridging logistics, commerce, and sustainability”. Instead of a dusty storage depot, ReStore Hub proposes a vibrant venue where surplus or defective goods find new life – part public bazaar, part recycling center. The design optimizes material flows to reduce waste and encourages a circular economy of reuse. Key features include modular spaces that adapt from warehouse to retail use, smart logistics for efficiency, and green building strategies (passive climate control, solar energy, abundant reused materials) to minimize environmental impact. For Sun, who served as design lead, the project was an exercise in marrying logistical innovation with humane design. Her use of algorithmic modeling was crucial in balancing these complex systems, and the result was compelling enough to win a MUSE Silver Award in the architectural design category.

The second honored project, “Halo Bubble,” tackles temporary emergency housing with an eye toward elegance and resilience. Co-led by Sun, this concept is a rapid-deploy shelter for disaster relief that pushes the envelope of lightweight architecture. Its design uses a minimalist post-and-cable structure that can be assembled in minutes, creating a sturdy dome under a translucent canopy. By day, the shelter maximizes natural light through its skin; by night, integrated LEDs turn it into a glowing beacon for people in need. The form is organic and futuristic, yet pragmatically modular – units can link or expand to accommodate different scenarios. “Built for durability and reusability,” Halo Bubble exemplifies “a functional, aesthetic, and environmentally responsible solution for rapidly changing environments”. It too earned a Silver recognition at MUSE 2025, affirming Sun’s talent for sustainable innovation.

Notably, both Halo Bubble and ReStore Hub demonstrate how she uses her technical skills for social impact – whether addressing waste in cities or shelter in crises. They also reflect influences from Sun’s academic research, which delved into materials and environmental design. Even as a student at Washington University in St. Louis, Sun gained hands-on experience with advanced sustainable design techniques – she was part of a team that employed 3D scanning and mixed reality to digitally document a Frank Lloyd Wright house, winning a national Peterson Prize for historic preservation in 2021. That early project combined cutting-edge tech with respect for heritage, a duality that continues to define Sun’s approach.

A Cross-Cultural Designer on the Rise

Rubo Sun represents a new generation of architects who are as comfortable coding algorithms as sketching by hand. Her journey from China to the United States – and from classroom competitions to leading projects on the global stage – speaks to the increasingly international and inclusive face of architecture. Women now comprise roughly one-third of architects worldwide (a proportion steadily growing), and professionals like Sun are helping to propel those numbers higher while making their mark creatively. In fact, Sun is one of the young female designers carving out a voice in an industry where women still hold under 20% of firm leadership roles. At 212box, she has quickly become a key voice in the studio, valued for both her design acumen and her distinctive perspective.

As architecture enters a new era defined by smart tools and global collaboration, Rubo Sun is exactly the kind of designer to watch – one who carries the past, present, and future in the same toolkit. Her rise mirrors a profession in transformation, one that is increasingly diverse, tech-enabled, and boldly optimistic about design’s potential to improve the world. By advancing that trend through her own work, Sun is not only carving out a remarkable career – she’s also helping to write the next chapter of architectural innovation, one project at a time.

Content Writing by : Ar. Rajvi Dedakiya