Ira Concepcion

Visiting Assistant Professor in Architecture

Ira Concepcion, AIA, WELL AP, is an architect, educator, and founder whose work sits at the intersection of architecture, technology, and human well-being. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Houston in 2008 and his Master of Architecture from Tulane University in 2019. Between his educational pursuits, Ira worked in the construction industry for seven years while living in Metro Manila, Philippines, where his interest in architecture’s capacity to support people beyond basic function first began to take shape.

As Principal of Senso Architects, Ira leads a research-driven design practice focused on architecture, sensory design, and the lived experience of space. His architectural practice draws from research in environmental psychology, neuroscience, chronobiology, and human perception to explore how buildings can be designed in closer relation to the body, the senses, and daily life. This inquiry guides Senso Architects as both a design practice and a testing ground for how architecture can better support the people who inhabit it.

Ira is also Research Director of Senso Labs, where he develops AI-enabled tools and workflows for architectural practice and education. His work with AI focuses on bridging the gap between conceiving and conveying architectural ideas, particularly where design processes are limited by technical skill, specialized knowledge, or access to advanced tools. His current research explores how AI can help architects navigate legal and regulatory constraints, conduct design studies with greater accessibility, and collaborate more effectively across the life of a project.

In 2025, Ira published “Designing with Artificial Intelligence: Integrating AI as a Collaborative Partner” in the proceedings of the National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. The paper reflects his broader interest in how AI is reshaping architectural research, design authorship, communication, and pedagogy.

At Tulane, Ira teaches architecture core studios and works with students as they develop foundational design skills, methods of inquiry, and architectural judgment. His teaching explores the role of AI in architectural research and design, with an emphasis on helping students use emerging tools to think more clearly, develop stronger narratives, and connect evidence to architectural outcomes.