The Californer - Autodesk supports pre-approved home designs and AI-powered permitting to accelerate Los Angeles wildfire recovery

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2025 ~ Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has announced its latest efforts to support the rebuilding of wildfire-affected areas in Los Angeles. The devastating fires that occurred in January have left many families and communities in need of assistance, and Autodesk is stepping up to provide funding, technology, and support to accelerate the recovery process.

One of the key partnerships in this effort is with The Foothill Catalog Foundation (TFCF), a nonprofit organization that has created a first-of-its-kind catalog of modular, pre-approved home designs for survivors of fires in the Los Angeles region. These designs are expected to significantly reduce architectural and permitting costs for survivors, which can often reach tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, TFCF estimates that their plans could cut these costs by up to 95%. Additionally, the use of these pre-approved designs will help expedite the permitting process, which can typically take up to a year, down to just a matter of weeks.

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To further support this initiative, Autodesk is also funding an AI-powered software tool that will streamline the approval of building permits and speed up the recovery process. This tool will be developed in partnership with Governor Gavin Newsom, LA Rises, and other companies.

According to Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO of Autodesk, their technology plays a crucial role in rebuilding industries such as planning, architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction. He believes that this effort is not just about recovering from disaster but also about designing and building for resilience. By efficiently scaling solutions and inspiring recovery models everywhere, they hope to future-proof communities against similar disasters.

With Autodesk's support, TFCF is enlisting hundreds of volunteer architects, engineers, and students to create home designs tailored specifically for neighborhoods like Altadena. These plans will meet strict climate resilience standards while preserving the unique architectural character of the region. TFCF is also developing a standardized Revit template to ensure that each design meets pre-approval and sustainability requirements from the outset. Architects contributing to the catalog will use tools such as BIM Collaborate Pro and Autodesk Forma to streamline collaboration, provide AI-powered analyses, and deliver more resilient homes to families faster.

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Alex Athenson, co-founder of The Foothill Catalog Foundation, expressed his gratitude for this partnership, stating that it is helping turn their vision into reality at a time when families cannot afford to wait. With Autodesk's expertise as a Design and Make leader and their valuable resources, they are making sustainable and regionally sensitive home designs more accessible. This partnership is also creating a pathway for faster and more resilient recovery for communities in need.

Autodesk's commitment to designing for long-term resilience and sustainability is evident in their efforts to help communities recover from disasters like the LA fires. Their Design and Make platform is used by AEC industry teams worldwide to reduce waste and lower environmental impacts. By providing real-time solutions to urgent system challenges, Autodesk is making a significant impact on those affected by the fires.

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