Frank Thalakotur is a Vice President of Brookwood Group. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and healthcare facilities strategist who operates at the intersection of MEP engineering, owner representation, and applied artificial intelligence.
Frank specializes in the strategic planning, design, and management of complex capital projects. His experience spans healthcare, science and technology, mission-critical facilities, commercial development, and high-rise construction across the United States. He has served as both Principal-in-Charge on the design side and as owner's representative, giving him a comprehensive understanding of project delivery from multiple perspectives.A champion of technology-driven project delivery, Frank founded TableCalc, an AI platform that automates life-cycle cost analysis and design for MEP building systems. He has authored papers on AI in MEP engineering and the impact of LLMs on managing construction projects. Frank leverages Lean Construction and BIM methodologies to align project delivery with operational excellence.
Frank holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University and is a registered Professional Engineer (PE). He is an active member of ASHE and AMFP, and formerly served as Co-Chair of the Lean Construction Institute's New England Chapter.
Courses
Beyond the Chatbot: What AI Actually Does for Healthcare Design
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 2-3pm ET
Artificial intelligence is transforming the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, yet many professionals remain uncertain about its practical applications. This panel discussion brings together healthcare owners and project delivery professionals to separate the hype from reality. The session will begin by clarifying what AI means for AEC beyond generative chat tools, followed by a data-driven snapshot of current adoption based on a pre-webinar survey of Academy members. Panelists will demonstrate the potential for AI applications in healthcare design and planning, and in particular, discuss how proper AI-assisted code compliance validation and space programming can ensure facilities meet regulatory requirements and support optimal clinical workflows. As AI tools can help identify design deficiencies earlier in the project lifecycle, firms may see a reduction in the number of costly changes thereby improving the overall quality of healthcare environments. The discussion will conclude with practical guidance on how owners and design teams can organize their historical project data today to unlock AI capabilities tomorrow while avoiding siloed point solutions. A live Q&A will ground the discussion in real project experience.