What CORE studio at Thornton Tomasetti does

CORE studio is the internal research and development incubator of Thornton Tomasetti, a private US structural engineering firm, established in 2011 and headquartered in New York with a 21-person specialist team. It develops custom software, computational modeling tools, and AI/ML applications that augment the engineering workflows of Thornton Tomasetti's project teams and, on a more limited basis, select external corporate clients in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

Its product portfolio spans proprietary web applications and embedded plugins. Flagship tools include T2D2, an AI-powered computer vision system that detects visible structural damage (cracks, spalls, corrosion) in concrete, steel, masonry, and timber from inspection images and video, available as a mobile app and a web service with drone support; Konstru, a web-based 3D interoperability platform that synchronizes models across design and analysis software; and Skipper, a web application for automatic structural-bay design. The studio also maintains Spotlight (material takeoff and visualization), Design Explorer (3D BIM visualization), and a suite of toolboxes and add-ins embedded inside Revit (Revit Toolbox), Tekla Structures (Tekla Toolbox), SAP2000/ETABS (CSI Toolboxes), and Grasshopper (TT Toolbox). Underlying technology areas include BIM interoperability, parametric design, predictive analytics for structural optioneering, and computer vision trained on proprietary annotated inspection datasets. In 2025, the studio consolidated these AI/ML capabilities under a new CORE.AI initiative.

The unit functions primarily as an internal cost center, with tools deployed across all Thornton Tomasetti practices and external commercial activity limited to "select corporate clients." Revenue, pricing, and detailed client information are not publicly disclosed. Distribution occurs through direct internal deployment, OEM-style embedding inside commercial BIM and analysis software, and web-based delivery, supplemented by thought leadership through the annual AEC Tech Conference hosted in New York since 2013.

Name

CORE studio at Thornton Tomasetti

Legal name

Thornton Tomasetti

Website

https://core.thorntontomasetti.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CORE studio is the internal R&D incubator of Thornton Tomasetti, developing custom software, BIM interoperability tools, and AI-powered structural engineering applications (notably T2D2 damage detection) for the parent firm's project teams and select AEC clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Software & BIM Interoperability

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Structural engineering software
• BIM interoperability tools
• AI damage detection
• Computational design services
• AEC technology development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development: CORE studio builds custom software for Thornton Tomasetti and select corporate clients. The studio operates as an internal incubator providing tools and services that enhance building design workflows, promote collaboration, and solve engineering problems across all Thornton Tomasetti practices.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CORE studio is Thornton Tomasetti's internal R&D and technology incubator that develops custom software tools and applications for structural engineering, BIM interoperability, AI-powered structural inspection, and computational design. Its portfolio includes standalone tools (T2D2, Konstru, Spotlight, Skipper, Design Explorer) and a suite of plugin toolboxes for commercial BIM/analysis software (Revit, Tekla, Grasshopper, SAP2000/ETABS), with services and select software extended to corporate AEC clients.

Product overview

CORE studio is Thornton Tomasetti's internal R&D and technology incubator that develops custom software tools for the firm and select corporate clients. The portfolio includes specialized products for structural engineering: T2D2 (AI-powered damage detection), Konstru (3D interoperability platform), Spotlight (material tracking), Skipper (structural-bay design), and Design Explorer (visualization). These are complemented by a suite of toolboxes/add-ins for BIM and analysis software including Revit Toolbox, CSI Toolboxes (SAP2000/ETABS), Tekla Toolbox, and Grasshopper Toolbox (TT Toolbox). The tools range from basic geometric transformations and project data manipulation to proprietary modeling automation and AI-driven structural analysis, all built to enhance efficiency and reduce errors across Thornton Tomasetti's engineering practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CORE.AI: Consolidated AI and machine learning initiative combining CORE studio's work in predictive modeling, computer vision, and structural inspection AI.
• T2D2
• Konstru
• Spotlight
• Skipper
• AEC Tech

Products and services

• T2D2 AI-powered structural damage detection tool for AEC professionals that automatically identifies visible damage such as cracks, spalls, and corrosion in concrete, steel, masonry, and timber structures by analyzing inspection images and video. Available as T2D2 Mobile (smartphone/tablet) and T2D2 Web (online inference service).
• Konstru Web-based 3D interoperability platform that translates data between building design and analysis software, allowing models to be synchronized without rework and enabling collaborative, data-rich model sharing between project team members.
• Spotlight Material takeoff and data-visualization tool that enables project managers to track structural quantities on projects and assess delivery status.
• Skipper Web application providing automatic structural-bay design capabilities, saving time and money for structural engineers.
• Design Explorer Lightweight visualization platform providing spatial data representation, mapping techniques, flexible data visualization dashboards, and interactive 3D BIM viewers for AEC project teams.
• Revit Toolbox Add-in for Autodesk Revit that automates repetitive tasks, performs QA/QC and model repair, applies specialized interoperability workflows, and creates custom analyses and visualizations for structural and BIM engineers.
• CSI Toolboxes Toolkits that boost capabilities of SAP2000 and ETABS structural analysis applications by automating and enhancing engineering and design functions.
• Tekla Toolbox Add-in for Tekla Structures that automates routine modeling and data-management tasks so structural engineers can focus on engineering work.
• TT Toolbox (Grasshopper Toolbox) Add-on components for Grasshopper 3D tailored for solving structural engineering problems, enabling designers to build parametric models.
• CORE.AI Consolidated AI and machine learning initiative at CORE studio combining machine learning, computer vision, and predictive modeling efforts under one umbrella with newly allocated R&D resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Faster deliverables and cost savings through efficient computational modeling workflows
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arup: Global engineering consultancy that has invested heavily in internal digital tools and AEC tech R&D (e.g., Dassault partnership). Comparable as a peer engineering firm operating its own software/innovation unit.
• Buro Happold: Engineering consultancy with internal computational design and digital tools teams serving AEC clients. Comparable as a peer professional services firm with homegrown BIM/parametric/AI engineering tools.
• Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI): Maker of SAP2000 and ETABS, the structural analysis programs CORE studio extends through CSI Toolboxes. Comparable as a niche structural engineering software vendor with complementary automation ecosystems.
• McNeel (Rhino/Grasshopper): Developer of Rhino/Grasshopper, the parametric design platform CORE studio extends via the TT Toolbox. Comparable as a foundational AEC design tool with developer ecosystem and custom-component business model.

Broad incumbents

• Autodesk: Owner of Revit and the dominant AEC software platform. Directly comparable because CORE studio's toolboxes plug into Revit and Autodesk bundles competing BIM/AI features at scale.
• Bentley Systems: Major infrastructure and structural engineering software vendor (STAAD, OpenBuildings). Comparable as a broad AEC software incumbent pushing into digital twins and AI-driven design.
• Nemetschek Group: European AEC software group (Graphisoft, Vectorworks, Bluebeam). Comparable as a broad AEC platform incumbent with overlapping structural design and BIM interoperability ambitions.
• Dassault Systèmes: Provider of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform targeting AEC and infrastructure (formerly Arup partnership). Comparable as a broad platform incumbent pursuing digital twin and BIM interoperability in the same market.
• Trimble: Owns Tekla Structures, the structural BIM platform CORE studio integrates with via the Tekla Toolbox. Directly comparable as a structural AEC platform incumbent with similar downstream reach.

Emerging players

• Procore: Construction management SaaS with expanding AI and BIM capabilities. Comparable as a technology vendor pushing software, data, and AI deeper into AEC workflows CORE studio also targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ttinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ThorntonTomasetti
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThorntonTomasetti
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/core-studio-tt
• Instagraminstagram.com/thorntontomasetti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CORE studio at Thornton Tomasetti