Kestrel Labs, a Denver-based construction technology company building software for building code compliance, has launched a platform that brings regulatory checks directly into Building Information Modelling workflows. The system runs inside Autodesk Revit, a widely used BIM software for architectural and engineering design, allowing compliance checks to happen while designs are still being developed.
The launch was presented at the American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture and Design 2026 in San Diego. The company is positioning the platform around a shift in how compliance is handled in architectural workflows, bringing it closer to the point where design decisions are still being made.
Compliance linked to BIM geometry
At the core of the platform is an in-model compliance system that connects building regulations to specific elements within a BIM model. Instead of treating code checks as a separate review step, the system attaches compliance results to individual elements in the BIM model and references specific building code sections.
This is supported by a data agreement with the International Code Council, a global organisation responsible for model building codes used in the US and in more than 100 countries. The structured code dataset serves as the reference base for automated checks within the design environment.
Alongside the automated analysis, the platform includes an AI-based compliance assistant available inside Revit and through a browser interface. It responds to project-specific queries in plain language, with answers linked to relevant code references.
A third layer provides a web-based dashboard for project managers and firm leadership, allowing compliance status to be reviewed without accessing BIM files. This separates day-to-day design work from higher-level project oversight.
Workflow pressure and changing practice dynamics
The company’s positioning reflects broader shifts in architectural practice, as experienced professionals with deep knowledge of building regulations retire and junior staff take on project responsibilities earlier in their careers. As a result, code interpretation is increasingly supported by software tools rather than relying only on internal knowledge transfer.
The system is also aimed at reducing dependence on manual code checking during design iterations, particularly as project complexity increases and delivery timelines tighten.
Distribution and funding
Kestrel Labs has raised $2.15m in pre-seed funding from New Stack Ventures, FirstMile Ventures, Denver Ventures, and Avesta Fund. The platform is available through the Autodesk Design & Make Marketplace and the Trimble Connect Marketplace, with a SketchUp integration planned.
The system combines BIM-native deployment, structured code data, and layered workflow tools, positioning compliance checks within existing digital design environments where modelling and review processes increasingly overlap.
