The following paper is a brief introduction to Foster and Partners and the work of its Specialist Modelling Group (SMG). The SMG was formed in 1997 and has been involved in over 100 projects. The SMG expertise encompasses architecture, art, math and geometry, environmental analysis, geography, programming and computation, urban planning, and rapid prototyping. The SMG brief is to carry out project-driven research and development. The group consults in the area of project workflow, advanced three-dimensional modelling techniques, and the creation of custom digital tools. The specialists in the team are a new breed of architectural designer, requiring an education based in design, math, geometry, computing, and analysis.