Architecture

Building Code

Audit Finds Houston's Life Safety Bureau Lacking

A city controller's audit finds lots of room for improvement at the Houston Fire Department's Life Safety Bureau.

June 16, 2017 - The Houston Chronicle

Trump Sign

When the Level of the Architecture Discussion Resembles the Level of the Political Discussion

Fancy renderings of fanciful ideas might make for "internet catnip," but they don't push the built environment toward healthier and more prosperous outcomes. Where have all the good ideas gone?

June 15, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

London Fire

How Building Standards Failed London's Grenfell Tower

Fire safety experts are rushing to explain the horrific scene in London's Kensington neighborhood last night—after a fire destroyed a residential high rise. The building was recently retrofitted to meet efficiency standards.

June 14, 2017 - The Guardian

Ohio

Awarding the Best Ideas for Successful Cities

The Knight Foundation asked: "What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?" When it came time to pick the best ideas, design and planning ideas for places like Wichita, Biloxi, and Akron emerged.

June 13, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Melting Ice

Green Building Advocates Want Pennsylvania to 'Unfreeze' the State's Energy Codes

Two icehouses have arrived in Harrisburg on a mission from the Central Pennsylvania chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

June 8, 2017 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Frank Lloyd Wright

Celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright's 150th Birthday Today

June 8 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Frank Lloyd Wright, and Dezezen has rounded up 10 ways to celebrate nationwide.

June 8, 2017 - Dezeen

Free School of Architecture Launches in Los Angeles

Peter Zellner's experimental, tuition-free architectural school is officially in session.

June 7, 2017 - Archinect

Glass Buildings

Dallas Skyline Gaining a Striking New High Rise

Not since 1987 has a taller building been added to the Dallas skyline than a planned 48-story tower that could be complete in two years.

June 4, 2017 - The Dallas News

Seaside Entrance

To Save New Urbanism From #MAGA, it's Time to Get Political

An opinion piece acknowledges the similarities between the nostalgia of New Urbanism and the "Make American Great Again" sentiment behind Trump's rise to power. New Urbanism has a chance, still, to change its path.

May 30, 2017 - Dan Piatkowski

The Sonic Bloom display at Seattle Center

Seattle Kicks the Tires on the Seattle Center Again

Proposals to revamp the Seattle Center seem to arise with every mayoral administration in Seattle. This time, however, the Seattle Center is at the literal center of an explosion of growth.

May 28, 2017 - Crosscut

Small Town Art

Activating Artists as an Urban Resource

Planning and art don't traditionally mix, but that's changing. Embedded at NYC's Department of Design and Construction, artist Mary Miss envisions public art as an infrastructural aid.

May 24, 2017 - Next City

A First Look at Apple's New Corporate Headquarters

Apple employees began moving into the company's new headquarters in Cupertino, California in April. The moving process culminates a development process that launched in 2008 under the helm of Steve Jobs.

May 23, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Washington, D.C.

The Sky's the Limit for Washington, D.C.-Area High Rises

With a new high-rise under construction and even taller high-rise working its way through planning approvals, the Washington, D.C. area's building envelope is reaching new heights.

May 23, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Empty Parking Lot

As a Driverless Future Dawns, Should We Still Build Parking?

No one is really sure how many parking spots the United States contains, but estimates stretch up to 2 billion.

May 23, 2017 - Doggerel

Design Library: African-American Perspectives on Architecture

Focusing on the often-overlooked contributions of people of color to the built environment, Dr. Craig Wilkins from the University of Michigan shares his list of recommended reading.

May 22, 2017 - Doggerel

New York, New York

The Scourge of Setbacks

Accepted by planners as a way to make buildings feel less 'crowded' and baked into many zoning codes, setbacks achieve no benefit other than giving opponents of development a bargaining chip.

May 19, 2017 - California Planning & Development Report

University of Denver

Has Placemaking Become Cliché?

There’s very little that differentiates proposals by four distinguished planning and design firms to better connect my university to its immediate neighborhood and the wider city. Why is that, and does it have to be that way?

May 15, 2017 - Dean Saitta

Housing Construction

Making the Case for Wooden Buildings

Is mass timber the new frontier in low-carbon building? The National Building Museum's newest exhibition, Timber City, pays homage to the potential of tall timber structures which have strength comparable to steel.

May 9, 2017 - Doggerel

Step Back For Sunlight in Portland

A growing Portland has seen many arguments about how to accommodate an influx of residents—recommends the "step back" as a way to add density without adding shadows or creating wind tunnels.

April 28, 2017 - Livable Portland

Trump Tower

Report: Trump Tower Among Many NYC Buildings Not Maintaining Privately Owned Public Spaces

It's no secret that building owners often fail to maintain privately owned public spaces with any priority on the public part of that equation. A new report reveals just how widespread the problem is in New York.

April 20, 2017 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.