Construction

Builders Balk At New Energy Requirements

A handful of residential code revisions went into effect in Ohio on January 1st, including an energy conservation code with stricter standards on insulation that is causing an uproar among homebuilders.

January 4, 2011 - Builder Magazine

The Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Cary Lowe, Los Angeles-based attorney and advocate for energy efficiency, makes the case for the economic benefits of energy efficiency retrofits to the state of California.

November 5, 2010 - The Planning Report

Future Olympic Host Working Around the Clock

Sochi, Russia, is set to play host to the Winter Olympics in 2014. Preparations are fast underway, with construction work happening practically around the clock.

September 26, 2010 - The Voice of Russia

Honolulu Law Would Reduce Construction Waste

Legislation working its way through the Honolulu City Council could require construction companies doing work in the Hawaiian city to recycle or reuse as much as 60% of construction materials.

August 31, 2010 - Pacific Business News

Best Apps for Building and Construction

Houston Neal from Software Advice picks the best apps for construction, from carpentry and electrical calculators to design tools like REVIT and Google SketchUp.

August 29, 2010 - Software Advice

House of Garbage

A Welsh company is using ground-up plastic remnants to create a building material sturdy enough for housing.

March 21, 2010 - Treehugger

With Financing Frozen, Construction Workers Feeling the Pinch

Construction unions are reporting that 30% of their members are still unemployed or between jobs. Public projects are raising hopes, but as one carpenter's union spokesperson puts it, "The private sector is dead."

February 22, 2010 - Time

California Plan Would Block Projects From Environmental Lawsuits

California is looking to fast-track a pilot project that would exempt some construction projects from environment-related legal challenges. It's a move aimed at speeding development and creating jobs, but critics say it will harm the environment.

February 12, 2010 - The Desert Sun

Residential Construction Declines Sharply in New York City

2009 is expected to turn out as a bad year for residential constructoin in New York City. After five consecutive years with more than 30,000 units constructed, at total of 6,300 are expected this year.

October 26, 2009 - The New York Times

Stimulus Projects Bring Delays to Nation's Roads

Thousands of stimulus-funded transportation projects are underway this summer, creating thousands of delays on the nation's roads.

July 22, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Illinois Approves $31 Billion Construction Plan

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a bill that will bring about $31 billion worth of road, transit and school construction projects.

July 15, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

Officials Demand High-Rise Crane Come Down

City officials in Chicago are demanding the removal of a high-rise crane which stands at the half-built Waterview Tower, a monument to the economic downturn.

June 21, 2009 - Chicago Sun Times

Regulating Stalled Construction Projects for Safety

New York City is considering new legislation that seeks to address problems brought by the national recession to stalled construction sites and New Yorkers endangered by them.

June 13, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Dubai's Migrant Construction Workers Bear Brunt of Downturn

The economic downturn is hurting Dubai, as glitzy skyscraper projects come to a halt. But the biggest pain is being felt among the hundreds of thousands of migrant construction workers who came to the city seeking their fortunes.

May 7, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Bend it Like Concrete

Advances in material development have brought to the market a new type of concrete that can bend under pressure and heal cracks with the addition of water.

May 7, 2009 - National Geographic

Hot Trend in Architecture: The Appearance of Instability

Witold Rybczynski takes a look at the new tendency toward buildings that look collapsible, rather than the solid-looking buildings of the past. Is this trend a symptom of our shaky times?

April 23, 2009 - Slate

The Best Laid Plans of New York City's Building Boom

This slideshow from New York looks at a handful of residential and office buildings in New York City that have either stalled or completely halted development.

April 22, 2009 - New York

States Enjoying Lower Bids for Construction Projects

The recession is causing construction contractors to branch out -- from subdivisions to road projects. And the market is now flooded, giving state more and lower bids to choose from.

April 10, 2009 - The Washington Post

Lightweight Blocks Cut Rail Costs and Timelines

Light rail developers in Utah are cutting costs and timelines with a new and unlikely track base: foam.

March 21, 2009 - KSL

A Building Boom with a Human Cost

This piece from Next American City looks at the human toll major building projects are taking on construction workers in China, Dubai and other rapidly developing places.

March 13, 2009 - Next American City

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.