Archinect - News

Huge groundwater reserves discovered deep below California's Central Valley

2016-06-28T13:49:00-04:00

In a surprising new study, Stanford researchers have found that drought-ravaged California is sitting on top of a vast and previously unrecognized water resource, in the form of deep groundwater, residing at depths between 1,000 and nearly 10,000 feet below the surface of the state’s always thirsty Central Valley. [...] new research could prove controversial among scientists trying to interpret what it means for a state that has battled over water, and its distribution, going back many decades.

Other drought-related stories in the Archinect news:

How record low oil prices shape the fate of America's boomtown, Williston, North Dakota

2016-01-27T17:55:00-05:00

Now, after more than five flush years, oil prices are in a prolonged slump, the flow of workers has reversed [...] But Williston believes it can build something more enduring. [...] The city used its newfound wealth to build a $70-million high school, a $68-million recreation center, and new water and sewer systems. It renovated Main Street and created a city position for someone to write parking tickets. Highways have been widened, and an airport is under development.

Last week today, June 8-15 2015: BIG projects, big opinions

2015-06-15T18:33:00-04:00

Friday, June 12:

The new OMA-designed Garage Museum opens in Moscow: On the design, Koolhaas has been quoted with "not restoring the building, but preserving its decay". The original Soviet-era building used to be a restaurant.

Thursday, June 11:

Stargazing with Patrik Schumacher: Episode 33 of Archinect Sessions: Patrik Schumacher discusses his recent op-ed for Archinect.
The Cooper Union turmoil continues: President Jamshed Bharucha resigns: In the midst of student protests and five trustees resigning, President Bharucha also stepped down last week. This came after the Cooper Union's Board had already voted not to renew Bharucha's contract as president next year.

Wednesday, June 10:

Five Cooper Union trustees just resigned: Among them were Daniel Libeskind, Mark Epstein (the board’s former chairman), Vassar College president Catharine Bond Hill, Francois de Menil (the board’s vice chairman), and investment banker Monica Vachher.
Locals welcome The 606, a.k.a. Chicago's "High Line", but a...

EPA study finds no evidence that fracking has lead to polluted drinking water

2015-06-08T19:31:00-04:00

The EPA's draft assessment was conducted at the request of Congress. "It is the most complete compilation of scientific data to date," says Burke, "including over 950 sources of information, published papers, numerous technical reports, information from stakeholders and peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports." [...] The EPA study does identify some potential vulnerabilities to drinking water.

At this stage, the study is the "most complete compilation of scientific data to date," says Tom Burke, deputy assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Research and Development. But as a "draft assessment", the study still needs to be reviewed by the Science Advisory Board, and be made open for public comment, before its findings are finalized.

Predictably, environmental groups are not pleased with the EPA's findings, as it corroborates what the American Petroleum Institute has insisted from the beginning: that fracking has always followed preexisting safety regulations. According to NPR, Food & Water Watch, which wants to ban fracking, said the report "has the industry's oil fingerprints all over it." While the EPA study finds no evidence of fracking having led to demonstrable cases of polluted drinking water, it does acknowledge that fracking can adversely affect drinking water – read the full report here.

Hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking, has led to economic booms in areas ...

A supermall grows in fracking country

2015-06-08T14:13:00-04:00

Today Williston—which sits atop the oil-rich Bakken shale formation—is enjoying a second life as a key player in the state's booming economy. Following several years of record population growth and real estate development, the town will soon boast one more draw: a $500 million retail mecca complete with shopping, a hotel and indoor water park. Not bad for a town of just 32,000 people. [...] "The U.S. isn't overretailed, it's under-idea-ed"

We discuss the decline and (perhaps inevitable) death of the American shopping mall on episode #32 of Archinect Sessions, "For in that death of malls, what dreams may come?"

More info and recent news on dead malls:

Protests at Renzo Piano's new Whitney Museum building

2015-04-15T17:59:00-04:00

The Whitney Museum of American Art has yet to open its doors in a new location in the meatpacking district, but on Tuesday night it unwittingly played host to its first radical art exhibition. At 11 p.m., activists from groups including Occupy Museums and Occupy the Pipeline gathered on the street in front of the museum for a performance art-style demonstration about a natural gas pipeline that is adjacent to the $422 million building and its vast art collection.