More than 50 countries are racing to vaccinate their populations to fend off the rising death toll of a third wave of infections. To supplement the existing network of hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and other healthcare facilities, many are establishing mass vaccination sites capable of processing crowds — often sports arenas, convention centers and stadiums, but also parking lots and deserted shopping malls. — Bloomberg CityLab
Bloomberg CityLab takes a look at how large sports, cultural, and civic facilities are being converted into mass vaccination sites in cities around the world. View full entry
The Centre Pompidou in Paris will close for three years from the end of 2023 for essential maintenance work, the museum announced [Monday] in a statement. The plan is for France’s national museum for Modern and contemporary art, designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and inaugurated in 1977, to reopen in time for its 50th anniversary in 2027. — The Art Newspaper
The renovations will reconcile corrosion and wear and tear that has been affecting the building. Moreover, the work will remove asbestos within the structure, "meeting safety, technical and energy standards and making the building accessible for people with reduced mobility," reports The Arts... View full entry
Anthony Guzzone, former director of global construction at Bloomberg LP, has been sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for tax evasion stemming from his role in $6 million pay-to-play bribery schemes on Bloomberg construction projects in New York City. U.S. Department of Justice officials said Guzzone failed to report as income $1.45 million in illicit payments and gifts. — Construction Dive
According to Construction Dive, Guzzone must also pay $574,005 in outstanding taxes and interest and serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. View full entry
The University of New Mexico's Spring 2021 Conversation series continues as they introduce their Spring theme "contesting." The school shares "in response to the global pandemic and the renewed fights to end racism and structural inequality, the 2020-21 lecture series committee and... View full entry
Perkins&Will and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) this week released best practices for creating and implementing comprehensive diversity programs for U.S. firms. In a white paper entitled “Creating a Culture of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Your... View full entry
The annual HOME competition asks designers to explore ideas of domestic architecture for the future, and the results of the 2020 edition are now in. This year's jury, which included established architects like Peter Eisenman, Toshiko Mori, Neil Denari, Tatiana Bilbao, Vishaan Chakrabarti as well... View full entry
The pandemic has underlined how broken the UK’s model for urban development is. [...]
It is hard to see now amid the depression and anger, but the pandemic did briefly show cities acting on the basis of general human need: rough sleepers being housed, mutual aid groups being set up, evictions being suspended. Yet the possibility of any long-term change is rapidly being lost.
— The Guardian
Tribune culture editor Owen Hatherly's new housing opinion piece for The Guardian. View full entry
Heatherwick Studio continues to expand its residential project portfolio as they share their latest high-rise residential project in Vancouver, Canada. In partnership with Kingswood Properties and commissioned by Bosa Properties, the design aims to "bring a new level of global design... View full entry
The Daniels Faculty at the University of Toronto recently announced its new incoming dean: Juan Du, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, will be commencing her five-year deanship on July 1st, 2021. Du is taking over the school's leadership from interim dean Robert Wright. "I'm glad to... View full entry
Now in its third edition, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture at Columbia University announce the winners of this year's 2021 Course Development Prize in Architecture, Climate... View full entry
Following the announcement of this year's Jane Drew Prize for Architecture and the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize the W Awards, formerly known as the Women in Architecture awards, announces its shortlist for the Moira Gemmill Prize and the MJ Long Prize. Recognizing the work and design... View full entry
RIBA this week revealed the winners of the President's Awards for Research, a program established in 2006 to reward and encourage research in the fields of architecture and the built environment. From the award winners in the four categories Climate Change, Cities and Community, Design and... View full entry
A 390-meter-high (1,279 feet) skyscraper inspired by a flaming torch is set to become Japan's tallest building when it opens in 2027.
Standing above a new plant-filled public plaza in Tokyo, the tower will also feature a soaring observation area from which visitors can enjoy views over the capital and nearby Mount Fuji.
— CNN
In a recent set of Instagram posts, Sou Fujimoto revealed that his team was designing the top section of Japan's future tallest skyscraper, dubbed Torch Tower. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sou Fujimoto (@sou_fujimoto) View full entry
Maintaining a corporate surveillance program that operates only in the shadows might nab the occasional miscreant, but it does little to promote positive conduct or to deter inappropriate use of corporate assets when employees are working from home. A more balanced approach should include clear communications with employees explaining the reasons for, and existence of, corporate monitoring programs. — Harvard Business Review
In a recent Harvard Business Review essay, two experts outline the need for transparency in corporations that monitor employee behavior, writing: "Being transparent about how you’re monitoring employees should be consistent with a transparent culture and a relationship of... View full entry
The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) in Northern Virginia has outlined plans for creating what it says will be the most “well-connected downtown in the country,” following its selection as home to Amazon HQ2. — Smart Cities Dive
According to Smart Cities Dive, National Landing BID has presented "several public-private partnership projects, with costs totaling $4 billion, that will improve transit in National Landing, outside of Washington, D.C., which encompasses parts of Virginia’s Crystal City, Pentagon City... View full entry
