Members of the architecture community know too well the infamously gaudy and ugly reputation of the "McMansion" housing type. Despite the fact that esteemed architecture critics like Kate Wagner have been roasting these buildings (and their owners) for years, more and more of these... View full entry
Historic New England, one of one of the oldest and largest regional architectural heritage organizations in the United States, has announced that the archives of Boston-based architecture firm Royal Barry Wills Associates will be made available to the public for the first time. Founded... View full entry
In a statement released March 13th, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) National President Kimberly Dowdell announced that the organization will cancel or postpone events with more than 20 people. Dowdell writes, "We are levaraging technology to replace many of our in-person events... View full entry
Amazon is shelling out $1.15 billion in cash to acquire the former Lord & Taylor flagship in Midtown Manhattan, The Post has learned.
The Fifth Avenue landmark, which spans 11 stories and 660,000 square feet, will serve as Amazon’s New York City headquarters, housing several thousand employees in the coming years.
— The New York Post
According to The Post, the building had been initially been leased by WeWork to become the company's’s own headquarters, but after a series of scandals last fall, the plans fell through. Amazon will pay of $750 million of the remaining construction loan WeWork had obtained to renovate... View full entry
In a statement released March 12th, NCARB announced it has adjusted its testing policies to protect the health and safety of licensure candidates. Among those adjustments include: Effective immediately and continuing through the end of April, all ARE appointments can be rescheduled at no cost to... View full entry
In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles. (Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)... View full entry
Los Angeles-based Stockdale Capital Partners, which purchased the property in 2018, said this week that it has closed a $330 million construction loan, meaning the first phase of the redevelopment project is fully funded on track for completion in early 2022. — San Diego Tribune
Plans for the wholesale redevelopment of San Diego's beloved Horton Plaza, designed by the Jon Jerde, have taken a key step forward. Los Angeles-based architects RCH Studios and EYRC Architects are the designers behind the revamp; RDC is the Architect of Record for the project. View full entry
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a sweeping executive order on Thursday that allows the state to commandeer hotels and medical facilities to treat coronavirus patients and permits government officials to hold teleconferences in private without violating open meeting laws.
Newsom issued the order hours after he called for the cancellation of gatherings of 250 or more people, marking the first time he has applied so-called social distancing practices to the entire state of California.
— Los Angeles Times
According to the Los Angeles Times, the governor said 198 people tested positive for COVID-19 in California and that the executive order will enhance the state's ability to fight the pandemic going forward. Additionally, the order also granted a 60-day extension for people or businesses to... View full entry
Acclaimed architecture academic, critic, author, and curator Aaron Betsky has been appointed as the new director of Virginia Tech's School of Architecture + Design in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. In a press announcement published on March 10th, Richard... View full entry
A forest of dessicated trees will rise amid the verdant canopy of Madison Square Park in a forthcoming project by the American artist and environmental activist Maya Lin. In the immersive work, Ghost Forest, which will be on view from 8 June to 6 December, 30 to 40 spectral cedar trees will be replanted in the oval lawn of the park, creating a visually striking micro-landscape that decries the impact of climate change on woodlands around the world. — The Art Newspaper
Commissioned by Madison Square Park Conservancy in New York, Maya Lin's site-responsive installation Ghost Forest aims to address the impact of climate change on woodlands around the planet. "Ghost Forest will take the form of a towering grove of spectral cedar trees, all sourced from the region... View full entry
![All images courtesy of IND [Inter.National.Design]. Rendering by MIR](https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/d3/d34c0b254e653214425c976c7c2bb3d6.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514 "All images courtesy of IND [Inter.National.Design]. Rendering by MIR")
IND [Inter.National.Design] in collaboration with Powerhouse Company have commenced construction on its Çanakkale Antenna Tower based in Çanakkale, Turkey. The structure will function as a broadcast network post as well as a public observation center. Formulated as a cultural... View full entry
Architects are no longer builders but healers. They have to get off their computers and out of their cars to heal the social, physical and environmental aspects of our landscape. What architects build is not a finished product but a part of a city’s changing eco-system. — WOODBURY UNIVERSITY
James Rojas as an urbanist with close ties to his home, from its community values, feel, art to neighborhood stories and legends. All materializing in his inimitable urban visioning. His brand of Latino Urbanism via his beloved East LA neighborhood are series of performances, installations... View full entry
The world’s richest people are chartering private jets to set off for holiday homes or specially prepared disaster bunkers in countries that, so far, appear to have avoided the worst of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Many are...taking personal doctors or nurses on their flights to treat them and their families in the event that they become infected. The wealthy are also besieging doctors in private clinics in Harley Street, London, and across the world, demanding private coronavirus tests.
— The Guardian
According to the Guardian, Robert Vicino, founder and chief executive of Vivos Group, a California-based company constructing underground shelters designed to withstand a range of natural disasters and catastrophes, said his firm had seen a surge in inquiries and sales since the... View full entry
Where are the female-led architecture firms, and are they hiring? A question many may be thinking about, especially since the year 2020 has brought a continued sense of inclusion, growth, and commonplace for female architectural professionals and their impact on the industry's evolving... View full entry
In a $30 billion deal, Aon is buying Willis Towers Watson, a rival in business insurance and risk consulting, but it raises one question in the mind of most Chicagoans: What will happen to the Willis Tower name now that we’ve gotten used to calling it that?
The deal between the two London-based companies was announced Monday. Executives said the combined operation will use the Aon name, not Willis.
— Chicago Sun-Times
Willis Tower, which once reigned the skyscraper ranking as the world's tallest building for nearly 25 years under its former name Sears Tower, will likely not be renamed again anytime soon as the naming rights contract with Willis Towers Watson insurance does not expire until March... View full entry
