Predicting the future of cities is risky, especially if one heeds the words of the American baseball legend, Yogi Berra, that “the future ain’t what it used to be”.
In the period since the start of the pandemic it might seem as if everything is different, but in the long term, I would suggest that rather than changing anything, it has merely hastened and magnified trends that were already apparent before the virus struck.
— The Guardian
In his opinion piece for The Guardian, architect Norman Foster ponders how current and past pandemics have influenced and will continue to shape the infrastructure, and subsequently culture, of our cities. Foster briefly touches on a number of trendy topics, including electric vehicles, ride... View full entry
You might remember Wandile Mthiyane from Archinect's recent profile on him, Undoing Apartheid Architecture. In that profile, Wandile talked about a pioneering new program his organization, Ubuntu Design Group, has developed. Called the Ubuntu Architecture Summer Abroad Program (UASA)... View full entry
There's a funny thing that tends to happen in schools of architecture and design firms among the younger practitioners and students. The growth of computational modes of design and the development of design software has produced a generation of creative people who increasingly rely on the use of a... View full entry
In response to the idea of the “city of tomorrow,” one that will become carbon neutral by 2050, French architecture firm Rescubika created a proposal for a 2,418-foot tower on Roosevelt Island. With wood construction materials, 36 wind turbines, 8,300 shrubs, 1,600 tress, 83,000 square feet of plant walls, and nearly 23,000 square feet of solar panels, it would be the world’s tallest “carbon sink” tower–one that absorbs more CO2 than it releases. — 6sqft
This post is sponsored by Archtober 2020 Archtober, a month-long celebration of architecture and design, returns this year as a hybrid virtual and in-person festival to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Organized by the Center for Architecture in collaboration with 70 partners and sponsors... View full entry
Four new public libraries in Alberta, California, and Illinois have been recognized with the 2020 AIA/ALA Library Building Award. The annual program is jointly organized by the American Institute of Architects in conjunction with the American Library Association.Billie Jean King Main... View full entry
2020 has brought an increase in activism as the public reached its final tipping point from the racial and social injustices happening across the nation. With the inexcusable deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and others caused by police brutality, individuals... View full entry
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has published its Architecture Billings Index (ABI) report for the month of August, showing stalled business conditions for architecture firms and a further decline in demand for design services, represented by an unchanged score of 40.0 for the... View full entry
The Luxe Rodeo Drive is the first high-end hotel in the Los Angeles area to go out of business because of the pandemic, and industry experts point to an unusually high loan delinquency rate among hotel borrowers as a sign that more closures are likely to follow. — Los Angeles Times
According to the Los Angeles Times, the drastic decline of tourism and travel has "devastated" the hotel industry. "High-end hotels have also closed in other parts of the country, including the 44-story Hilton Times Square hotel in New York City, which went out of business this month,"... View full entry
Disgruntled and disillusioned, the job seeker tackling opportunities in a slow job market can understandably grow more and more despondent. It's even worse when you know you're a great candidate — perhaps you were even let go from a job where your employer valued you as such. The... View full entry
As schools are ramping up for the Fall term, it's time for Archinect's latest edition of Get Lectured. This ongoing series features each school's lectured series and their graphic design prowess with eye-catching lecture posters. With many schools holding virtual events, distance is no... View full entry
Smoke detectors and birch trees. These are two things that an architect would not typically mention while talking up an ambitious new building. But for the Indigenous House at the University of Toronto Scarborough, these matters are critical. Here, connections with Indigenous traditions and ways of thinking will be everywhere, from the guts of the building to the landscape that accompanies it. — The Globe and Mail
Alex Bozikovic, The Globe and Mail’s architecture critic, reviews the planned Indigenous House at the University of Toronto Scarborough, designed by Formline Architecture in collaboration with LGA Architectural Partners and landscape architecture firm Public Work. View full entry
Silverstein Properties closed on its $430 million deal to buy US Bank Tower, an iconic Downtown Los Angeles property whose purchase price was far below initial expectations. [...]
In a statement, chairman Larry Silverstein said: “I believe in the future of Downtown Los Angeles.”
— The Real Deal
The 73-story US Bank Tower, designed by Henry N. Cobb of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River until the recently completed Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles and later the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco took over that title. The 36-foot-long... View full entry
This week's highlight of architectural employers includes five award-winning firms with current job openings in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Houston. For even more opportunities, visit Archinect Jobs and browse Archinect's active community of architecture... View full entry
This post is brought to you by Azure Magazine In a landmark year, AZURE celebrates the winners and finalists of the 10th annual AZ Awards. The first-ever virtual AZ Awards Gala featured inspiring special appearances by All-Star guests and the 20 winners of the AZ Awards 2020, participating from... View full entry
