Some suburban school districts are dividing new high schools into smaller wings to create a tighter sense of community.
"Sometimes, a suburban high school has a certain resemblance to the Mall of America.
Wide halls are packed with people. Big, exposed atriums are filled with noise. Winding staircases and walkways help people move efficiently.
Among the only noticeable differences (aside from the shopping, of course) are the absence of multi-deck parking ramps and hordes of tourists."
Yet some districts are trying to counter that effect. In Farmington, a suburban city about 30 miles outside of Minneapolis, the new high school "is designed around four 500-student wings, in which students could stay together for much of their high school years, helping teachers know them better and helping students feel more at home."
" 'It's like four mini high schools,' said Troy Miller of DLR Group, the architecture firm that designed the school."
" 'What makes small schools appealing and successful is that you walk in the door and the teachers immediately know you 'cause they see you on the street, they know your parents. ... You go to a big school, and that whole social fabric is now disconnected. The goal of the 'school within a school' is to kind of reaffirm and reweave that fabric a little bit so that there's a safety net.' "
FULL STORY: Growing districts try to build big with small feel

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont