North America

Downturn Hits Architecture Firms

With high-profile private-sector clients scaling back prestige projects in the face of the economic downturn, architectural firms are looking instead to institutional clients and retrofitting existing buildings.

23 April 2009 - 5:00am

The Globe and Mail

Buildings Going Green, On Top At Least

This piece from National Geographic looks at how green roofs are sweeping across the tops of buildings all over the world.

21 April 2009 - 6:00am

National Geographic

Jobs Sprawling in Metro Areas

Recent research from the Brookings Institution looks at 98 metropolitan areas and finds that fewer people are working close to downtowns, and there are fewer jobs located in those areas.

8 April 2009 - 10:00am

The Brookings Institution

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1 comment

The Auto Bailout's "Policy Paradox"

The American and Canadian governments are caught in a "policy paradox:" they want to promote green vehicles but they need to save their domestic auto industries. Both may not be possible, says Konrad Yakabuski.

7 April 2009 - 2:00pm

The Globe and Mail

Can Older Houses be Energy Efficient?

We don't need to build new energy efficient homes as much as we need to refurbish the existing housing stock to make it more energy efficient, writes Richard Moe of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

7 April 2009 - 7:00am

New York Times

Prescribing New Life for Dying Malls

A panel of experts weighs in on what cities should do with their dying shopping malls.

7 April 2009 - 5:00am

The New York Times

"Communiversity": A Bond You Can't Break

College towns fare relatively well during a recession due to the stable, highly skilled work force colleges offer their communities.

25 March 2009 - 11:00am

The Wall Street Journal

End of the Road for the RV?

Between the spike in gas prices in 2008 and the current recession, the RV industry is in serious trouble as the market for enormous homes on wheels dries up.

20 March 2009 - 2:00pm

Salon.com

"Building by Building, Parcel by Parcel"

As money-poor mega-developments become less feasible to construct, builders may soon have to revert to developing at a smaller scale--a strategy that makes still more sense economically.

11 March 2009 - 10:00am

Greater Greater Washington

Housing with a 360 Degree Ocean View

The Seasteading Institute claims to be only a few years away from launching a prototype of a floating city.

11 March 2009 - 6:00am

CNN

Oil Sands On Obama's Agenda

In his first foreign trip, President Obama will meet with Canadian PM Harper to discuss, amongst other topics, the environmental impact of mining Alberta's oil sands.

24 February 2009 - 9:00am

The Washington Post

The Interplay of Housing and Transportation

Housing on city fringes may be cheaper, but research has shown that after a certain threshold (about 15 miles), the high cost of commuting is no longer offset by it.

19 February 2009 - 11:00am

Natural Resources Defense Council

Embracing Free Bicycle Infrastructure

Building bicycle infrastructure is expensive. Finding it is free. This piece from Citiwire implores cities to rethink quiet streets as "bicycle boulevards".

17 February 2009 - 9:00am

Citiwire

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2 comments

Can Retail Be Reinvented?

The recession is bad news for retail developers, and a recent gathering of them was rife with concern about the field and its future. But amid the uncertainty is an air of hope -- and an understanding that to survive, the face of retail development must adapt.

9 February 2009 - 5:00am

The Top Trends Shaping Place

The Project for Public Spaces has released a summary of the top ten trends shaping the future of America's communities -- from public markets to community-based transportation planning.

31 January 2009 - 5:00am

Project For Public Spaces