Architecture

Economic Extremes Measured by New York City's Skyscrapers

The Washington Post performs a sort of reverse archaeology: looking skyward to the heights of building for a record of the country's economic fortunes.

January 11, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Seattle

Proposal for West Coast's Tallest Skyscraper Won't Fly in Seattle

Federal regulators might have killed a proposal that would have built the tallest skyscraper on the West Coast in the city of Seattle.

January 4, 2016 - Puget Sound Business Journal

New Year's Eve Fire in Dubai Hotel Casts Doubt on Safety of Mideast High-Rises

The Address Downtown hotel, a 63-story, mixed-use high-rise very close to the world's tallest building, went up in flames on Dec. 31, raising questions about other high-rises that use the same heavy cladding material building on the exterior.

January 4, 2016 - Reuters

Imagining Oceanscrapers

Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has released a series of futuristic and amazing drawings that envision what sustainable, floating cities could possibly look like.

January 3, 2016 - Huffpost Science

Office Park

Report: Office Parks Increasingly Obsolete

According to a report prepared by commercial real estate firm Newmark, Grubb, Knight and Frank (NGKF), the office park model has lost the competitive edge. That is, unless it provides access to transit and urban amenities as well as parking.

January 2, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Audubon Park, New Orleans

'Psychogeography' and Why It Matters for Planners

An unfamiliar title for a familiar collection of concepts, psychogeography examines the good and bad effects of environments on the thoughts and feelings of people.

December 31, 2015 - The Urban Edge

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Grows Weary of the Bland Cookie-Cutter Apartment Buildings

Designers and architects in Charlotte, North Carolina are asking the city to raise the bar when approving new apartment buildings to prevent more of the repetitive wood-frame design that has swept the city.

December 29, 2015 - The Charlotte Observer

Central Park Aerial

New York City's Skyline Evolves With Tall, Skinny Towers

For better or for worse, the tall, skinny towers that have helped to remake New York’s iconic skyline appear to be growing in popularity among developers.

December 29, 2015 - New York Times

Spotlight on San Francisco's Extremely Green PUC Headquarters

San Francisco's PUC headquarters, "one of the greenest buildings in the nation," cut costs while introducing cutting-edge sustainable technologies to the city.

December 28, 2015 - The Planning Report

7 Finalists Chosen for Obama Presidential Center Design

Now we know who will compete for one of the most coveted design contracts in the country: the presidential library that will bear Barack Obama's name.

December 23, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Pershing Square

Los Angeles to Redesign Its 'Worst Public Space'

Josh Stephens reports on the Pershing Square Renew Design Challenge, an effort to redo one of the "world's worst squares and plazas." The new Pershing Square may hearken back to the years before its misguided 1992 redesign.

December 22, 2015 - Next City

Paris Trees

Paris Launches EcoDistrict on Train Station Site

After a decade of development, Paris' first EcoDistrict launched this year. Built in place of a disused train station, the district features offices, housing, and amenities built around clean and green principles.

December 21, 2015 - The Global Grid

A Conservationist Turns to the City

Journalist Alex Ulam speaks with Sarene Marshall, director of the Urban Land Institute's Center for Sustainability, about the role conservation is playing in fighting climate change and her role at the agency.

December 18, 2015 - Doggerel

New Year 2015

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2015

The results of a year's worth of writing, reading, sharing, and commenting are in. These are the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2015.

December 18, 2015 - James Brasuell

Historic Hong Kong

Historic Hong Kong: Visualizing a Changed City

Created with input from historian Mark Footer, this tool overlays street views of modern Hong Kong with historical photos from the colonial era through the 20th century.

December 11, 2015 - HotelClub

potable water fire hydrant

Water Resilience in Dry Climates

How can cities in dry climates become self-sufficient in terms of water? California based Dry Lands Institute is creating a digital design tool called Hazel that aims to address just that.

December 9, 2015 - Doggerel

Grand Central

Mr. Kimmelman's Metropolis

The New York Times architecture critic is making good on his promise to focus on the social context and redemptive qualities of urban architecture and design. A recent lecture in Denver identified several imperatives for the planning profession.

December 7, 2015 - Dean Saitta

Opa-Locka, Florida

Germane Barnes' Vision for Opa-Locka

Known for its unique Moorish Revival architecture, and beset by a host of urban problems, the Miami suburb may have found its savior in Germane Barnes. The young architect and planner aims to revitalize the area without gentrifying it.

December 6, 2015 - Curbed

Can Jerusalem's Light Rail Pull the City’s Past Into the Future?

Since 2011, the controversial Jerusalem Light Rail system has been a driving force behind the renewal and reintegration of some areas of the old city. In addition, the Jerusalem Business District is being planned as the city's new economic hub.

December 5, 2015 - Cities of the Future

AIA Gold Medal Goes to the Dynamic Duo of Venturi and Scott Brown

The 2016 Gold Medal is considered a rebuttal to the Pritzker Prize, which neglected to acknowledge Denise Scott Brown when it awarded Robert Venturi in 1991.

December 4, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.