After many decades of engineer-led project designs, architects are again being called upon to beautify public works infrastructure.
In Connecticut, the Regional Water Authority feared that community opposition could stall a big project for decades, so it invited the community to participate in the project design by picking the architect. The result is a water filtration plant shaped like like a pipe and covered in stainless steel shingles which is "so big and so shiny that it might be visible from Mars." Architects best known for signature museums and concert halls are now designing bridges and public works facilities. "In an increasingly crowded world, there are more and more infrastructure buildings, and they're going to occupy increasingly sensitive locations," explained Boston architect Jane Weinzapfel. And often, she said, the buildings are far larger than anything around them. It takes architecture to tame giants.
Thanks to Zvi Leve
FULL STORY: In My Backyard, Please: The Infrastructure Beautiful Movement

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie