An old-fashioned community barn-raising in Masonville, Texas could in fact be a glimpse of the future.
"Through one lens, the scene at Bill Taylor's home Tuesday could have been a glance into the turn of the 20th century. Workers used pulleys and ropes to hoist pieces of apricot-colored timber 30 feet high, guiding it into pre-cut slots that fit just so, like a larger-than-life Lincoln Logs set."
"The only evidence that this was not a 19th-century barn-raising was the fact that Taylor's Belgian draft horses were not the ones hoisting the wood with block and tackle. That job was left to the fuel-powered crane."
"Through another lens, however, this modern barn-raising was a perfect window into the early 21st century West. Aside from the obvious Industrial Age machinery, there was the word on everyone's lips: the environment.
When it comes to buildings, old is new again, and green is the new "new urbanism.""
FULL STORY: ‘Old-fashioned’ barn raising may be harbinger of building styles to come
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie