A decade after terrorist attacks looked to usher in an age of security-heavy architecture, new projects in cities are eschewing the security bunker for eyes and feet on the street.
This is especially true in Cleveland, where a series of new projects are emphasizing the importance of place.
"Whether it can help reverse the city's decline and attract visitors and new residents after decades of job and population loss is an open question. But it's clear that among the many forces shaping the projects, from a new burst of civic energy to the surging demand for rental apartments in the city, the fear of a terrorist attack is in most cases a distant concern.
"We're not trying to create bunkers, we're trying to create places that open up to the outside," said developer Ari Maron of MRN Ltd.
Major projects, from the renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Art to the city's new hospitals, convention center and medical mart, emphasize large civic spaces, transparency, ease of access and the free flow of ideas."
FULL STORY: In braver new world of post-9/11 building, windows, 'eyes on street' trump blast walls
Rail Stations Shortchanged as Homeland Security Focuses on Airports
Rail travelers are not subject to the same degree of security measures as air travelers according to security experts, reports Ron Nixon for The New York Times. Yet far more travel by rail than plane, and rail has been a terrorist target abroad.
Citi Bikes Ingrained in Gotham, For Better or Worse
Six of the eight victims of the deadliest act of terrorism in New York since 9/11 were riding Citi Bikes. The same day, a bus driver was charged in the death of the bikeshare's first fatality. Two more Citi Bike-related deaths occurred this year.
Pedestrian Barriers Installed on London's Bridges Endanger Cyclists
In the wake of two terrorist attacks on London bridges that killed pedestrians, concrete barriers were installed on three crossings to prevent repeat rampages. The only problem is that they were installed in bicycle lanes.
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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.
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Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation