Buildings

A report from the Sabin Center provides a legal framework for municipal-level action on climate change policy.

November 30, 2021 - Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

On Tuesday night, the City Council of Berkeley, Calif., unanimously voted to ban natural gas infrastructure from new buildings starting next year, the first city in the U.S. to pass such an ordinance. Fifty cities in the state could be next.

July 22, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Much of the focus on decreasing carbon emissions is on the electrical grid and vehicles. But, buildings are a huge contributor, and California is leading the way in making electrification a priority.

February 19, 2019 - Vox

Following Hurricane Harvey, Houston's City Hall became flooded with four feet of water, rendering the building's electrical and mechanical equipment useless. Restoring power back to City Hall quickly was crucial in aiding the recovery efforts.

October 6, 2017 - Doggerel

The first WELL-certified buildings are now online, and the Urban Land Institute has examined the business propositions behind the system.

September 21, 2017 - Urban Land

The New York Times pays tribute to an American inventor, builder, and feminist who, more than anything, hated housework.

August 4, 2017 - New York Times

The Architectural Record celebrated its 125th anniversary by celebrating the field's most significant accomplishments over the same time period.

September 10, 2016 - Architectural Record

Jason Fargo follows the announcement that the FBI will soon set up shop outside of the infamous and despised J Edgar Hoover Building in Washington D.C. by listing six buildings that residents of cities "love to hate."

August 10, 2014 - Guardian

Moira Quinn takes a look at Charlotte, North Carolina, where businesses and local government have teamed up to keep office buildings green as the central business district grows.

April 20, 2012 - Urban Land

What's in a name? For some of New York City's buildings, a brand that reflects history, mood, and even geography. Joanne Kaufman takes us through the naming process for some of the city's newest buildings, and what they might mean to buyers.

December 27, 2011 - The New York Times

If cities are like ailing bodies, then building modernization is the key to their future health. It's time planners looked at buildings as ecological and economical assets, according to Gordon Gill.

September 29, 2011 - Huffington Post

The early skyscrapers were inspired by the idea of turning steel train bridges on their sides. This episode of 99% Invisible explains.

June 10, 2011 - 99% Invisible

Buildings in Seattle, including a school, are trying to remove themselves from the urban water grid. More could soon follow.

April 28, 2011 - The Seattle Times

If cities want to curb energy use, they should focus on private buildings, according to this article.

May 15, 2010 - Sustainable Life

This piece from The New York Times profiles architectural photographer Iwan Baan, whose style differs from the status quo to emphasize the urban and social context of the buildings he's photographing.

January 29, 2010 - The New York Times

Old buildings could be to blame for much of a city's energy waste. That's the case in New York, where officials are putting together a plan to retrofit older buildings to be less wasteful.

May 14, 2009 - Grist

From Boston to Austin to L.A., more and more cities across the U.S. are making efforts to reduce their carbon emissions and environmental impact by instituting green building codes.

February 5, 2009 - Governing

New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff argues that some buildings make the city worse, and lists of some that need to be demolished. Included in his list are Penn Station, Madison Square Garden and Astor Place.

September 30, 2008 - The New York Times