Chicago

Gertrude Kerbis, Pioneering Female Architect

Architect Gertrude Kerbis worked for sixty years designing buildings in Chicago alongside more famous architects like Walter Gropius and Mies Van der Rohe. Preservation Magazine talks to her about her struggles as a woman in a male-dominated field.

March 25, 2010 - Preservation Magazine

Momentum Builds Toward Chicago to St. Louis HSR

The IL state senate's 51-2 passage of a bill creating the Illinois and Midwest High Speed Rail Commission on March 18 is a major step toward planning the 150+ mph train from Chicago to St. Louis.

March 23, 2010 - Metro Magazine

Comparing Five of The Nation's Biggest Transit Systems

GOOD takes a look at five of the nation's biggest public transit systems and compares their ridership, average speeds, and average miles per trip.

February 4, 2010 - Good

High Speed Rail Needs High Class Stations

Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin argues that America's foray into high speed rail should also focus on the rail stations and user experience in addition to the speed.

February 2, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago's Privatized Parking Meters: Fiasco, or Success Story?

The City of Chicago, in a much criticized move, recently privatized its parking enforcement. Stephen Goldsmith says the program should be celebrated instead of booed.

January 24, 2010 - Governing Magazine

The History of Street Food

A radio interview in Chicago talks about the merits of street food and the historical reasons for restrictions on vendors.

January 23, 2010 - WGN Radio 720

Always Begin With the Stuff You've Got

That's how newly-developed communities are making it work, says Laura Wright in this in-depth look at how sprawl happened in Chicago and how smart growth is revitalizing the city.

January 7, 2010 - NRDC's onearth

Twin Cities-to-Chicago Rail Plans Released

The state of Minnesota has released its final plans for a high-speed rail route connecting the Twin Cities to Chicago.

December 31, 2009 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune

Urban Data: The Second City

Looking at the city of Chicago and how it should approach the future, John Tolva writes about the potential for tapping into city data and embracing the "second city" it creates.

December 30, 2009 - IBM's Smarter Planet blog

CTA Opens Transit Data

The Chicago Transit Authority is opening up its transit arrival data to web developers, spurring what officials and riders hope will be the creation of new tools to make riding transit in the city easier.

December 16, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

Roofers vs. Landscapers

In a battle over contracts to build green roofs for Chicago's public buildings, landscapers have come out on top.

December 2, 2009 - The Chicago Tribune

Chicago's Private Parking Meter Bungle

Chicago's decision to privatize its parking meters seems to be a loss for the city, as new data shows the city could have made much more money in the long term had they maintained operational management.

November 22, 2009 - The New York Times

Really Quiet Neighbors

Architect Bill Bickford would like to turn Chicago's historic Three Arts Club into a columbarium, or building to house cremated remains. The former dormitory for women artists is revered by preservationists, but hasn't been in use since 2003.

November 3, 2009 - Chicago Business

Olympics Lost, But Demolition of Gropius Building Goes Ahead

The Architect's Newspaper reports on the first demolition of a historic building on the Walter Gropius-designed Michael Reese hospital campus in Chicago, the proposed site of now-ditched plans for an Olympic Village.

November 3, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Study Finds Health Insurance Cheaper in Suburbs

A recent study of health insurance costs finds that people who live in suburban areas outside of Chicago pay less for health insurance than those who live in the urban core.

November 3, 2009 - Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago's Answer to NYC's High Line Will Generate Power & Food

A proposed plan from Gensler and 4240 Architecture would turn an abandoned rail line in Chicago into an energy-generating, food-growing powerhouse. Oh, and a park too.

November 2, 2009 - Fast Company

Gropius Buildings Slated for Demolition

The Friend Convalescent Hospital was the first of Walter Gropius' modernist buildings to be destroyed at Chicago's Michael Reese hospital. Bulldozing began on Wednesday with more still to go.

October 31, 2009 - The Chicago Tribune

Chicago's Climate Action Plan One Year Later

This interview with Chief Environment Officer Sadhu Johnston highlights the progress Chicago's already had, including 7 million square feet of green roofs and more bike lanes.

October 30, 2009 - American Society Of Landscape Architects

Chicago & Rio's Green Ambitions

This article reviews the lengths Rio and Chicago went to show the Olympic Committee their green ambitions. Hint: both planted trees.

October 16, 2009 - Fast Company

Of Felonies, the First Amendment, and Franks

A successful small business in Chicago has ruffled some feathers in a neighborhood grappling with crime and poverty. Why? Because Felony Franks is too unsavory a name, even for a hot dog stand that employs ex-convicts.

October 14, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.