Sustainability

Green trees reflected in high-rise skyscrapers.

Urban Design for Sustainability

The way we build cities can have significant impacts on public health and equity.

November 16, 2023 - Colorado Newsline

Trinity Railway Express train painted with Texas flag at station in Dallas, Texas.

Revitalizing Texas: Sustainable Rail Solutions

An argument for why investing in trains is the key to sustainable growth and economic success in the Lone Star State.

November 8, 2023 - Mustafa Haque

Green road sign with "Welcome to Texas" above Texas flag and "Drive Friendly - the Texas Way" below.

Federal Carbon Reduction Funds Could Finance Highway Projects in Texas

Transit advocates say the state’s carbon reduction strategy reveals a continued preference for car-oriented infrastructure.

November 7, 2023 - Texas Tribune

Large blue metal dumpster container in front of wood-frame house under construction.

Bringing Circularity to the Construction Industry

Using more recycled materials could dramatically reduce carbon emissions and waste from construction projects.

October 29, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Rendering of Elysium, Spain city built on brnd new land.

New ‘City’ Elysium Planned in Spain

The development proposes a from-scratch sustainable community built on brand new land at the edge of a reservoir.

October 16, 2023 - Fast Company

Wooden walkway in forest in Bonnet Springs Park, Lakeland, Florida.

Finding Beauty in Adaptive Reuse

The summer issue of Metropolis Magazine calls on designers to embrace the beauty in circularity.

October 9, 2023 - Metropolis

High-rise modern apartment buildings with green space in front courtyard with outdoor exercise equipment.

Architecture and the Housing Crisis

A new book brings architects into the housing discussion.

September 25, 2023 - Next City

Rendering of people walking in waterfront park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philly Waterfront Park Breaks Ground

Penn’s Landing is an ambitious redesign of 11.5 waterfront acres.

September 15, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Conceptual rendering of Rikers Island redevelopment as renewable energy facility

Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?

New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?

August 24, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Installation of external wall thermal insulation with rock wool on Passive House residential building.

‘Passive House’ Standard Gaining Ground in Multifamily Housing

Developers in Chicago and around the country are taking notice of a design standard that encourages energy efficiency and sustainable materials.

August 9, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

An image of Downtown Nashville with the Cumberland River at dusk.

Nashville Adopts New Mass Timber Building Standards

Mass timber buildings up to 18 stories high will now be allowed in the Music City.

August 9, 2023 - Nashville

Pedewstrianized street paved with red bricks flanked by historic four-story buildings in Dublin, Ireland

How Walkable ‘Activity Centers’ Can Reduce Driving

Encouraging mixed-use neighborhoods that help reduce vehicle miles driven and put urban amenities within easy walking distance is possible with surprisingly modest policy tweaks.

July 12, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

View of docks on lake surrounded by green trees and lawns with one white house at right

A Primer on Suburban Urbanism

How one master-planned development used lower-density urbanism principles to build a community focused on affordability, sustainability, and conservation.

July 6, 2023 - Common Edge

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

NRDC: Saving Transit is ‘Essential Climate Strategy’

Supporting California’s public transit systems is key to fighting climate change and boosting the state’s economy.

June 20, 2023 - Natural Resources Defense Council

Pastoral landscape painting by Thomas Cole depicting pre-colonized idyllic scene

Planning for a Post-Climate World

A series of 19th century paintings that illustrates the rise and fall of empire highlights the limits of growth.

May 17, 2023 - Gabriel A. Ramos AICP

Seattle skyline panorama seen from Kerry Park at sunset in golden evening light with Mount Rainier in the background, Washington State, United States of America

Washington Cities Balance Housing Development and Tree Canopy

Cities like Seattle and Bellingham are working to increase housing density while also preserving urban trees and green spaces.

May 3, 2023 - The Urbanist

Old wood demolition waste, from destruction or renovation of buildings in a container on a work site in a street with a house. Wooden beams to be recycled into new building materials

The Link Between Circular Building, Affordability, and Sustainability

A growing movement seeks to reduce waste in the construction industry and focus on the long-term impact of building materials.

May 1, 2023 - Wired

View of Los Angeles skyline against a bright orange sky with a palm tree at left

Los Angeles County Releases Updated Climate Action Plan

The revised plan reflects the county's commitment to fighting climate change and identifies strategies, measures, and actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from community activities and some municipal operations.

April 27, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

People riding electric bike share bikes in downtown Madison, Wisconsin

Madison Adopts ‘Complete Green Streets’ Plan

The new document consolidates the city’s Complete Streets projects with its sustainability plan, providing a flexible framework for comprehensive actions that focus on safety, sustainability, and equity.

January 10, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Street in Paris Latin Quarter with row of bicycles, cobblestone street, and pedestrians

What Is a 15-Minute City?

The buzzword recently popularized by urbanists describes an urban form that dominated cities prior to the rise of autocentric planning.

December 28, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.