Architecture

Tallest Building in US Proposed for OKC
The building would stand 1,907 feet high, twice as tall as any other building in the Oklahoma City skyline.

Austin Bans Windowless Bedrooms
Thousands of University of Texas students live in rooms with no natural light. Many report detrimental mental and physical health impacts.

LA’s Abandoned Towers Loom as a “$1.2 Billion Ruin of Global Capital”
Oceanwide Plaza, shuttered mid-construction after its developer filed for bankruptcy, has stood vacant on prime Los Angeles real estate since 2019.

Elevating the ‘Small Stuff’ in Urban Design
Chuck Wolfe recaps arguments in favor of increased attention to incidentals — from benches to bollards — in urban development practices.

Mental Health Facility Uses Design to Improve Outcomes
Far from the drab and claustrophobic mental health facilities of cinematic fame, Ohana aims to serve patients in an aesthetically soothing, nature-driven environment.

Deconstructing Office-to-Residential Conversions in Seattle
In a two-part inquiry in GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe looks at clearing the path to office-to-residential conversions and the complex path beyond.

Video: How Tall Should Buildings Be?
Is there an ideal height — or should buildings be as tall as they need to be to fulfill housing needs?

5 Office Conversions Making Waves in 2024
Adaptive reuse projects are transforming underutilized office space into mixed-use hubs of housing and commerce.

Adaptive Reuse: The Missing Piece to the Housing Puzzle?
Millions of square feet sit vacant while millions of Americans struggle to find affordable housing. Can reimagining our empty skyscrapers be the key to unlocking both solutions?

Vernacular Architecture in the Era of Climate Change
We no longer have time for design that ignores the climate crisis. Building and community design must respond to this new context to successfully meet people’s needs.

Office Conversions at Record High
The number of office-to-residential adaptive reuse projects in the works for 2024 is four times as high as in 2021.

Let's Get Some Things Straight: ADA in America
The Planning Commission Podcast: Exploring Universal Design

How To Reduce Energy Use in Buildings
The cheapest energy is energy not used.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Turns 100
The historic venue celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of memorable moments that include two Summer Olympic Games.

Commentary: We Need to Build for Disaster, Not Simply Focus on Recovery
As the frequency and severity of weather events increases, building codes need to be adjusted to include resilience principles.

All We Want for the Holidays is…
Here are a dozen timely gift ideas for creating better communities.

How Design Can Help Mitigate Extreme Heat
To prepare for hotter summers, designers and architects can build resilience into the urban environment.

US Building Emissions are Growing
Green building standards and efficiency retrofits are not keeping up with energy demand, resulting in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Study: Office Conversions One-Third More Affordable Than New Housing
Where conditions are right for office-to-residential adaptive reuse, projects can be completed faster and at a significantly lower cost than new construction.

Bringing Circularity to the Construction Industry
Using more recycled materials could dramatically reduce carbon emissions and waste from construction projects.
Pagination
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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.