Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.

MFPRO+ New Projects

Luxury waterfront tower in Brooklyn features East River and Manhattan skyline views

Leasing recently began for The Dupont, a 41-story luxury rental property along the Brooklyn, N.Y., waterfront. Located within the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing, where it overlooks the newly constructed Newtown Barge Park, the high-rise features East River and Manhattan skyline views along with 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor communal space.

Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

Resiliency

Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily

While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.

Designers

Two people sitting in comfortable chairs in front of window

Mechanical Systems | NBBJ | Jan 17, 2023

Why the auto industry is key to designing healthier, more comfortable buildings

Peter Alspach of NBBJ shares how workplaces can benefit from a few automotive industry techniques.

Libraries | Jan 13, 2023

One of the world’s largest new libraries opens in Shanghai

Designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Shanghai Library East covers more than 1.2 million sf, 80% of it dedicated to community activity.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine and public plaza overlooking reflecting pools. Photo: © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

Religious Facilities | Jan 9, 2023

Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church opens in New York

In December, New York saw the reopening of the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine—the only religious structure destroyed on 9/11. Renowned architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava designed St. Nicholas Church to address the traditional Greek Orthodox liturgy while honoring the Church’s connection with the World Trade Center Memorial site.

1930 Broadway in New York City, where Glenwood Management first installed CarbonQuest's system. Photo courtesy CarbonQuest

Sustainability | Jan 9, 2023

Innovative solutions emerge to address New York’s new greenhouse gas law

New York City’s Local Law 97, an ambitious climate plan that includes fines for owners of large buildings that don’t significantly reduce carbon emissions, has spawned innovations to address the law’s provisions.

Fire and Life Safety | Jan 9, 2023

Why lithium-ion batteries pose fire safety concerns for buildings

Lithium-ion batteries have become the dominant technology in phones, laptops, scooters, electric bikes, electric vehicles, and large-scale battery energy storage facilities. Here’s what you need to know about the fire safety concerns they pose for building owners and occupants.

Industry Research | Dec 28, 2022

Following a strong year, design and construction firms view 2023 cautiously

The economy and inflation are the biggest concerns for U.S. architecture, construction, and engineering firms in 2023, according to a recent survey of AEC professionals by the editors of Building Design+Construction.

Kalita Humphreys Theater Black box theater and deck, view from west. Rendering Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Performing Arts Centers | Dec 23, 2022

Diller Scofidio + Renfro's renovation of Dallas theater to be ‘faithful reinterpretation’ of Frank Lloyd Wright design

Diller Scofidio + Renfro recently presented plans to restore the Kalita Humphreys Theater at the Dallas Theater Center (DTC) in Dallas. Originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this theater is the only freestanding theater in Wright’s body of work.

Loyola Marymount University Howard B. Fitzpatrick Pavilion by SOM

University Buildings | Dec 22, 2022

Loyola Marymount University completes a new home for its acclaimed School of Film and Television

California’s Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has completed two new buildings for arts and media education at its Westchester campus. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Howard B. Fitzpatrick Pavilion is the new home of the undergraduate School of Film and Television, which is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 film schools. Also designed by SOM, the open-air Drollinger Family Stage is an outdoor lecture and performance space.

Adaptive Reuse | Dec 21, 2022

University of Pittsburgh reinvents century-old Model-T building as a life sciences research facility

After opening earlier this year, The Assembly recently achieved LEED Gold certification, aligning with the school’s and community’s larger sustainability efforts.

Rose Apartments Brooks and Scarpa architects 10 All images courtesy Brooks + Scarpa

Multifamily Housing | Dec 20, 2022

Brooks + Scarpa-designed apartment provides affordable housing to young people aging out of support facilities

In Venice, Calif., the recently completed Rose Apartments provides affordable housing to young people who age out of youth facilities and often end up living on the street. Designed by Brooks + Scarpa, the four-story, 35-unit mixed-use apartment building will house transitional aged youths.