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.

Designers

The growing moral responsibility of designing for shade

Elliot Glassman, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, CPHD, Building Performance Leader, CannonDesign, makes the argument for architects to consider better shade solutions through these four strategies.

Multifamily Housing

Nation's leading multifamily developer expands into infrastructure

Greystar's strategy for infrastructure is driven by the shifting landscape of today's cities—primarily in the increased digitization, urbanization, and transitions to clean energy.

Urban Planning

New York City begins first large-scale porous pavement installation

New York City is installing its first large-scale porous pavement installation along seven miles of roadway in Brooklyn. The project will keep 35 million gallons of stormwater out of the combined sewer system each year, according to a news release.

Urban Planning | Stantec | Feb 14, 2022

5 steps to remake suburbs into green communities where people want to live, work, and play

Stantec's John Bachmann offers proven tactic for retrofitting communities for success in the post-COVID era.

Urban Planning | Feb 11, 2022

6 ways to breathe life into mixed-use spaces

To activate mixed-use spaces and realize their fullest potential, project teams should aim to create a sense of community and pay homage to the local history.

Urban Planning | GBBN | Jan 25, 2022

Retooling innovation districts for medium-sized cities

This type of development isn’t just about innovation or lab space; and it’s not just universities or research institutions that are driving this change.

Urban Planning | Stantec | Dec 15, 2021

EV is the bridge to transit’s AV revolution—and now is the time to start building it

Thinking holistically about a technology-enabled customer experience will make transit a mode of choice for more people.

Data visualization showing how most pedestrian movement on campus is concentrated along a campus spine

Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects | Nov 16, 2021

‘Desire paths’ and college campus design

If a campus is not as efficient as it could be, end users will use their feet to let designers know about it.

SOM's Urban Sequoia concept envisions buildings absorbing more carbon dioxide. Images: SOM

Urban Planning | Nov 11, 2021

Reimagining the concrete and steel jungle, SOM sees buildings that absorb more carbon than they emit

The firm presented its case for a cleaner built environment during the Climate Change conference in Scotland.

Urban Planning | Aug 16, 2021

Building with bikes in mind: How cities can capitalize on the pandemic’s ‘bike boom’ to make streets safer for everyone

Since early 2020, Americans have been forced to sequester themselves in their homes with outdoor activities, in most cases, being the sole respite for social distancing. And many of people are going back to the basics with a quintessential outdoor activity: biking. Bike sales absolutely skyrocketed during the pandemic, growing by 69% in 2020.

Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021

Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]

New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.

Nelson Mandela Park green space in Rotterdam

Urban Planning | May 3, 2021

SWA/Balsley unveils Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan for Rotterdam

The conceptual plan provides much-needed central neighborhood and civic open space in the city’s South Maashaven district.

The Weekly Show, Apr 29, 2021: COVID-19's impact on campus planning, and bird management strategies

University Buildings | Apr 29, 2021

The Weekly Show, April 29, 2021: COVID-19's impact on campus planning, and bird management strategies

This week on The Weekly show, BD+C Senior Editor John Caulfield interviews a duo of industry experts on 1) how campus planning has changed during the pandemic and 2) managing bird infestations on construction sites and completed buildings.