🎞️ Have you ever wondered what’s behind the recent resurgence of Manhattan’s East Midtown? For over a century, East Midtown has been the beating heart of New York City's business world. Now, it's evolving again. In this first episode of “A View on Cities,” KPF Principal Andrew Cleary examines the forces that are transforming this central business district into a central social district, including new towers, transit connections, and reimagined public spaces. As part of #KPF50, “A View on Cities” offers an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities defining global cities today. Drawing on KPF's expertise in contextual and high-performance design, the series investigates how thoughtful urban architecture can drive the resurgence, reinvention, and resilience of the places we live and work. ▶️Watch the full video on the KPF YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/4sjFrzi #AViewOnCities #EastMidtown #NYC #UrbanDesign #Architecture #CityPlanning #CBD #CSD #BehindTheDesign

Tonight I attended a fascinating guest lecture from Professor Nico Larco , an urban designer and professor at the University of Oregon. He spoke about his Sustainable Urban Design Framework, which brings together research from planning, architecture, ecology, and engineering to help cities think more holistically about how urban spaces are designed. His approach focuses on how decisions at various scales from buildings to entire neighbourhoods can collectively shape more sustainable and resilient cities. As someone who has spent the past three years working in City Councillor Stéphanie Plante’s office, it was especially interesting to reflect on how ideas about urban design intersect with the policy and governance side of city-building. While Professor Larco’s work focuses on the design of physical spaces, it was a good reminder that achieving more sustainable and livable cities also depends on the decisions made through municipal policy, planning processes, and community engagement and that there is always room to keep improving how we do this work. https://lnkd.in/ef-asRZ6

🎞️ How does a city's urban landscape evolve over time without formal zoning regulations? London’s development along the banks of the Thames has been shaped by countless forces through the millennia, from transit to economics to the maintenance of particular views—but never modern “zoning” laws. In this episode of “A View on Cities,” KPF Principal John Bushell, RIBA, walks us down the famous river to explore how the ancient capital’s built form came to be. As part of #KPF50, “A View on Cities” offers an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities defining global cities today. Drawing on KPF's expertise in contextual and high-performance design, the series investigates how thoughtful urban architecture can drive the resurgence, reinvention, and resilience of the places we live and work. ▶️Watch the full video on the KPF YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/4cS3Rv4 #AViewOnCities #London #Southwark #UrbanDesign #Architecture #CityPlanning #Thames #PolycentricCity

Brum Park(ing) Day - Temporary Installations for Long-Term Impact 12 March, 12:30pm to 2pm. In a city shaped by decades of large-scale development and car-led infrastructure, small, low-cost urban interventions can make a big impact. Inspired by the global Park(ing) Day movement, Define Planning & Design launched Brum Park(ing) Day, teaming up with local partners to temporarily turn parking spaces into people-centred places. They’ll be leading a discussion reflecting on the installation and exploring how other communities could replicate the idea to rethink streets, space and public life. Speakers Jessica Shearman, Urban Designer, Define. Charlie Loveluck-Edwards, Graduate Urban Designer, Define. Matthew Alexander, Operations and Engagement Manager, The Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District. Tonia Clark, Principal Finance and Bids Officer, Birmingham City Council. Hosted by Hannah Smart, Chair, Urban Design Group and Founding Director, edge Urban Design. Register to see how parking spaces can spark wider change and learn how you can bring this thinking into your projects and communities. https://lnkd.in/ejWiEQ2Q

The Big D Project A Vision for the Future of Dallas City Hall The Big D Project is a bold architectural proposal that reimagines the future of Dallas while honoring its past. At the heart of the concept is the preservation and revitalization of the historic I. M. Pei designed Dallas City Hall, an internationally recognized civic landmark that has defined the identity of downtown Dallas for decades and was the backdrop for the movie ‘Robocop’. Rather than replacing this iconic structure, the proposal calls for its restoration and modernization after the completion of a complementary new addition. This approach ensures that the architectural legacy of I. M. Pei is respected, preserved, and reinvigorated for future generations. The new addition takes the form of an inverted “C” — a contemporary civic structure positioned at the backside of the existing linear City Hall building. When viewed together, the original linear form and the new curved addition create a powerful symbolic gesture: the letter “D” — representing Dallas itself. This is more than an expansion. It is a civic statement. The Big D Project transforms City Hall into a renewed civic campus while preserving its historic architectural integrity. It strengthens functionality, enhances public engagement, and creates a unified composition that visually and symbolically reflects the spirit of the city. And it creates an elevated public courtyard in line with the Dallas Greening Initiatives. By choosing renovation and adaptive reuse over demolition, the proposal reinforces a commitment to sustainability, heritage, and responsible urban growth. And it keeps the existing City Hall where it wants to be in downtown Dallas. #SaveDallasCityHall

Project Spotlight: West Hollywood, California. In one of the most design-conscious and space-constrained cities in the U.S., parking could not dominate the project - it had to enable it. 🚗 By integrating an automated parking system, the development significantly reduced the area typically consumed by ramps and drive aisles, allowing more ground-level space to be dedicated to active public uses and pedestrian-friendly design. The compact footprint supported sustainability goals 🌱 by optimizing land use, minimizing excavation, and improving overall building efficiency. In West Hollywood, parking was not treated as a back-of-house necessity, but as a strategic tool to unlock better architecture, stronger street presence, and more valuable public space.

What does the future of placemaking actually look like in practice? On Manhattan’s West Side, it looks like decades of persistence, partnership, and people-first design gradually adding up to a completely reimagined urban corridor. 🏙️ From new transit entrances that improve everyday mobility to thoughtfully designed connections across some of the city’s busiest blocks, this district shows how incremental, long-term projects can build a more cohesive and welcoming public realm. Take a closer look in Urban Land’s latest feature — a visual journey through four decades of city-making. 👀 Photos: Dave Burk / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) 🔗 https://ow.ly/YYs050YmAcq #PeopleFirstDesign #NYCDevelopment #UrbanDesign

A great district is never an accident; it is always the result of deliberate design. The transformation of the warehouse block in Lexington serves as a prime example of Incremental Urbanism in action. However, the true secret to its success lies in a foundational Strategic Master Plan. Such a framework is essential for allowing a neighborhood to evolve organically while remaining aligned with a larger vision. It prioritizes the "Interface"—ensuring buildings activate the street level and maintaining accessible rents to attract and retain local talent. At Nico Denas®, our expertise extends beyond "New Construction" to focus on Asset Resuscitation. We develop plans that foster organic neighborhood growth, providing clear direction while accommodating adaptive evolution. We advocate for proactive planning that allows communities to thrive, rather than passively waiting for external forces to shape their future. Connect with Nico Denas®. We specialize in curating the framework of High-Performance Urbanism, turning ambitious visions into tangible, enduring urban landscapes. www.nicodenas.com #UrbanPlanning #IncrementalUrbanism #StrategicDesign #NicoDenas #AssetResuscitation #CommunityDevelopment #HighPerformanceUrbanism #RealEstateStrategy

Governor Hochul announced the completion of a $6 million, 4,400-square-foot visitor center at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff estate in Derby, NY, enhancing the site’s year-round accessibility and programming. The project, managed by LeChase Construction, is part of a broader revitalization including historic restoration and landscape improvements. - The new center features expanded amenities, integrated technology, and administrative spaces to support preservation and visitor engagement. - Funding came from multiple state sources, including over $1 million from the New York Power Authority and support from Empire State Development and the New York State Council on the Arts. This project marks a significant milestone in preserving and promoting architectural heritage while boosting local construction and tourism industries. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gHuagfkR #PRESWERX #NewYorkConstruction

"The model that was cultivated as part of Opening the Edge will be deployed at more NYCHA campuses around the city, where other fence demolitions can make way for vibrant urban living rooms." The story of Opening the Edge and our partnership with Davies Toews Architecture and other city leaders on a new green space for Lower East Side public housing residents in Architect's Newspaper: https://lnkd.in/d3c-2bpw