Buildings & Design: Page 20
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How the American Jobs Plan aims to shape 4 pillars of city infrastructure
The administration's package looks to inject billions of dollars into the country's digital infrastructure, water, transportation and housing needs, with emphasis on racial equity and climate resilience.
By Smart Cities Dive Team • April 1, 2021 -
Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan has something for everyone. And that's its biggest risk.
While some groups praised the proposal, others found issues with its pitch of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, as well as raising taxes on businesses to pay for it.
By Joe Bousquin • March 31, 2021 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Deep Dive
Satellite internet: digital divide solution or 'science experiment'?
SpaceX and Amazon have said the technology can help rural America get online, but opponents say it's unproven and not worthy of federal investment.
By Chris Teale • March 30, 2021 -
Miami mayor seeks federal funds for Boring Co. project
Mayor Francis Suarez wants Elon Musk's company to build a transit loop similar to those underway in Las Vegas and Chicago, Bloomberg reports.
By Zachary Phillips • March 29, 2021 -
Build Back Better plan reportedly includes $1 trillion for roads, bridges, electric grid and more
More details are slated to emerge as President Joe Biden is set to speak on the plan in Pittsburgh next week, the White House announced Wednesday.
By Joe Bousquin • March 25, 2021 -
Cities face new roadblock in quest to decarbonize buildings
The International Code Council removed the rights of local governments to vote on energy-efficient building codes, a move with major implications for cities as they seek to dramatically reduce emissions.
By Cailin Crowe • March 24, 2021 -
Community-led design of public spaces could have 'ripple effect' in COVID recovery: report
Analysis of public spaces in Detroit; Philadelphia; San Jose, CA; and Akron, OH by the Knight Foundation and design firm Gehl found successful and resilient programming could have long-term effects after the pandemic.
By Chris Teale • March 24, 2021 -
Climate-driven water infrastructure failures risk becoming 'business as usual'
Monday's World Water Day comes one month after extreme weather wreaked havoc on Texas' water supply, an event that experts warn could become the new normal if leaders fail to invest in resiliency.
By Chris Teale • March 22, 2021 -
$20B Chicago megaproject reaches deal with transit system
As part of the agreement, Landmark Development would build a $3.8 billion transit connection for the Chicago Transit Authority and Amtrak that the state would eventually buy, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
By Zachary Phillips • March 19, 2021 -
Waterfront Toronto to design 'complete community' after Sidewalk Labs split
The group launched a competition to find a new development partner, seeking a plan that includes affordable housing and support for aging in place.
By Cailin Crowe • March 17, 2021 -
Opinion
Crisis in Texas, then a C- grade: America's infrastructure needs a bottom-up fix
Although the Biden administration is expected to pursue a major infrastructure plan, we must allow localities to lead, write former mayors of San Antonio and Ventura, CA.
By Henry Cisneros and William Fulton • March 15, 2021 -
Pittsburgh applies equity lens amid push to plant 100K trees
The "Equitable Street Tree Investment Strategy" aims to improve tree maintenance in low-income and Black neighborhoods, as the city also works to increase its canopy to 60% by 2030.
By Maria Rachal • March 8, 2021 -
Q&A
National Landing BID head explains 'most connected downtown' design
President and Executive Director Tracy Sayegh Gabriel said the Northern Virginia area, which is undergoing major transformations ahead of the arrival of Amazon's HQ2, has embraced people-centric and sustainable growth.
By Cailin Crowe • March 5, 2021 -
US infrastructure funding gap swells to $2.6 trillion: ASCE
A 'C-' rating across 17 areas of infrastructure is a slight jump from a 'D+' grade in 2017 given by the American Society of Civil Engineers. But leaders say more needs to be done at the federal level to close a 10-year investment lag.
By Chris Teale • March 4, 2021 -
Up to 20 cities to improve street safety by turning asphalt into art
Bloomberg Philanthropies' Asphalt Art Initiative, now in its second year, will provide each city with up to $25,000 to improve street safety and revitalize public spaces with murals.
By Chris Teale • March 3, 2021 -
Airbnb reports $3.89B loss, predicts digital nomads will spark recovery
In the company's first post-IPO earnings call, officials said Airbnb is resilient enough to weather COVID-19 and that flexible work arrangements will push more people onto the platform.
By Chris Teale • March 2, 2021 -
Seattle mayor approves updated energy code
Mayor Jenny Durkan signed the updates into law, dubbing the city's building energy code as "among the strongest in the nation."
By Kristin Musulin • Updated Feb. 12, 2021 -
Amazon unveils plans for HQ2's second phase
The PenPlace project in Northern Virginia includes retail and outdoor spaces, and three office buildings surrounding a glass spiral tower adorned with trees.
By Zachary Phillips • Feb. 3, 2021 -
Deep Dive
How COVID-19 will change office, hotel and mixed-use design
There are still unknowns as far as how the coronavirus pandemic will impact the look of new spaces, but flexibility in layouts will be key, design experts say.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 25, 2021 -
Amazon to construct 5 Detroit-area facilities in 2021
Although the Detroit centers mark the largest number of buildings recently announced in one area, Amazon has also made moves to construct facilities in cities across the country.
By Zachary Phillips • Jan. 22, 2021 -
Cuomo announces $306B infrastructure plan for New York
Just one part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan, the redevelopment of Manhattan's Midtown West, is expected to create 196,000 jobs.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 20, 2021 -
$4B worth of transit projects coming to DC metro area
Northern Virginia, the site of Amazon's second U.S. headquarters, will see a flurry of transportation projects over the next decade in an effort to become the most "well-connected downtown in the country."
By Zachary Phillips • Jan. 19, 2021 -
Amazon commits $2B to housing equity
The company's Housing Equity Fund will support 20,000 affordable homes near its headquarter locations, adding to a growing list of tech giants investing in affordable housing.
By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 7, 2021 -
7 urban construction projects to watch in 2021
Several high-profile jobs are scheduled for completion or are set to hit major milestones soon. Here are some that are sure to make headlines this year.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 7, 2021 -
7 mobility startups to watch in 2021
These startups offer compelling solutions to the range of challenges the pandemic has introduced to U.S. cities.
By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 5, 2021