Author: Editorial Desk

Louisiana State University has approved a $215 million residential project to address rising enrollment and housing shortages on campus. The new South Quad dormitories will provide over 1,200 beds and are set to break ground in October 2025, near the Business Education Complex on South Quad Drive, replacing the Touchdown Village East commuter parking lot. Addressing Enrollment Growth The project comes amid LSU’s eighth consecutive year of record freshman enrollment. Interim President Matt Lee announced that approximately 8,000 new freshmen are expected this fall, exceeding last year’s 7,912 students. The expansion aims to relieve housing pressures, particularly for first-year students.…

Oklahoma City is set to make architectural history with the approval of Legends Tower, poised to become the tallest skyscraper in the United States. The Oklahoma City Council has officially granted the project unlimited height, allowing the development team to redefine the city’s skyline. AO, the architecture firm leading the project, confirmed that they are teaming up with real estate developers Matteson Capital to bring the ambitious tower to life in the vibrant Bricktown District. “We are grateful that the City Council has embraced our vision to transform Oklahoma City into a global destination,” AO said in a statement. Record-Breaking…

For more than three decades, Michigan Central Station, the grand Beaux-Arts landmark that welcomed visitors to Detroit since 1913, sat abandoned. Its shattered windows, graffiti-covered lobby, and peeling surfaces became a symbol of the city’s postindustrial decline and a popular subject for so-called “ruin porn” photography. A decade ago, revitalizing the building seemed far-fetched—even as Detroit saw scattered redevelopment. A Transformative Revival Times have changed. Ford Motor Company has spearheaded a comprehensive redevelopment, turning the station and the surrounding Corktown neighborhood into a mixed-use tech campus focused on mobility innovation. Alongside commercial tenants, the NoMad luxury hotel is slated to…

The U.S. federal government has awarded 10 construction contracts worth $4.5 billion to expand the border barrier along the southwest frontier by 230 miles, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday. Smart Wall Expansion The contracts will extend the Smart Wall system, a combination of steel barriers, waterborne barriers, patrol roads, lighting, cameras, and advanced detection technology, designed to strengthen border security. Seven of the 10 contracts, awarded in September, went to the BCCG Joint Venture, according to DHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said:”The Smart Wall means more miles of barriers, more technology,…

Founded in 1872 by formerly enslaved leaders Richard Allen, Richard Brock, Jack Yates, and Elias Dibble, Emancipation Park was purchased to commemorate the end of slavery and, during segregation, served as one of the few public spaces open to Black residents. Today, the park remains a vital cultural landmark in Houston. Project Highlights Outdoor Performance Stage: A new 5,000-square-foot stage next to the Eldorado Ballroom will include green rooms, climate-controlled storage, and an advanced AV tech suite. Cultural Center Renovation: The 11,000-square-foot center will feature digital storytelling, upgraded AV, a gift shop, and landscaped exhibition spaces tracing the park’s history.…

A Utah-based architecture firm, Sparano + Mooney, is increasingly attracting national attention for its sleek, modern homes nestled in the dramatic landscapes of the Wasatch Mountains. Why It Matters Utah has historically flown under the radar in residential architecture, despite an abundance of breathtaking home sites. Unlike many U.S. cities, Utah’s urban centers sit directly against rugged topography, yet its hillside neighborhoods have often been dominated by conventional suburban designs or McMansions. Sparano + Mooney’s work is redefining what residential architecture in the region can be. Driving the News Their Park City home was recently featured in the New York…

In an era marked by escalating building-material costs and the uncertainty of global tariffs, evidence of a slowdown in the custom-home market is emerging. The National Association of Home Builders recently reported a 3.7% decline in single-family homes under construction compared to last year. Yet, the demand for skilled carpenters, stonemasons, plumbers, and electricians remains robust, and residential construction—including architectural services—is still operating at full tilt. Recognizing this dynamic, Forbes conducted 10 months of rigorous research to produce its second national top-firms list: America’s Best-in-State Residential Architects. The list highlights 400 architecture practices across all 50 states and the District…

Mexico City-based landscape architect Mario Schjetnan and his firm, Grupo de Diseño Urbano (GDU), have been awarded the 2025 Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. Organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), the biennial prize honors landscape architects who excel at the intersection of design, social engagement, and environmental justice. A Legacy of Visionary Design Schjetnan and GDU were chosen from over 300 nominations by an international jury for their exceptionally creative and courageous work. The award includes $100,000 and two years of public engagement activities to increase visibility for their practice and the broader field of landscape architecture.…

As Zonda’s Elevate Conference returns to Miami this December, industry leaders are exploring how luxury living is evolving. For Whitney Arcaro, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Residential at RXR, the future of luxury is no longer just about high-end finishes or amenities—it’s about connection, personalization, and community. Redefining Luxury Through Experience Arcaro oversees RXR’s residential revenue strategy, integrating development, marketing, operations, and portfolio management across millions of square feet. Since joining RXR in 2017, she has shaped the design and branding of thousands of multifamily units, leveraging insights to create emotionally intelligent, hospitality-driven experiences. She notes a major…

The National Building Museum has announced that renowned architectural historian and curator Barry Bergdoll will receive the 2025 Vincent Scully Prize. The award, carrying a $55,000 prize, recognizes Bergdoll’s extensive contributions to architectural history, education, and curatorial practice. The ceremony will take place on October 22, 2025, at the museum’s Washington, D.C., home. About Barry Bergdoll Bergdoll serves as the Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History at Columbia University and was the Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at MoMA from 2007 to 2013. His publications include works on Léon Vaudoyer, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, and Mies van der…