Author: Editorial Desk

Baker Barrios Architects is expanding its service portfolio with the launch of BirdDog Development Partners, a development management firm designed to bridge the gap between the architecture firm’s expertise and its preferred clients. First Project: Student Housing Near Ole Miss BirdDog’s inaugural project is a 755-bed, 243-unit student housing complex within a 15-minute walk of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Construction broke ground in August on the 370,000-sf development, with the first phase scheduled for completion in Fall 2027. The project involves multiple developers, including Christa Development, Development Ventures Group, Kayne Anderson Real Estate, and BirdDog itself, while Montgomery…

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…

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,…

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…

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.…

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…

The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. is set to open a landmark exhibition titled A South Forty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South on February 15, 2025. Curated by Peter MacKeith, Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, and designed by Jonathan Boelkins, the exhibition captures the evolving spirit of Southern design through more than 40 architectural practices. The Context Spanning the southeastern United States—from the North Carolina coast to Oklahoma’s Highway 40—the exhibition reflects the region’s dynamic growth and cultural diversity. It underscores how architects are redefining Southern…

Philadelphia welcomes a striking new cultural landmark this September with the opening of Calder Gardens, a visionary collaboration between Herzog & de Meuron and landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Conceived as a living dialogue between art, architecture, and nature, the project celebrates the life and legacy of American sculptor Alexander Calder, offering visitors an immersive experience unlike any other. A New Cultural Landmark Located along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway—home to the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art—Calder Gardens presents a rotating collection of Calder’s most iconic works. Oudolf’s naturalistic wildflower meadows flow seamlessly into Herzog &…

The Chicago Architecture Center’s (CAC) Open House Chicago festival is back, bigger than ever. The free, two-day event will feature more than 200 architectural sites across the city, with 30 new additions that promise to offer a deeper look into the city’s remarkable built environment. From historic landmarks and sacred spaces to creative studios and private residences, the festival continues to showcase why Chicago remains one of the world’s most celebrated architectural capitals. Exploring Chicago’s Architectural Diversity Open House Chicago provides rare access to sites that reveal the city’s rich architectural tapestry. Visitors can explore Bertrand Goldberg’s Hilliard Tower Apartments…