Despite the annoying naming convention, the Helinox Chair One (re) is an impressive upgrade to Helinox's classic, compact camping chair.

The tech giant went to court on Monday in an antitrust trial focused on its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The case could reshape its business.

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Nine ports yet compact Four Thunderbolt 5 ports Five USB ports 180W total power Cons Our Verdict More of a mini dock than a hub, the CalDigit Element 5 packs nine fast ports including four of the latest 80/120Gbps Thunderbolt 5. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed€249,99 Best Prices Today: CalDigit Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub Retailer Price CalDigit 249,99 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The CalDigit Element 5 Hub is the successor to the company’s award-winning Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub, replacing the Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) ports with the double-speed Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) and even squeezing in an extra USB port for good measure. Just as the CalDigit Element 4 Hub was our recommended Thunderbolt 4 hub, the Element 5 takes over its position at the top of the Mac hub hierarchy. Specs and features One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps/120Gbps, 90W) Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) 180W power supply The Element 5 Hub boasts five Thunderbolt 5 ports, each offering blisteringly fast 80Gbps data-transfer and when utilizing Bandwidth Boost can provide up to 120Gbps bandwidth for display purposes. CalDigit The upstream TB5 port that connects to your computer can also deliver up to 90W of power to a laptop. That’s enough to fast-charge the majority of Apple’s MacBooks, although it won’t fast-charge the top-end 14- or 16-inch Pro/Max MacBook Pro. For that you’ll need a dock that can supply 140W. But 90W is still generous and enough for most laptop setups. The downstream TB5 ports can each supply 15W of power, and the USB-C and USB-A ports have potential for 7.5W each. The external power supply provides a decent 180W—up from 150W with the Element 4—which is the same offered by even a full-scale docking station such as the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock. All the USB ports—two USB-C and three USB-A— are rated at a fast 10Gbps. Thunderbolt 5 is much more of an upgrade than Thunderbolt 4 was from Thunderbolt 3. It can provide up to 6,200MBps performance for external storage devices, for example, which is double that of Thunderbolt 4. With nine ports in total, the Element 5 Hub offers more than any other Thunderbolt hub we’ve seen or tested, including even the eight-port Element 4 Hub. The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub offers four TB5 ports and one 10Gbps USB-A port. While three USB-A ports should be plenty for legacy devices, most accessories are now firmly in the USB-C camp so you might have one or two left empty, and OWC’s one USB-A port is probably all that’s required. It does, of course, lack the Element 5 Hub’s extra two Type C ports. The Thunderbolt 5 ports can be used to connect USB-C devices, of course, so up to five can be accommodated using this hub. CalDigit A full docking station will have many more ports of different type, such as fast Ethernet for wired network access, card readers, display connections and audio ports, but with a few inexpensive adapters the Element 5’s nine ports may be all you need. Because it features so many ports, the Element 5 Hub is a serious consideration for desktop users as well as laptop owners and will be a match for docking stations depending on your needs. You could add an Ethernet adapter, such as the Ugreen USB-C to 2.5G Ethernet Adapter, or card reader functionality via a USB-C adapter, for example. CalDigit Display options While it doesn’t host a DisplayPort or HDMI port, the Element 5 Hub can connect to dual 6K or 8K 60Hz extended displays on Macs. These require no display adapter when the monitors support a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection but will if your display demands a DisplayPort or HDMI connection. (When connected to Windows Thunderbolt 5 PCs, the Element 5 Hub supports up to three external extended displays with Bandwidth Boost in use. Note that when Bandwidth Boost is in operation, the rest of the hub drops to 40Gbps. Unless attached to a DisplayLink dock, macOS doesn’t support triple monitors via a Thunderbolt Dock or Hub.) For the Mac, the Element 5 Hub can support two 6K displays at 60Hz or 4K displays at 144Hz. Note that Apple’s plain (non-Pro or Max) M1- and M2-based computers support just one external monitor. Although it is possible to connect two or more displays to M1 and M2 Macs through use of DisplayLink adapters, the Element 5 Hub does not support DisplayLink. However, we expect most people interested in a powerful Thunderbolt hub will own a MacBook with a Pro or Max processor. The Element 5 Hub is compatible not just with Macs but with USB-C or Thunderbolt iPads and iPhones, as well as Windows tablets. CalDigit Design and build If used as a dock, the Element 5 Hub is one of the smallest you’ll find with its own power supply, measuring 4.5 x 2.75 x 1 inch (11.4 x 7 x 2.5cm) and weighing just 200g (0.44lbs). That’s about the same size as a fat pack of cards and shorter than an iPhone, and only marginally larger than the older Element 4 Hub. You might even lose track of it sat neatly on your desk, unless, of course, it has nine cables sticking out it alongside the power cable. The power brick is about the same size, and so is much reduced from that of the Element 4 Hub, which was pretty chunky. It’s not impossible that you could use the Element 5 as a portable hub. It’s built with aluminum and feels sturdier than cheaper USB-C hubs. The hub is reversible so you can place either the three downstream TB5 ports and one USB-A port at the front or the other side with two USB-C and two USB-A. This is made possible by CalDigit being smart enough to position the upstream TB5 port on one side of the hub, which is a much better placement than on the front as some hub and dock manufacturers do. It ships with a 0.8m Thunderbolt 5 cable. CalDigit Price The Element 5 Hub costs US$299.99, £249.99, or €249.99. That’s a little more than the Element 4 Hub, and about $100 more than the less-ported OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub. It’s more expensive than standard TB4 or USB-C hubs but it’s packed with the latest and most sophisticated technology and far more future-proof. For a nine-port Thunderbolt 5 hub, that extra spend is justified, and if used instead of a full-stocked dock will save you money. There are many types of hubs available to Mac users plus multifunction adapters and docks. Check out our roundups of the best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac and best Thunderbolt docks for MacBook. Verdict You won’t find any more modern USB and Thunderbolt ports on a hub than you get with CalDigit’s compact and well-priced Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub, and they are all rated at top speeds. The 90W power delivery is enough for most laptops, and other devices should be fully powered too. Although not quite as convenient as a larger docking station, it can even be used as a fully functional laptop Thunderbolt 5 dock with the right adapters. Cleverly designed, compact enough to be relatively portable and stocked with top-end ports, the Element 5 Hub is easily our top-rated Thunderbolt 5 hub/mini dock.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday he will reveal new tariff rates on imported semiconductors this week, the latest in a series of rapid policy shifts that have thrown the technology sector into confusion and forced businesses to reevaluate procurement strategies. “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that products excluded just days earlier were now moving into a “different tariff bucket.” The announcement comes just days after the Trump administration exempted computers, smartphones, and semiconductor devices from steep reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports, creating whiplash for technology companies and enterprise buyers trying to navigate critical purchasing decisions. Latest policy reversal Trump made clear the exemption of smartphones and computers from his reciprocal tariffs will likely be short-lived, though he suggested some flexibility in the approach. “You have to show a certain flexibility. Nobody should be so rigid,” Reuters reported Trump saying when asked if products like smartphones might still receive exemptions. Trump dismissed reports about exemptions for electronic products as “false.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provided additional clarity on Sunday, explaining that critical technology products from China would face separate new duties alongside semiconductors within the next two months. “He’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” the report added quoting Lutnick’s interview to ABC’s “This Week.” Enterprise tech caught in procurement paralysis The policy uncertainty has forced major enterprises into what Sanchit Gogia, chief analyst and CEO at Greyhound Research calls “a procurement holding pattern.” “Tariff volatility has turned routine technology procurement into a geopolitical chess game,” said Gogia. This disruption is particularly acute in industries requiring long-term capital allocations, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. “Tariff volatility has turned routine technology procurement into a geopolitical chess game.” —Sanchit Gogia, chief analyst and CEO at Greyhound Research In one striking example documented by Greyhound, a Fortune 100 insurance provider’s CIO pulled back a $15 million data center rollout just days before execution after legal and risk teams flagged the potential for mid-project tariff changes that would render imported server equipment prohibitively expensive. This impact varies across tech sectors. “Different sectors, different strategies,” Gogia noted. “IT hardware firms are relocating factories, AI vendors are locking in chip bundles, and software firms are rewriting contracts.” The tariffs prompted analyst firm IDC to lower its IT spending growth forecast for 2025 from 10% to 5%. “We see lots of uncertainty in the market, with several organizations delaying tech purchasing decisions (new contracts and discretionary spending) until there is more certainty and clarity in the market,” said Nishant Udupa, practice director at Everest Group. “In the short term, though, we see companies stockpiling parts, components, and products to avoid the impact of tariffs.” Faisal Kawoosa, co-founder and lead analyst at Techarc said, “No decision maker would have the capacity to decide with so much volatility. As a measure, there were only two options left: buy mission-critical things before the deadline and defer others until things become clear.” Escalating the tariff war The dizzying sequence began on April 2 when Trump imposed a 54% tariff on Chinese imports before quickly escalating to the current 145% rate. In response, China implemented its own retaliatory measures, starting at 34% on US goods before increasing to 84% and finally to 125%, which took effect on Saturday. On April 11, US Customs and Border Protection announced tariff exemptions for 20 product categories, covering computers, laptops, smartphones, memory chips, and flat panel displays – providing temporary relief to tech companies. The relief proved exceptionally brief, with Trump’s weekend announcement effectively reversing course less than 72 hours later. Reshoring challenges While the administration’s stated goal is to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to American soil, experts question the feasibility of rapid reshoring. “Reshoring US semiconductor fabs is politically compelling — but operationally incomplete,” Gogia argued. Neil Shah, VP for research and partner at Counterpoint Research, said the rapid reshoring for semiconductors is not going to be possible. “It’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Lack of skilled labor or cost disadvantage to reshore advanced supply chains such as semiconductors to geographies such as the US will be tough.” The timeline disconnect creates significant challenges for enterprises dependent on cutting-edge chips. Global supply chain realignment The tariff situation is accelerating broader strategic shifts in global technology supply chains. Prabhu Ram, VP for Industry Research Group at CyberMedia Research describes the tariffs as “more than political maneuvering — they represent a strategic jolt, akin to a defibrillation of the global economy, aimed at resetting the rhythm in favor of US interests.” “China has long dominated global electronics manufacturing, built on deep-rooted competencies and cost efficiencies,” Ram noted. “Reconstructing such complex value chains elsewhere is both technologically challenging and capital-intensive.” As a result, enterprises are pursuing what Ram calls a “China Plus One strategy,” with countries like India potentially benefiting. “India’s promise lies not only in its scale as a consumer market but in its emerging role as a reliable partner in critical segments — such as ATMP, PCBs, and critical minerals processing — all essential to global semiconductor resilience.” In response to the uncertainty, enterprises are developing sophisticated approaches to manage tariff risk. “Some enterprises have accelerated purchases for the short term, but some will look to diversify geographically their clusters outside of USA for the time being, and some will look to defer or delay purchases until the volatility is resolved,” Counterpoint Research’s Shah said.

The manufacturing industry is at a crossroads: Geopolitical instability is fracturing supply chains from the Suez to Shenzhen, impacting the flow of materials. Businesses are battling rising costs and inflation, coupled with a shrinking labor force, with more than half a million unfilled manufacturing jobs in the U.S. alone. And climate change is further intensifying the pressure, with more frequent extreme weather events and tightening environmental regulations forcing companies to rethink how they operate. New solutions are imperative. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT Meanwhile, advanced automation, powered by the convergence of emerging and established technologies, including industrial AI, digital twins, the internet of things (IoT), and advanced robotics, promises greater resilience, flexibility, sustainability, and efficiency for industry. Individual success stories have demonstrated the transformative power of these technologies, providing examples of AI-driven predictive maintenance reducing downtime by up to 50%. Digital twin simulations can significantly reduce time to market, and bring environment dividends, too: One survey found 77% of leaders expect digital twins to reduce carbon emissions by 15% on average. Yet, broad adoption of this advanced automation has lagged. “That’s not necessarily or just a technology gap,” says John Hart, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Production Technologies at MIT. “It relates to workforce capabilities and financial commitments and risk required.” For small and medium enterprises, and those with brownfield sites—older facilities with legacy systems— the barriers to implementation are significant. In recent years, governments have stepped in to accelerate industrial progress. Through a revival of industrial policies, governments are incentivizing high-tech manufacturing, re-localizing critical production processes, and reducing reliance on fragile global supply chains. All these developments converge in a key moment for manufacturing. The external pressures on the industry—met with technological progress and these new political incentives—may finally enable the shift toward advanced automation. Download the full report. This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Review’s editorial staff. This content was researched, designed, and written entirely by human writers, editors, analysts, and illustrators. This includes the writing of surveys and collection of data for surveys. AI tools that may have been used were limited to secondary production processes that passed thorough human review.

Apple Watch users can earn a Global Close Your Rings Day award on April 24.

On the latest episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, Samsung SmartThings and Aqara have massive Matter updates, including new features for Apple Home users. There's also the upcoming launch of the Ballie robot and a quick review of the UAG Monarch AirTag holder.HomeKit Insider PodcastBoth Samsung and Aqara had major Matter updates coming this past week. Notably, Samsung is adding support for a ton of new Matter devices found in the 1.4 update to the Matter spec.Aqara followed suit, adding more than 40 device types of its own. Among the new supported devices include robotic vacuums, air quality sensors, water valves, vehicle chargers, solar panels, and more. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Preregistration is now open — click here to receive program updates. When you hear the words futuristic, visionary or daring in the context of architecture, what comes to mind? For most of us, it’s rarely something that’s actually been built. I, for one, usually picture something out of a sci-fi movie. Cities that float. Forests in skyscrapers. Buildings that don’t seem bound by physics (let alone local planning regulations). Yet, these “unbuildable” ideas have always propelled architecture forward. Many of the most iconic projects in architectural history were never realized. Nevertheless, their influence reshaped the discipline. The utopian blueprints of Modernist pioneers, like Le Corbusier or Archigram, once seemed intangible too. But those visions played a major role in shifting how we think about cities, mobility and design itself. Today’s visions for the future are no different. We still see wildly ambitious ideas that seem detached from reality. But arguably, the need for radical thinking is more urgent than ever. For these reasons and more, Architizer is thrilled to be relaunching the Vision Awards, a global program honoring the world’s best architectural ideas, concepts and imagery. Pre-Register for the Vision Awards As the world grapples with one environmental crisis after the next, rapid urbanization and emerging technologies, visionary design remains a critical tool — not despite its impracticality, but because of it. Yet, when your day-to-day as an architect involves planning standards, fast-approaching deadlines and tight budgets, it’s easy to question the value of ideas that may never get built. After all, why chase the impossible? The short answer: Because that’s how progress starts. And the long one? Well, this essay dives into that… From Utopias to Urban Plans: Visionary Design in the 20th Century As mentioned above, many of the boldest architectural ideas of the last century were never fully built. However, their influence is still visible in the way cities have been planned, imagined and debated ever since. View this post on Instagram A post shared by arch uncovered (@archuncovered) Arturdiasr, Planalto Central (cropped), CC BY-SA 4.0 Le Corbusier’s Ville Radieuse (Radiant City) was one of the most ambitious modernist proposals. Though the full concept was never realized, its emphasis on vertical housing, functional zoning and open green space shaped postwar planning around the world. Projects like Brasília borrowed heavily from its logic. And while many of these interpretations were criticized for being sterile or inhumane, they also sparked serious conversations about density, light, infrastructure and how cities might function more efficiently at scale. Archigram, working in 1960s London, pushed things further. Their Plug-In City imagined buildings as components that could be added, removed or replaced, treating architecture as infrastructure. It was wild, idealistic and totally unbuildable at the time. But the ideas stuck. Modular systems, prefabrication and temporary structures gained momentum and today, those principles show up in everything from emergency housing to tech campuses designed for flexibility. Jordy Meow, Nakagin, CC BY-SA 3.0 The Metabolists, in Japan, took a similarly future-focused approach. Their designs looked extreme (organic, megastructural, endlessly expandable) but they helped shift architecture toward systems thinking. The most famous built example, Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, sparked ongoing debates about modularity, obsolescence and sustainability. More broadly, the movement introduced a new way of thinking about cities—not as static compositions, but as evolving organisms, capable of growth, renewal and change. And while many of these visions seemed (and were) too radical to realize, they served their purpose. They stretched the discipline’s boundaries, challenged its assumptions and expanded the space between dreams and possibilities. The Digital Visionaries of the New Millennia Heydar Aliyev Center by Zaha Hadid Architects, Baku, Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev Center by Zaha Hadid Architects, Baku, Azerbaijan By the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new kind of architectural experimentation took hold. This time, however, it moved beyond sketchbooks and manifestos, made possible by emerging software. Digital modeling and parametric design tools introduced a different kind of freedom, one where form no longer had to follow the rules of gravity, repetition, tradition and well, function. Zaha Hadid Architects were early pioneers in this space. Projects like the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku or the Bee’ah Headquarters in Sharjah showed how fluid, algorithm-driven forms could become buildable realities. Their architecture often looked like it had been poured rather than constructed, which at the time was sa sharp departure from conventional geometry. Around the same time, firms like BIG and MAD Architects began exploring equally ambitious ideas, often combining speculative visuals with cultural narratives or sustainability claims. This era also gave rise to hyper-speculative mega-projects like NEOM’s The Line, which proposes an entire city compressed into a single vertical strip in the Saudi desert (extremely controversial, to say the least, but undeniably bold). Some of these projects were not, well…practical (and that’s putting it kindly). Many were critiqued for prioritizing form over function, driven more by spectacle than substance. But in hindsight, that might not be the point. These projects showed us that what once felt unbuildable (all of those fluid, gravity-defying, digitally generated forms) could leave the sketchbook and become reality. Some starchitects may have pushed boundaries for the wrong reasons, but the results still expanded the profession’s sense of what was materially and technologically possible. They tested the limits of fabrication, pushed software development and encouraged collaboration across disciplines. And in doing so, they reminded the industry that it can still take risks, surprise people and imagine at scale. In their own way, these digital visions carried forward the same legacy as their Modernist predecessors: using imagination as a tool to provoke, challenge and, sometimes, to inspire meaningful change. Today’s Dreamscapes: Designing in the Face of Uncertainty If the radical ideas of the past pushed the limits of what architecture could do for the world, today’s most ambitious ideas are responding to something deeper — what the world needs architecture to do. Instead of pushing boundaries through new materials or technology, what we can now call visionary design is actually a response to the global issues we are facing right now: uncertainty, volatility and the growing sense that our systems aren’t built to last. Natura Verita by David Scott Martin, Special Mention, 2023 Architizer Vision Awards Sandstorm Absorbent Skyscraper by Kalbod Design Studio, Dubai, United Arab Emirates It’s clear that we’re no longer just speculating for the sake of form. We’re speculating because business-as-usual no longer holds. Architects are now imagining responses to mass displacement, rising sea levels, ecological collapse and resource scarcity; not because these challenges are coming, but because they’re already here. And the scale of these issues makes incremental design feel insufficient. This is where visionary design matters most. Not as a theoretical pursuit that offers unattainable solutions, but as a tool that creates a much-needed space to ask the right questions. Could housing be fully self-sustaining? Could infrastructure evolve in real time? Could entire cities be rethought from scratch, not to impress but, at this point, to survive? ROMA by Mahdi Eghbali, The Moon Whether wildly optimistic or dystopian, the possible answers to these questions reflect the emotional reality of our time: the desire to reimagine is more important than ever, because continuing as we are is no longer an option. What unites these visions isn’t style or software, but an urgency to imagine a livable future, even if we don’t yet know how to build it. To Dream or Not to Dream? The Floating City by Jingwei Li, Special Mention, 2023 Architizer Vision Awards Visionary design doesn’t have to predict the future. It just needs to hold space for it. Amidst all the urgency and uncertainty, the act of designing optimistically, boldly and unapologetically becomes its own kind of resistance. We may never see cities in the clouds (at least not in our lifetime), but imagining them helps us build better cities on the ground. And maybe that’s the point. Even if most ideas stay unbuilt, some won’t. And sometimes, all it takes is one bold vision to shift the conversation, change what we believe is possible and move the discipline forward juuuust a little bit. Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Preregistration is now open — click here to receive program updates. Learn More About Architizer’s Vision Awards The post In Defense of “Unbuildable” Architecture: Why We Still Need Big, Visionary Ideas appeared first on Journal.

Developer Gaming Factory has released a new trailer for its upcoming driving game JDM: Japanese Drift Master. The trailer focuses on showcasing some of the customisation that players will have not only to the physical appearance of the car, but also its under-the-hood performance aspects. Check out the trailer below. The trailer specifically focuses on how a player can go about tuning their cars to offer the perfect blend of control and chaos that ends up providing a satisfying drift. While upgrading the car’s internal, the narrator notes that, when the highest-tier version of a part has been installed, players will also often get access to further tuning options. This is then shown off by not only showing off how the car’s height can be changed thanks to advanced suspension parts, but also how advanced axles can allow players to have more control over the angles of their wheel’s alignment. Referred to as camber, the narrator notes that, in this instance, they are going for a negative camber in a Nissan 350Z’s front wheels, while the rear wheels will be more centred. While the negative camber allows the car to turn more easily in the midst of a drift, the centred camber of the rear wheels allows for even greater control because the entirety of the tire is gripping the road. When it comes to visual customisation, JDM: Japanese Drift Master seems to have plenty of options available, from the hood, to wheels, to even the side mirrors. Players will also have plenty of choices to make when it comes to spoilers, be they more subtle or oversized monstrosities. JDM: Japanese Drift Master also allows players to customise the internals of their cars. This includes the steering wheel, the gear shifter, and even the seats. As the narrator notes, “internal parts are equally important in building the car’s vibe.” JDM: Japanese Drift Master is under development for PC, and will be available through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. The title was originally slated for release on March 26, but has since been delayed to May 21. The studio revealed that the decision to delay the game was made due to it wanting more time to polish up the gameplay and having taken feedback from its fans into account. The driving game takes place in the fictional Japanese prefecture of Guntama. It will offer players a wide-open world with more than 250 km of roads to race and drift through. The world will also feature plenty of landmarks that players can drive to, including the Daikoku parking area and Himeji Castle. When it comes to cars, JDM: Japanese Drift Master will feature plenty of licensed ones from companies like Mazda, Subaru, and Nissan. More cars are also going to be added to the game after its release. The gameplay in JDM: Japanese Drift Master has been described by Gaming Factory as being a simcade racer. This means that the title will offer a mix of arcade-styled fast-paced driving as well as some more realistic aspects in order to make the game’s drifting mechanics feel more satisfying.

Episodes in Public Architecture by Andrew Frontini (ORO Editions, 2025) Episodes in Public Architecture By Andrew Frontini (ORO Editions, 2025) Architect Andrew Frontini’s recent book is a hybrid between monograph and memoir. The book presents 11 projects completed over the course of Frontini’s career at the Toronto branch of Perkins&Will. Interspersed among glossy colour photos of each project are pamphlet-like inserts with Frontini’s candid musings about the process of the project’s making and lessons learned. The case studies trace Frontini’s career back to being an upstart at Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners, the firm that would later become Perkins&Will’s Toronto office. In an “act of total insubordination,” he and colleague Marc Downing “hijacked the design concept” for the Whitby Library and Civic Square competition, developing a modernist composition framing a town square instead of the centrally placed basilica-and-rotunda scheme they had been instructed to execute—and winning the job. As his career evolved, Frontini reflects on how evolved from being the singular “hand” behind a design to a team leader, the “watcher of hands.” This is especially evident in Dawes Road Library, a project now entering construction, designed in collaboration with Eladia Smoke of Smoke Architecture. Deeply informed by dozens of conversations and hundreds of individuals, the building will be draped in a curved cladding evocative of an Indigenous star blanket—which, as Frontini explains, is a traditional “gift made and bestowed by the community for valuable work that benefits the community.” Episodes in Public Architecture by Andrew Frontini (ORO Editions, 2025) Nuggets of wisdom and insight pepper the other stories in this book. The high-pressure, high-stakes work that went into the design-build for the University of Toronto Mississauga Instructional Centre—a mere 22 months from project award to completion—is a thrilling tale. I recalled observing from the sidelines, in 2013, a dust-up between Phyllis Lambert and Perkins&Will over the firm’s redesign of Arthur Erickson’s Bank of Canada headquarters; here, the full story is recounted from Frontini’s perspective. Episodes in Public Architecture by Andrew Frontini (ORO Editions, 2025) In several of the projects presented, Frontini’s propensity for storytelling wins the day. A bit of narrative stagecraft—curating Perkins&Will’s Dupont Street studio as a gallery showcasing key elements of its approach—helped gain the firm the initial commission for Toronto Metropolitan University’s Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex. A wooden model based on a Japanese puzzle-box gives the head librarian at the University of Toronto Mississauga a proposal that she can sell to other stakeholders. Frontini’s narrative skills shine in this book, too: his texts bring his projects to life, taking readers along on the sometimes-fraught adventures that resulted in the successful creation of these dozen buildings. The post Book Review: Episodes in Public Architecture appeared first on Canadian Architect.