Winner for scheme that will be located at Dagenham Dock to be appointed this summerThe City of London is looking for an architect to design a tactical firearms training facility for its police force. The council wants to appoint a lead architect to fully design the project up to RIBA stage three on a £450,000 contract. The City of London Police is responsible for policing in the Square Mile and is a separate force to the much larger Metropolitan Police, which covers the rest of the capital. Source: ShutterstockThe City of London force is responsible for policing the Square Mile Derived from the City’s ancient administrative independence from the rest of London, it is the smallest police force in England and Wales, both in terms of the geographical area it covers and its number of officers, which amount to less than 1,000. The training facility is likely to be built on a site owned by the City of London Corporation which has been lined up for the scheme following a feasibility study. The City said it expects the scheme to be built using a combination of traditional and modular design. All individuals working on the project must be vetted and given appropriate security clearance, and must have designed at least one firing range project within the last 10 years. Architects have until 9 May to submit tenders for the contract, which is expected to last just over nine months. An award will be announced on 19 June.

Site has been given £40m makeover with project team including Gardiner & Thoebald The space is home to a large collection of steam engines Images of what Carmody Groarke’s revamped Science and Industry Museum in Manchester will look like have been released ahead of its reopening this summer. The site has been given a £40m makeover over the past five years with the grade II-listed Power Hall due to open in time for the school holidays. It has been closed since 2019 with other work seeing a grade I-listed house at the museum restored and turned into a holiday property. The Power Hall is the centrepiece of the museum and houses a collection of steam engines that were built in the Greater Manchester area with work on the building including roof and timber repairs, installing new windows and doors as well as carrying out wider building conservation. The revamped Power Hall will open this summer after closing in 2019 Carmody Groarke has drawn up work at the Power Hall while others working on the overhaul include main contractor HH Smiths and project manager Gardiner & Theobald. The project team also includes heritage consultant Donald Insall Associates, QS Appleyard & Trew, structural engineer Conisbee, M&E engineers Max Fordham and Advisian and exhibition designer Studio Mutt. As well as the reopened Power Hall, the museum is has begun the search for an architect for a new Wonderlab gallery – an interactive space for children – ahead of a proposed opening in 2027.

Last week an independent commission on professional practical experience (PPE) in architecture published the results of a year-long investigation, setting out a ‘roadmap for reform’ to transform how future architects get quality work experience. Chris Husbands, chair of the PPE commission (see full comment at bottom), said the current system placed ‘too much burden on individuals’ during their journey to becoming architects and that change was ‘both necessary and possible’. He told the AJ: ‘While there is evidence of very good practice, the fact is that current arrangements for practical experience are inefficient, inconsistent and, too often, ineffective.’Advertisement Among its headline recommendations, the report calls for the ARB to remove constraints to flexibility and innovation during the education of architects, for example by scrapping the need for all of the Academic Outcomes to be achieved before the Practice Outcomes in its new education system. The commission also demands thats schools of architecture – and any other educator under the broader ‘learning providers’ banner – should take a co-ordinating role in ‘facilitating trainees’ acquisition of all the Competency Outcomes’. It also wants ‘significant improvements in workplace culture’ in how competence is gained. The ARB set up the practical experience investigation following the findings of a consultation launched by the regulator into its once-in-a-generational reform of the existing architectural education regime and the scrapping of Parts 1 to 3. The  regulator had said it wanted to drop the minimum two years of professional practical experience needed to qualify as an architect, reducing the time taken to qualify as part of its drive to modernise and open up the current system. However, a majority of the 672 consultation respondents (60 per cent) had disagreed with the plans to remove the minimum duration of professional practical, mainly due to fears that the move could reduce standards.Advertisement As a result, the ARB committed to revisiting its proposals with the support of an independent commission. After carrying out ‘extensive engagement with a variety of stakeholders’, Husband’s team concluded: ‘The [current] two-year minimum [experience requirement] does not specify the range or nature of practice to be acquired, nor does it guarantee the quality of the experience gained. ‘It is also possible that the two-year requirement gives an overly optimistic expectation to trainees about their route to registration. The challenge facing trainees is often not in the regulatory two-year minimum requirement for practice, but in how practical experience is planned, managed and acquired.’ Husband added: ‘Our recommendations will involve change for almost everyone, but they will make a difference to the future of a vital profession. They will strengthen architecture, make training more effective and coherent, and make for a more diverse and inclusive profession.’ Too much responsibility and risk lies with trainees on their route to registration Responding to the report, ARB chair Alan Kershaw said: ‘The commission’s evidence is extensive in demonstrating that too much responsibility and risk lies with trainees on their route to registration, that this is not fair nor efficient, and that it must change. ‘Its report provides a compelling vision for how to improve the experience of those trainees and the opportunities to create that change. Such a transformation will be fundamental to how future architects achieve the competencies they need to deliver high-quality architecture.’ Other recommendations for the regulator to act on include: the ARB should describe anyone in the process of completing their initial education and training as ‘trainee architects’; the board should set minimum standards for a new streamlined and standardised Record of Competency (ROC), which must be used by schools of architecture; the ARB should require all architects to undertake CPD on mentoring; the ARB should work with others, including professional bodies, to ‘help consolidate and deepen links’ between schools of architecture and employers. Jack Pringle, chair of the RIBA board of trustees, said he was ‘encouraged by some of the findings’ from the commission’s report, but hoped it would prompt speedier action from the ARB on delivering educational reform. He said: ‘[To] ensure a brilliant and diverse pipeline of talent into the profession we need fresh thinking and new approaches, starting with modes of study, which should be more flexible and, in some cases, shorter. ‘We are particularly keen to see the development of a five-year admission to registration route emerging as a viable educational model, and will work with schools and the ARB to support this development. ‘However, education reform, particularly around practical experience, has been far, far too slow in coming and I hope that the ARB Board will now act quickly in response to the commission’s recommendations. In particular, recommendations that improve accessibility to the profession by removing unnecessary barriers to entry and requiring PPE to be outcome, rather than time-based, should be strongly encouraged.’ Pringle added: ‘Some of the recommendations have significant implications for learning providers, so we are ready to engage with ARB, students and practices to help ensure that all routes into learning and professional practice work for all.’ ‘Gaining practical experience is inefficient, inconsistent and too often ineffective – our recommendations will change that’ Chris Husbands, chair of the commission on Professional Practical Experience Chris Husbands Our recommendations will overhaul how new architects are educated and trained, giving them much stronger entitlements to training that develops their competence and professionalism. Our independent commission was established in February 2024 in response to concerns about the ability of trainees to access, thrive during, and succeed through their practical experience. Today our report, with our recommendations in full, has been published after it was presented to ARB. Over the past year we have listened to new architects, to learning providers and to architectural practices. We have reviewed responses to a public call for evidence and drawn on the findings from an ARB-commissioned study of workplace behaviours and culture. We have considered the coherence of academic and practical training, working conditions and support for learning in the workplace, trainees’ experience of learning, barriers to progression and potential regulatory changes. While there is evidence of very good practice, the fact is that current arrangements for practical experience are inefficient, inconsistent, and too often, ineffective. There is inconsistency in trainees’ experience. Excellent practice is not the norm. We suspect that these findings will not be a surprise, and we set out a case for change that is moral, economic, professional and social. The most important conclusion of the commission is that the problems future architects face in accessing high-quality professional practical experience are deep-seated and embedded in over 60 years of established habits. If change is to happen, then it will require cultural and behavioural change across the entire profession. The regulator, learning providers and architects’ practices all need to give much higher priority to the learning and development of new architects. As they do so, the rewards will be extensive. Our recommendations will build stronger relationships between learning providers and practices. And, perhaps most importantly, they will contribute to shaping a more confident and diverse profession, which is more representative of the society it serves. To this end, we recommend three interlocking changes requiring actions from ARB as the regulator, learning providers and practices. That word ‘interlocking’ is important: because current practices are so deeply embedded, a coherent approach is needed across the sector. The first major recommendation is that ARB must remove constraints to innovation; that means, for example, removing the requirement that all of its Academic Outcomes should be achieved before its Practice Outcomes, focusing attention on the competencies new architects need to demonstrate rather than specifying arbitrary time minima for practical experience and, as a result, allowing practical experience acquired as part of a qualification to provide evidence toward the acquisition of the Practice Outcomes. The second major recommendation is that learning providers should take a coordinating role in facilitating trainees’ acquisition of all the Competency Outcomes, either through fully integrated programmes or by much clearer signposting of routes towards successful acquisition of the Outcomes in future. This role should be underpinned by a new streamlined Record of Competency which must be used by all learning providers, helping trainees track and reflect on their progress. Our third major recommendation is that significant improvements in workplace culture need to be secured to strengthen how competence is developed. We know what good practical experience looks like. It involves paid employed work, with effective management and supervision, underpinned by the right support for individuals so that their work experience complements their academic journey to registration as an architect – and all in an environment where they’re treated fairly. We understand the profound financial challenges many practices face, but we want mentoring skills to become integral to the skill-set of all architects. Each of these overarching recommendations is worked through in detail in our report, and the recommendations reinforce each other to drive real change across the profession. As a Commission we found some exceptional practice, but we also met trainees deeply frustrated by their experiences of training. We saw enough outstanding practice to know what is achievable. Our recommendations will involve change for almost everyone, but they will make a difference to the future of a vital profession. They will strengthen architecture, make training more effective and coherent, and make for a more diverse and inclusive profession. Husbands is an expert in education policy and improvement, particularly in policy in relation to teachers and teaching in school. His achievements include chairing the independent Skills Taskforce on UK vocational education and training policy between 2012 and 2014 and being knighted for services to higher education in the 2018 Birthday Honours. He is also chair of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF), served as board chair of the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Doncaster Opportunity Area Partnership Board until October 2022. 

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OpinionApril 22, 20255 min readWhy Narcissists Emerge as Leaders Even in ChildhoodMany children choose to follow peers with more narcissistic tendencies—and self-esteem may be part of the complex power dynamics involvedBy Eddie Brummelman Bo Feng/Getty ImagesNarcissistic leaders both fascinate and repel us. They can be charming, act assertively and articulate visions that may inspire confidence, especially in times of uncertainty. This can attract many followers. In 1931 Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, echoed this belief: “[Narcissists] impress others as being ‘personalities’; they are especially suited to act as a support for others, to take on the role of leaders and to give a fresh stimulus to cultural development or to damage the established state of affairs.”But narcissists famously have a dark side as well that includes unethical, autocratic and aggressive behavior. They often stifle collaboration and dismiss expert advice. Given those trade-offs, why do narcissists often end up in positions of leadership, and who is drawn to them? My colleague Barbara Nevicka, an organizational psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, and I set up the Childhood Leadership Study to investigate this question in childhood, when narcissistic leadership first emerges. We conducted fine-grained assessments of leadership behavior in 332 children aged seven to 14—and found patterns both in the preference for these leaders and in the relationships that leaders and followers form.Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by feelings of grandiosity, a sense of entitlement, and a craving for respect and admiration. It’s part of what psychologists call the “dark triad” of personality traits—along with psychopathy and Machiavellianism, or cold, strategic manipulation for personal gain. In adulthood, narcissism may develop into a narcissistic personality disorder. About 6 percent of people in the U.S. meet the criteria for this disorder at some point in their lives, though they may not receive a formal diagnosis. Our research focuses on children with above-average narcissism levels because narcissistic personality disorder is usually not formally diagnosed before adulthood.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The personality trait of narcissism develops in childhood and can be measured from middle childhood, around age seven. Although some degree of narcissism is typical in children this age, markedly higher levels compared with peers may signal a narcissistic personality. Middle childhood is also when leadership tendencies take shape and become increasingly evident. From age nine, children spend about 75 percent of their free time at school in groups of three or more peers, allowing them to form leader-follower relationships. Leadership on the playground, then, provides a blueprint for leadership in politics and beyond.Our study shows that narcissistic children often emerge as leaders in their classrooms. When we asked children to nominate classmates who they perceived to be leaders, kids in 96 percent of the classrooms tended to pick children with more narcissistic tendencies. It seems that narcissistic children embody the qualities their peers associate with leadership.But are narcissistic children better leaders? We assigned children to three-person groups and randomly designated one child as the leader to find out. The groups did a collaborative task, with the leader responsible for the decision-making process. Unsurprisingly, more narcissistic children perceived themselves as better leaders. Yet compared with their less narcissistic peers, they did not lead their group to perform better, exhibit stronger leadership (such as by delegating tasks) or receive higher ratings from their group members.This finding ties in with research among adults. A meta-analysis by Emily Grijalva, an organizational psychologist at the University at Buffalo, shows that narcissistic adults tend to emerge as leaders but don’t excel in those roles.We suspected that narcissistic traits in leaders are more attractive to some people than others. So we zoomed in on children with low self-esteem—those who feel unsatisfied with themselves and are often shy and withdrawn. We found that when followers with low self-esteem had a narcissistic leader, they perceived the leader as more effective and were more likely to endorse them for future leadership roles than did their peers with higher self-esteem. What’s more, they felt more included in the group, perceived greater group cohesion, felt better about themselves and were more inclusive toward others when they had a narcissistic leader.Why might children (or for that matter, adults) with low self-esteem be drawn to narcissistic leaders? Narcissistic leaders may offer them a sense of worth, security and community—the very feelings people with low self-esteem tend to lack. Michael Hogg, a social psychologist at Claremont Graduate University, has suggested that when people feel uncertain about themselves or the world, they may identify with groups led by a narcissist, who makes grandiose claims, lacks empathy and shares fantasies of unlimited success.In our study, narcissistic children also felt more comfortable leading peers with low self-esteem. They bullied them less and were more inclusive toward them. We believe this is because followers with low self-esteem don’t threaten the narcissistic leader’s position. Rather, they follow the leader—allowing the child in charge to shine and feel secure in their superiority.This tendency reveals a striking symbiosis—that is, a close association of two organisms that benefits both—between narcissistic leaders and followers with low self-esteem. Yet this mutual advantage might be short-lived. Over time, this dynamic may develop into a toxic cycle of dependency. Followers may reinforce narcissistic leaders’ growing dominance, while leaders may reinforce the followers’ growing submissiveness.In a 2018 study by Nevicka and colleagues of leader-follower dyads among adults working in different organizations and across different industries, followers with low self-esteem perceived narcissistic leaders as abusive, which led them to underperform and feel burned out. Thus, even though being led by a narcissistic leader might feel reassuring initially, it can ultimately make those with low self-esteem more vulnerable to harm.Unfortunately, it’s hard to avoid narcissistic leaders. In a society that values individualism, they quickly rise through the ranks. At first glance, their traits are often mistaken for healthy self-esteem, drawing people in before revealing their true nature. It’s also hard to change narcissistic leaders. They may believe that their traits serve them well, even when these very traits limit their potential as leaders.But society can cultivate leadership skills in children, the leaders of tomorrow. We hope that our research inspires educators and other professionals to take leadership development seriously. Kids can learn to lead democratically, feel responsible for the common good, and organize and inspire others toward making meaningful societal change. By helping children become more effective leaders, we can ensure that our world benefits from a new generation of change-makers.Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about for Mind Matters? Please send suggestions to Scientific American’s Mind Matters editor Daisy Yuhas dyuhas@sciam.com.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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"Most" Days Gone Remastered accessibility features coming to PC Freaker in the sheets. Image credit: Bend News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on April 22, 2025 Bend Studio has announced "most" of the new accessibility features arriving with Days Gone Remastered are coming to PC as well. Days Gone Remastered is set to release on PS5 and PC later this week, on 25th April. Along with souped-up visuals, there are fresh Permadeath and Speedrun modes all waiting for players to enjoy on the game's release. Additionally, the team has included some new accessibility features for the remastered version of Days Gone. The Death of Console Exclusives Is Inevitable and I Don't Know How I Feel About It. Watch on YouTube "One of the biggest accessibility expansions coming to Days Gone Remastered is a fully customisable High Contrast Mode," wrote Bend Studio's Kevin McAllister, with the developer stating this "pairs with our High Contrast HUD that was implemented in the original game to assist with easier navigation and visibility". Players will be able to make the most of this feature from the off, with subtitles, High Contrast Mode and more options available via Days Gone Remastered's initial setup screen, which is another new addition. Speaking of subtitles, the development team has added 11 colours for users to choose from. These can be mixed and matched for things like the speaker's name and the subtitle text. Subtitle backgrounds can also be changed, with Bend adding more options for users than before. "Now, you can select between default (transparent), darkened, light, and black," McAllister explained. On the audio side of things, Bend has added UI Narration and Collectible Audio Cues for Days Gone Remastered. Image credit: Bend "At Bend Studio, we strive to create experiences that leave a lasting impact on our players," McAllister closed. "The pursuit of allowing players of all abilities to share our joy of play together inspires our work every day. We hope you enjoy the definitive version of our open world epic, and we can't wait to see you hop on the Drifter bike and experience all Days Gone Remastered has to offer." Those on PC who want to make the most of these new features will need to update their game to a version higher than Build ID 10034136 via Patch 1.08. The developer added that UI Narration is not supported for Broken Road DLC on PC. Meanwhile, users will need to make sure they have a compatible controller for things such as haptic feedback and customised controls. You can find further information on the PlayStation Blog. Image credit: Bend Not played Days Gone for yourself yet? Our review from 2019 complimented its "frequently gorgeous" open world, however noted the game could often be "generic" and one that "runs out of steam well before its extended play-time is over". "I wasn't expecting Days Gone to add anything new to the genre, but both in terms of its systems and its story it's uninspired, which is driven home by the fact that it's endlessly, needlessly long," Malindy Hetfeld wrote in Eurogamer's original Days Gone review. "I'm begging you, haven't we done this enough?"

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Since its launch, Marvel Rivals has grown with over 40 million players with its vibrant Marvel Universe setting and dynamic 6v6 gameplay. A standout feature drawing widespread praise is its user interface (UI), which blends comic-book style with modern functionality. Players have lauded the UI’s sleek hero selection screen, where animated character portraits burst to life, and the intuitive menus that make navigating the game’s 38-character roster a breeze. However, early UI concepts have emerged through a new behind-the-scenes video series by NetEase called “Art Vision,” which tries to deconstruct the game’s visual design, and its first episode provided a surprising glimpse at a user interface direction that the developers eventually abandoned. While the final game features refined interfaces, this look back exposes a more experimental period centered on a highly stylized, circular approach to hero selection, which was one of the raddest screens to ever exist. Marvel Rivals devs reveal early UI concepts which were scrapped for something more “simple and clear” Marvel Rivals dropped a surprise Art Vision episode that features teases to roles of upcoming heroes like Ultron and an early look at Colossus coming soon to the game. However, the highlight was a prototype hero selection screen designed with a circular, wheel-based arrangement that may have been the raddest one to ever feature in a shooter game. Original Wheel UI Concept with Hulk. Image by VideoGamer. Character description screens looked more like a comic book page. Image by VideoGamer. Original Wheel UI Concept with Doctor Strange. Image by VideoGamer. One of the concepts was even similar to Overwatch. Image by VideoGamer. Previous Next 1 of 4 Previous Next Early UI designs featured gritty, oil-pastel hero portraits, reminiscent of Disco Elysium’s noir style, showcasing characters like Doctor Strange and Storm in a darker, more stylized tone. A radial hero selection wheel was also explored, emphasizing bold 2D art but proving cumbersome for quick navigation. Devs said that these concepts prioritized artistic immersion but were scrapped for a grid-based system to enhance accessibility and speed, better suiting the fast-paced 6v6 hero shooter. While this design has tremendous visual panache, it instantly raises concerns regarding practical applicability, notably the possible inefficiencies of rotating through a vast character roster while under pressure. Navigating this wheel interface, while visually beautiful, could have proven burdensome during critical gameplay moments. Dino, the game’s Art Director, contextualized this experimental phase within the team’s larger UI goals. The goal, he explained, was to combine “modern and adaptable” characteristics with “simple and clear” utility, all while expressing “comic, structural, and geometric sensibilities.” However, the circular theme was not entirely removed. A curving “arc” selector, used during the critical pre-match hero selection phase, is still present. Dino described this element as adding to the “artistic immersive experience.” It’s quite refreshing to see how far Marvel Rivals has come from its early stages, growing its roster each day with its current Season 2 already making waves across the gaming community. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Related Topics Marvel Rivals Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Fortnite Kicks have been out for half a year and have become quite popular. Although controversial at first, in-game shoes are now a big part of the Item Shop. Interestingly, Epic Games just granted a pair of free kicks to some players, and you may have also received them. To check, simply launch Fortnite and take a look in your locker. If you can’t get in the game, our article will help you figure out if you’re eligible for free Kicks or not. Fortnite sent free Kicks to players On Monday night, just after announcing the v34.40 update, Fortnite began distributing free Kicks to players. Specifically, those who owned the Rap Boy Reloaded skin received a pair of Air Jordan 3 SE “Unite” shoes. These shoes were given out because Eminem’s Remix skin already comes with them, and now players who received the shoes can use them on other skins too. Eminem’s Rap Boy Reloaded skin was released during the Remix season and was last available on February 5. When it comes back, it will likely include Kicks, which are a decent bonus item. Many Fortnite players received free Kicks. Image by VideoGamer Earlier this year, Fortnite leakers revealed a new feature that was in development. This feature would turn built-in shoes into separate cosmetic items. In other words, players would receive a pair of Kicks with a purchase of eligible skins. For example, by purchasing the Rap Boy Reloaded skin, players would receive Air Jordan 3 SE “Unite” Kicks, while a purchase of Renegade Raider would grant boots. At the moment, there is no revealed release date for this feature. However, with Fortnite Chapter 6 – Season 3 coming on May 2, the release might be around the corner. The leaked feature has the potential to boost Kicks’ popularity and drive skin sales. Because of this, we’re eager for it to be released soon. Fortnite Platform(s): Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X Genre(s): Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter 9 VideoGamer Related Topics Fortnite Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share