During a keynote at last weeks Forrester Security & Risk Summit in Baltimore, the research firm presented energy management and industrial automation company Schneider Electric with the Security & Risk Enterprise Leadership Award. Stephanie Balaouras, vice president and group director at Forrester, led a discussion with Mansur Abilkasimov, Schneider Electrics deputy CISO & chief product security officer, and bestowed this years honor.Balaouras noted that the judges, a group of Forrester analysts, voted unanimously to choose Schneider Electric. Barclays was the first recipient of the award in 2023. Schneider Electrics ability to integrate security, privacy, and risk management across the enterprise stood out as a factor in being chosen, according to Balaouras.We wanted to recognize organizations that have figured out how to take these functions, embed them across the enterprise, and actually use them as a driver of business, use them to drive business success and drive results, and improve the organization's reputation for trust with customers, employees, and partners, Balaouras told the audience.A Holistic Approach to Security and TrustSchneider Electric is a company that develops everything from DC chargers to safety instrumented systems. It maintains a holistic approach to energy and management in which security, privacy, and risk do not exist in silos.Related:Carrying out an integrated strategy is a challenge for a company like Schneider Electric given its wide footprint in infrastructure, distribution centers, and factories filled with industrial machines. Abilkasimov told the audience that nobody can achieve 100% visibility, but gaining this visibility as part of risk management is a key challenge for the organization.In his keynote, Abilkasimov stressed that product security is not an afterthought and is integrated in the holistic vision of a products life cycle. In a security by design or security by operations strategy, the manufacturing teams are responsible for security by design as well as security by operation, he said.The company received the award because of its implementation of a Trust Charter that incorporates ethics, safety, cybersecurity, and governance as well as a Trust Center, which addresses the requests of customers and stakeholders in security and data protection.Trust Charter is a document that embodies all our principles and tenants for code of conduct, from AI to cybersecurity, from ethics and compliance to price, from safety to quality, Abilkasimov explained in the keynote.Related:Abilkasimov and his team also organize a Trust Month in which they lead discussions around cybersecurity with employees and partners around trust.Cyber is one of the pillars of this trust, he said.Trust is important for both cybersecurity and talent retention. Forrester recognized Schneider Electric for its ability to find talent for cybersecurity roles in operational technology (OT). according to Balaouras.Companies that are trusted, they earn and retain customers, Balaouras told the audience. They earn and retain the best talent. And what weve also found is customers are actually more willing to share sensitive data with trusted companies and even embrace emerging tech, where in other situations, they would have skepticism or fear of engaging with that emerging tech.Schneider Electric Tackles Third-Party RiskIn his keynote remarks, Abilkasimov described Schneider Electrics approach to managing risk from the companys 52,000 suppliers, which includes suppliers for Internet of Things components and regular IT as well as service providers. He explained that companies must prioritize which suppliers to work with on a security assessment.Its impossible to cover all of the suppliers with a cybersecurity or third-party security program, so sometimes you need to choose your battle, Abilkasimov told InformationWeek after the session.Related:Schneider Electric has added 5,000 suppliers to its third-party cybersecurity program. It started with the 300 most critical IT suppliers, and the company will grow the program further, according to Abilkasimov.We work with those companies on cyber, crisis simulations, partnerships, C-level connections, and continuous monitoring through threat intelligence or cybersecurity scoring platforms, Abilkasimov said in our interview. He added, Be it an IoT supplier or simple product security component supplier, they all go through this process.In Forresters Security Survey 2024, 28% of breaches stemmed from a software supply chain attack. Also, in another Forrester report, What 2023s Most Notable Breaches Mean for Tech Execs, third-party vulnerabilities were the top cause of breaches in 2023 and comprised 23% of all breaches.How Forrester Chooses Its Security Leadership Award WinnersForrester had opened nominations for the award on May 1. Balaouras said the evaluation process is similar to a security maturity assessment. Companies must show metrics or KPIs that prove ROI, and they should exhibit how they approach security by design and privacy by design.We talk about their overall approach to embedding security, privacy and risk management across the enterprise not as discrete functions, but how they embed it across the enterprise, Balaouras told InformationWeek after the session.Balaouras stressed that Forrester doesnt handpick the winners. We put out the award and put out the criteria, and we invite companies and organizations from the public sector to look at them and nominate themselves, she said. Barclays received the award in 2023 for maintaining trust and transparency in its universal banking operations and for its human risk behavior metrics that revamped the companys security culture. A key factor in Schneider Electrics success in managing security and risk is making trust concrete, according to Balaouras.When I compare Barclays to Schneider Electric, I think one thing they had in common was executive-level commitment to security, privacy, and risk management as critical features of building trust, Balaouras said. Both organizations from top to bottom really had buy-in.She continued, When I look at Schneider, they put trust front and center, and they had operationalized it. What was truly unique at Barclays last year was they had really extensive security awareness and training for a large financial institution. They had really mapped out all the complex matrices, all the different stakeholders who work together.Balaouras also noted Schneider Electrics Cyber Risk Register and how the company integrates it in the organization to make people accountable. The cybersecurity team manages the register to track potential threats, such as those that may come from third parties.When it comes to the cybersecurity side, it always comes back to the risk register, Abilkasimov said.

The end of the year usually means its time to celebrate all the good things this past year has given us. Awards season and the Oscar race are already ramping up, which means those of us who havent managed to see absolutely everything of quality have a lot of catching up to do before 2024 officially closes. But it also means, for all the haters out there, that its also time to celebrate the best of the worst, and theres no streaming service more fun to do that with than Netflix, of course.Because Netflix releases so much content every year, theres bound to be some bad mixed in with the good. And there are plenty of good Netflix features from 2024, dont get us wrong, but sometimes all we want to do is remember the dumb stuff. And theres been some truly dumb stuff.The year kicked off with a supremely boring effort from Kevin Hart to maximize on the current secret agent/heist movie craze, and didnt get any better from there. From a forgettable high fantasy action movie starring Millie Bobby Brown and a CGI dragon to a passionless relationship drama that wanted to feel much more salacious than it was to a hilariously bad horror movie based on a true story of demonic possession to a movie that posited that Jennifer Lopez could befriend an artificially intelligent robot, Netflix truly had something for everyone this year, though it wasnt always something everyoneor anyonewould like.Come with us down this blessedly short memory lane while we describe to you everything terrible we watched in 2024, so you dont have to.The Worst Netflix Movies of 2024Netflix released a lot of movies this year. Some were great! These were not. Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: TheWorst Blockbusters of 2024Get our free mobile appThe Worst Blockbusters of 2024Bigger is not always better at the movies, as these bad 2024 blockbusters prove.

Blueyis moving from streaming TV to movie theaters.The wildly popular kids animated series from Australia will get its first big-screen release, according to a press release from Disney and BBC Studios.Per the press release the Blueyfilm willcontinue the adventures of Bluey, a lovable, inexhaustible, blue heeler dog, who lives with her Mum, Dad and her little sister, Bingo.The creator of theBlueyTV series, Joe Brumm, is writing and directing the film. The voices from theBlueyshow, including David McCormack as Blueys dad Bandit and Melanie Zanetti as Blueys mom Chilli, will reprise their roles in the film.DisneyDisneyloading...READ MORE: The Best 25 Childrens TV Shows EverIn the statement, Brumm had this to say about the news:Ive always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together.Blueydebuted on Australian TV in the fall of 2018. Disney acquired the rights to distribute the show in American in the summer of 2019, and before long it was one of their most popular kids shows on Disney Junior as well on their Disney+ streaming service.The show has become popular not only with smaller children but also with their parents, thanks to its colorful animation, warm sense of humor, and realistic portrayals of childhood imagination and the struggles of everyday parenthood. How the relatively mundane drama and stories of the show wherestoriestypically only last seven minutes will translate to the scale of a feature film is a goodquestion.TheBlueymovie is expected to premiere in 2027. If your kids are fans of the show now, by the time it hits theaters, they might have aged out of it by then. Heck, by that point aBluey movie might be a nostalgic treat for them.Sign up for Disney+ here.Get our free mobile appThe Best Movies to Show to Kids to Get Them Hooked on MoviesWant to your children to love film as much as you do? Start them here.Filed Under: Bluey, Disney, Disney PlusCategories: TV News

About softstoryAt softstory, we're revolutionizing influencer marketing through authentic storytelling. We partner with leading global brands and content creators to craft engaging narratives that transcend traditional advertising. Our innovative approach delivers measurable impact while creating genuine connections between brands and audiences.We punch above our weight, operating our team seamlessly across eight countries. We're growing fast and actively expanding our talented team of marketing, creative, and tech professionals who share our passion for authentic storytelling.Position: Team Lead, Campaign ManagementLocation: Remote (Global, Full-time)Department: Campaign ManagementThe OpportunityWe're seeking a dynamic Team Lead to drive our campaign management operations and shape the future of influencer marketing. In this role, you'll lead a talented team of campaign specialists, overseeing our content creator partnerships, while working closely with our brand managers to deliver exceptional results for our world-class brand partners.Key ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & DevelopmentBuild and mentor a high-performing team of campaign managers through regular coaching and performance feedbackConduct strategic daily team meetings and weekly one-on-one sessionsSet and track individual and team KPIsImplement and optimize workflow processes to maximize team efficiencyCampaign Strategy & ExecutionPartner with brand managers to develop and execute comprehensive campaign strategiesOversee budget allocation and management across multiple campaignsDrive campaign optimization to exceed client KPIsManage outreach communications and maintain quality control of client interactionsExecutive Partnership & ReportingProvide regular performance updates to C-level managementAnalyze and report on key metrics including campaign success rates, ROI, and profit marginsIdentify trends and opportunities for business growthContribute to strategic planning and revenue optimizationRequired QualificationsProven track record of managing successful marketing campaignsStrong analytical mindset with data-driven decision-making abilitiesExcellent interpersonal and communication skillsPreferred QualificationsExperience in team management and salesExperience in influencer marketing or content creator partnershipsHistory of exceeding sales and performance targetsBachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related fieldWhy softstory?Opportunity to shape the future of influencer marketingRemote-first culture with flexible work arrangements and generous, fixed PTOProfessional development and growth opportunitiesCollaborative, creative work environment Related Jobs See more Sales and Marketing jobs

Hey there!Codeless is a content production company that combines strategy, SEO, writing, design, and video. We produce hundreds of long-form articles and product tutorial videos each month for some of the biggest SaaS, service, and affiliate brands and we're looking to add depth to our writer bench.We're looking for committed freelance writers with a wide range of technical knowledge and experience in areas including:APIs and SDKs: for building chat and activity feed applications.User Experience (UX) design principlesMobile app developmentBackend Development: server-side programming, database management, and cloud services.SAP and IT ManagementProgramming Languages: like JavaScript, Python, Kotlin, and SwiftFrameworks and Libraries: such as React, React Native, and Node.js and how to integrate these with APIsReal-Time Technologies: including WebSocketsAI and Machine Learning: integrating large language models (LLMs) into applications using APIs from providers like OpenAI.Data Models for Marketing, performance marketing, and marketing data dashboardsNode.js and serverless architecturesAbility to write clear, concise technical content for tutorials, implementation guides, and case studies.Things to note:If you're hired, we'll provide you with a clear writing process, support documentation for every client, and an awesome editorial team.Were a virtual, remote company. There are no official work hours or vacation days. As long as you hit deadlines, you can work wherever/whenever you want.We're pretty flexible and casual, but we only accept high quality work. We dont micromanage, so you need to be a responsible self-starter and fast learner with a high level of attention to detail. Related Jobs See more All Other Remote jobs

Towana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has become the third living person to receive a kidney transplant from a gene-edited pig. Looney, who donated one of her kidneys to her mother back in 1999, developed kidney failure several years later following a pregnancy complication that caused high blood pressure. She started dialysis treatment in December of 2016 and was put on a waiting list for a kidney transplant soon after, in early 2017. But it was difficult to find a match. So Looneys doctors recommended the experimental pig organ as an alternative. After eight years on the waiting list, Looney was authorized to receive the kidney under the US Food and Drug Administrations expanded access program, which allows people with serious or life-threatening conditions to try experimental treatments. The pig in question was developed by Revivicor, a United Therapeutics company. The companys technique involves making 10 gene edits to a pig cell. The edits are made to prevent too much organ growth, curb inflammation, and, importantly, stop the recipients immune system from rejecting the organ. The edited pig cell is then placed into a pig egg cell that has had its nucleus removed, and the egg is transferred to the uterus of a sow, which eventually gives birth to a gene-edited piglet. JOE CARROTTA FOR NYU LANGONE HEALTH In theory, once the piglet has grown, its organs can be used for human transplantation. Pig organs are similar in size to human ones, after all. A few years ago, David Bennett Sr. became the first person to receive a heart transplant from such a pig. He died two months after the operation, and the heart was later found to have been infected with a pig virus. Richard Slayman was the first person to get a gene-edited pig kidney, which he received in early 2024. He died two months after his surgery, although the hospital treating him said in a statement that it had no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. In April, Lisa Pisano was reported to be the second person to receive such an organ. Pisano also received a heart pump alongside her kidney transplant. Her kidney failed because of an inadequate blood supply and was removed the following month. She died in July. Looney received her pig kidney during a seven-hour operation that took place at NYU Langone Health in New York City on November 25. The surgery was led by Jayme Locke of the US Health Resources & Services Administration and Robert Montgomery of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Looney was discharged from the hospital 11 days after her surgery, to an apartment in New York City. Shell stay in New York for another three months so she can check in with doctors at the hospital for evaluations. Its a blessing, Looney said in a statement. I feel like Ive been given another chance at life. I cannot wait to be able to travel again and spend more quality time with my family and grandchildren. Looneys doctors are hopeful that her kidney will last longer than those of her predecessors. For a start, Looney was in better health to begin withshe had chronic kidney disease and required dialysis, but unlike previous recipients, she was not close to death, Montgomery said in a briefing. He and his colleagues plan to start clinical trials within the next year. There is a huge unmet need for organs. In the US alone, there more than 100,000 people are waiting for one, and 17 people on the waiting list die every day. Researchers hope that gene-edited animals might provide a new source of organs for such individuals. Revivicor isnt the only company working on this. Rival company eGenesis, which has a different approach to gene editing, has used CRISPR to create pigs with around 70 gene edits. Transplant is one of the few therapies that can cure a complex disease overnight, yet there are too few organs to provide a cure for all in need, Locke said in a statement. The thought that we may now have a solution to the organ shortage crisis for others who have languished on our waiting lists invokes the most welcome of feelings: pure joy! Today, Looney is the only person living with a pig organ. I am full of energy. I got an appetite Ive never had in eight years, she said at a briefing. I can put my hand on this kidney and feel it buzzing. This story has been updated with additional information after a press briefing.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. The 8 worst technology failures of 2024 They say you learn more from failure than success. If so, this is the story for you: MIT Technology Reviews annual roll call of the biggest flops, flimflams, and fiascos in all domains of technology. Some of the foul-ups were funny, like the "woke AI which got Google in trouble after it drew Black Nazis. Some caused lawsuits, like a computer error by CrowdStrike that left thousands of Delta passengers stranded. And we also reaped failures among startups that raced to expand from 2020 to 2022, a period of ultra-low interest rates. Check out what made our list of this years biggest technology failures. Antonio Regalado Antonio will be discussing this years worst failures with our executive editor Niall Firth in a subscriber-exclusive online Roundtable event today at 12.00 ET. Register here to make sure you dont miss outf you havent already, subscribe! AIs search for more energy is growing more urgent If you drove by one of the 2,990 data centers in the United States, youd probably think little more than Huh, thats a boring-looking building. You might not even notice it at all. However, these facilities underpin our entire digital world, and they are responsible for tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. New research shows just how much those emissions have skyrocketed during the AI boom. That leaves a big problem for the worlds leading AI companies, which are caught between pressure to meet their own sustainability goals and the relentless competition in AI thats leading them to build bigger models requiring tons of energy. And the trend toward ever more energy-intensive new AI models will only send those numbers higher. Read the full story.James O'Donnell This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 TikTok has asked the US Supreme Court for a lifeline Its asked lawmakers to intervene before the proposed ban kicks in on January 19. (WP $)+ TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reportedly met with Donald Trump yesterday. (NBC News)+ Trump will take office the following day, on January 20. (WSJ $)+ Meanwhile, the EU is investigating TikToks role in Romanias election. (Politico)2 Waymos autonomous cars are heading to Tokyo In the first overseas venture for the firms vehicles. (The Verge)+ The cars will require human safety drivers initially. (CNBC)+ Whats next for robotaxis in 2024. (MIT Technology Review)3 Chinas tech workers are still keen to work in the US But securing the right to work there is much tougher than it used to be. (Rest of World)4 Digital license plates are vulnerable to hacking And theyre already legal to buy in multiple US states. (Wired $) 5 Were all slaves to the algorithmsFrom the mundane (Spotify) to the essential (housing applications.) (The Atlantic $) + How a group of tenants took on screening systemsand won. (The Guardian)+ The coming war on the hidden algorithms that trap people in poverty. (MIT Technology Review)6 How to build an undetectable submarine The race is on to stay hidden from the competition. (IEEE Spectrum)+ How underwater drones could shape a potential Taiwan-China conflict. (MIT Technology Review)7 How Empower became a viable rival to UberIts refusal to cooperate with authorities is straight out of Ubers early playbook. (NYT $) 8 Even airlines are using AirTags to find lost luggage Bloomberg $) + Heres how to keep tabs on your suitcase as you travel. (Forbes $)9 Youre reading your blood pressure all wrong Keep your feet flat on the floor and ditch your phone, for a start. (WSJ $)10 The rise and rise of the group chat Expressing yourself publicly on social media is so last year. (Insider $)+ How to fix the internet. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day Where are the adults in the room? Francesca Marano, a long-time contributor to WordPress, lambasts the platforms decision to require users to check a box reading Pineapple is delicious on pizza to log in, 404 Media reports. The big story Responsible AI has a burnout problem October 2022 Margaret Mitchell had been working at Google for two years before she realized she needed a break. Only after she spoke with a therapist did she understand the problem: she was burnt out. Mitchell, who now works as chief ethics scientist at the AI startup Hugging Face, is far from alone in her experience. Burnout is becoming increasingly common in responsible AI teams. All the practitioners MIT Technology Review interviewed spoke enthusiastically about their work: it is fueled by passion, a sense of urgency, and the satisfaction of building solutions for real problems. But that sense of mission can be overwhelming without the right support. Read the full story. Melissa Heikkil We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + This timelapse of a pine tree growing from a tiny pinecone is pretty special + Shaboozeys A Bar Song (Tipsy) is one of 2024s biggest hits. But why has it struck such a chord?+ All hail Londons campest Christmas tree!+ Stay vigilant, Oregons googly eye bandit has struck again

Submitted by WA ContentsMecanoo designs Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" at in the Berkshires United States Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 15:49 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Dutch architecture practice Mecanoo has unveiled design for a new theatre at at Massachusetts, which will be Americas "only purpose-built new dance theater" at in the Berkshires, United States.Called Doris Duke Theatre, the new theatre is located on Jacobs Pillows beautiful destination campus in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Currently under construction at site, the new dance venue is set to open in 2025.The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre occupies the site of the former studio theater from 1990, destroyed by fire in November 2020.Aerial rendering of the Jacobs Pillow campus with the new Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and Marvel"One of the most technologically advanced dance venues"By providing a makerspace for artists looking to include robotics, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and immersive platforms into live performances, the new theater hopes to become "one of the most technologically advanced dance venues" in the world.A spatial audio system, infrared camera tracking of artists for interactive video content, and live performance interactions with recorded/projected dance content are just a few of the features that the Doris Duke Theatre will include.Rendering of the garden of the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow"At the heart of the new Doris Duke Theatre lies a celebration of movement, space, and connection. Inspired by Mecanoos core values of people, place, purpose, and poetry, the new theater captures the essence of dance, not only as an art form but as a deeply human experience intertwined with the landscape and community," said Francine Houben, Mecanoos Creative Director and Founding Partner."Rooted in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, the theater honors the rich heritage of Jacobs Pillow while pushing the frontiers of the performing arts.""The design draws on the rhythms of nature, mirroring the fluidity and grace of dancers," Houben added.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre Artist Quad. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelThe former Duke's footprint was about 8,500 square feet (790 square meters), whereas the renovated Doris Duke Theatre will be about 20,000 square feet (1,858 square meters).The building can accommodate performances, events, residencies, and more, often all at once, according to the design's versatility in terms of many uses. With a variety of seating and stage arrangements, the theater can accommodate up to 220400 people in the main performance area.Thermally treated wood, which is intended to age elegantly over time, covers the theater's mass timber construction. As the seasons change, the building's natural elements convey a tale of light and shadow, time and change, an organic record of nature's dance.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn a subtle gesture of balance between sustainability and design, rainwater is collected for later use, and the spacious veranda offers natural shade.The new Doris Duke Theatre is an enduring tribute to the force of dance, nature, and human creativity combined; it embraces the poetry of location through its form, purpose, and connection to the earth.Marvel's landscape design for the new Doris Duke Theatre, which was inspired by the area's natural beauty, blends in with its surroundings and reflects the Berkshires' rich local biodiversity. In addition to celebrating the region's Indigenous past, this design fosters a strong bond between the performing arts and the natural world.Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre performance space. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelIn order to greet dancers and guests and to give areas for relaxation, practice, and celebration, the landscape design to the west of the theater forms a central quad that is framed by a sculpture known as a "scramble" formed of stone that is sourced locally.With a garden and a communal fire pit that honor the land's cultural traditions and acknowledge the original occupants who shape Jacob's Pillow and its vital identity, the landscapes created by Indigenous artists to the east showcase Indigenous knowledge.The principal architect of the project is Mecanoo, a Netherlands-based firm headed by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben.Rendering of the quad lobby at the Doris Duke Theatre. Rendering courtesy of Mecanoo Architects and MarvelMarvel, a New York-based architecture practice, is working as the local architect and landscape architect for the project. For the project, Charcoalblue is theater and acoustics design consultant. Jeffrey Gibson, Choctaw/Cherokee, is serving as a consultant on the buildings relationship to the site and Indigenous values, a key element of the buildings design.Numerous communities and stories that have influenced and defined Jacob's Pillow will come on stage during the Doris Duke Theatre's inaugural celebration week, which will be marked by a ribbon-cutting and premiere performances on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Mecanoo transformed and revitalized the Perth's former City Hallwith bronze and meticulously-designed details throughout the interior space. In addition, Mecanooand Meng Architects, together with Lola Landscape Architectswere selected as the winners of a highly competitive international design competition for the Shenzhen Guangming Scientist Valley in China.Top image in the article: Rendering of the Doris Duke Theatre East Entrance. Rendering by Marvel; courtesy of Jacobs Pillow.All images courtesy of Mecanoo and Marvel.> via Mecanoo

Submitted by WA ContentsDeborah Berke wins the 2025 AIA Gold Medal United States Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 15:01 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Architect and academician Deborah Berke has been awarded the 2025 AIA Gold Medal by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the award honors "an individual or pair whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."Described as "a transformative figure in architecture whose career spans over four decades", Berke was praised for combining design excellence, academic leadership, and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.Her career is an outstanding example of "innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability", starting with the establishment of Deborah Berke Partners (now TenBerke) in 1982 and culminating in her appointment as the first female dean of Yale School of Architecture.As summed up in her seminal book, Architecture of the Everyday, Berke's approach to design embraces the extraordinary within the ordinary. This philosophy is reflected in her projects, which range from small residences like East Hampton's Tiny House to iconic adaptive reuse projects like New Haven's NXTHVN, an arts incubator repurposing old factory buildings.Deborahs award-winning adaptive reuse project, the Richardson Olmsted Complex, offers a compelling example of how vast structures can be repurposed and contribute to their surrounding communities. Image Christopher Payne/EstoHer varied portfolio demonstrates how design may enhance everyday living while promoting community and care by striking a balance between contemporary aesthetics and vernacular sensitivity."Berke's commitment to sustainable design is evident in projects such as the Dickinson College High Street Residence Hall, which achieved LEED Platinum certification, and the Brown University Brook Street Residence Halls, contributing to the university's net-zero carbon goals," said the AIA in its press release."Her work not only integrates environmentally conscious strategies but also emphasizes the social dimension of sustainability, creating spaces that promote equity and inclusivity."The AIA stated that "As an educator, Berke has profoundly influenced architectural pedagogy. At Yale, she has advanced financial aid initiatives, increased accessibility, and championed interdisciplinary programs, making architecture education more inclusive.""Her tenure as dean has been recognized with the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest honor for architectural education, reflecting her role in shaping future generations of architects," the AIA added.Deborah is known for designing flexible and welcome learning spaces like the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. Image Chris CooperBerke has demonstrated the ability of architecture to transform people's lives and communities throughout her career. She has left a lasting impression on the field and inspired a more inclusive and sustainable architectural future through her work, teaching, and activism, all of which highlight a deep belief in design as a tool for social good.Deborah Berke is the jury member of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Academic Council of the Norman Foster Institute.The 2025 Advisory Jury 2025 is composed of Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, Chair, Long Green Specs, Manasquan, N.J., Kjell M. Anderson, FAIA, LMN Architects, Seattle, Ung-Joo Scott Lee, AIA, Morphosis Architects, New York City, Amy Slattery, AIA, Odimo, Kansas City, Mo., Megumi Tamanaha, AIA, ARO, New York City, Roderic Walton, AIA, Moody Nolan, Chicago, Korey White, AIA, DLR Group, Quincy, Ill., Taryn Williams, SGH, Washington, D.C.The AIA Gold Medal is recognized as the AIAs highest individual honor. Famous architects including Denise Scott Brown & Robert Venturi, Paul Revere Williams, Julia Morgan, Angela Brooks, and Lawrence Scarpa have all been honored with the Gold Medal, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the field of architecture.Top image: Deborah Berke Winnie Au.> via The AIA

More than 36,000 military homes were sold in 1996 by MoDThe government is planning major redevelopment of military homes after a 6bn repurchase of stock from a private owner, the chief of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation has said.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced this morning that it had bought back the 36,347 military homes which comprise the married quarters estate, reversing a sale undertaken by the government in 1996.Source: ShutterstockThe purchase by the MoD, supported by UK Government Investments, will bring to an end a legal dispute between the government and the estates previous owner Annington.Billionaire Guy Hands, whose private equity company Terra Firma owns Annington, had taken the government to court over its leasehold reforms earlier this year.Around 55,000 houses were sold in 1996 to Annington for an average of just 27,000 each, with the government renting them back at a discount.Despite this, the government has estimated that taxpayers are 8bn worse off as a result of the 1996 deal.It said that, when not subject to leases, the estate is now valued at 10.1bn.The deal that had passed ownership to Annington also prevented the MoD from being able to demolish properties or build additional homes for service families.The announcement comes in advance of a new military housing strategy, which will be published next year.Mike Green, chief executive at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, told Building Designs sister title Housing Today it is the intention to invest significant amounts of money in the estate.Its not because we want to be a developer. Its because we want great houses for armed forces families, he said.Green described the 1996 sale as a very bad deal and said its reversal brought numerous opportunities.First off, we can hopefully turn military housing from tolerable to aspirational, he said, citing damp and mould as persistent issues.He said around two-third of the estate needed rebuilding and said the existing lack of density meant there could be room for up to 150,000 additional houses.There isnt one solution. MoD may want to sell some land to generate some money to develop other bit, he added.We may want to use private finance. We may want to work with builders to build houses. We may be doing swaps.It will be a whole mixture of how we get this done. We may well sell some sites, we may well do some partnerships. We may well develop some ourselves.The government already has plans to submit applications for 265 new houses and apartments at RAF Brize Norton in Oxforshire and further plans, to be submitted in the spring, for around 300 new houses at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.