Proposedlegislation seeking to ban all Chinese nationals from studying in the United States has caused alarm in architecture schools and around higher education, adding to a climate of fear on campuses that has cropped up rapidly with the start of the new Trump Administration.Currently, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) estimates that 15% of all students enrolled in National Architectural Accrediting Board(NAACB)-accredited architecture degree programs while another 7% of all faculty at ACSA member schools identify as either Asian of East Indian.Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia introduced the bill in February under the auspices of national security. Some have likened it to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Australian architecture studio Edition Office designed a home that displays a striking contrast to its natural surroundings, while also maintaining a deep immersion in them.Image: Ben HoskingLocated in Federal, New South Wales, Australia, Federal House stands out through its black pigmented concrete and black timber battens amidst the green, hinterland location. The home is positioned on the slope of its hillside site.Image: Ben HoskingIt draws on Australias colonial homestead and verandah typology, which is reflected in the projects living and bedroom spaces that extend into a covered outdoor space. This expansion allows for a variety of different interactions with the surrounding landscape.Image: Ben HoskingFederal Houses design was driven by the clients desire to have a home-as-sanctuary, that functions as a space of respite. The homes shared living spaces are located in both the north and south sides of a central garden, allowing for layered social opportunities, whi...

A unique rural residential design created by Virginia Tech University professor Ben Pennell as a speculative project and aspirational nod to internet-driven 'DIY' culture has taken off after being completed last fall with help from several students.Photo by Ben PennellKnown simply by its address300 John Lemley Lanethe design was realized in the rural town of Christiansburg and occupies three levels, containing simultaneous metaphors of an 18th-century London church, an American World War II bomber, and the watertight, planular-shifting multi-roof effect typical of a Japanese temple.Photo by Ben PennellLayers of 'mega shingles' made from Hardie board add to an extended plywood frame to distort and enlarge its perceived mass in a palimpsest-like effect that obfuscates the building envelope deliberately, mixing 'pseudo-Oriental' motifs with its aberrant style and architectonics.Photo by Ben PennellPennell says these elements combine to issue a challenge to normative design concept...

Democratic Nevada representative Dina Titus recently discussed her push to diversify the architecture of federal government buildings in a podcast interview with the Federal News Network. In it, she says,"[T]hats something that dictators do, make everything look alike and in their image" referring to the new Trump Administrations executive order that ostensibly swaps modern and contemporary styles for a pastiche of new classically-inspired designs. Her billH.R. 964, or the 'Democracy in Design Act'apparently has bipartisan support and was first introduced back in 2023.The language of the bill is in line with Daniel Patrick Moynihan's1962Guiding Principles for Federal Architecturememothat calls for the elimination of all "official" styles as part of theGSA's Design Excellence Program.

In a surprise reversal, the General Services Adminstation (GSA) now only has eight properties listed as being for sale following the shock announcement early in March that originally put 443 federal buildings on a list for potential sale.The GSA, which is currently being led by Acting Administrator and 'tech entrepreneur' Stephen Ehikian, has cited "decades of funding deficiencies" as the reasoning behind the proposed sell-off. Gone from the list are the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building and other Brutalist landmarks around Washington, D.C.Some outlets have pointed out that the new group is the same as the Biden Administration's proposal from late last year. The GSA also said this was in part due to the "overwhelming response" to the initial list and that the longstanding issues it had identified would be addressed "in an orderly fashion."

TheBernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York has named former Governor Eliot Spitzer as its Honorary Chair. Spitzer is the son of the schools namesakes andat one point in the mid-2000shad been considered a leading Presidential candidate for the Democratic party before scandals ended his political career. He is currently working in the CRE industry and joins Jonathan Marvel, Claire Weisz, John Cetra, Nancy Ruddy, and others on Dean Marta Gutmans Advisory Council.The school's Place, Memory and Culture Incubator (PMCI) recently debuted its Generative Histories Harlem exhibition after receiving a foundational grant of $1.5 million from theMellon Foundationin 2023.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill have offered an insight into their new office in Melbourne, Australia. Located on the third floor of the Union Bank Chambers building in the citys Central Business District, the office is designed to accommodate up to 24 architects, urban designers, and engineers.Image credit: Nicole EnglandThe material palette for the studio includes Tasmanian oak, marble, and polished concrete to compliment the Art Deco style of the 100-year-old building. SOM Partner Adam Semel said that the new studio is a significant milestone in our commitment to Australia, after more than 50 years of working here.

A ruling in the Southern District of New York, which covers New York City, has upheld the citys 2021 ban on natural gas heating and appliances in new buildings. The decision will have consequences for other similar attempts to curtail fossil fuels in Seattle, Boston, and several dozen other states and municipalities that have enacted such bans from 2020 on. Grist has more on the new reversal of a 2023 U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that challenged the Berkeley, Californias precedent-setting 2019 ban.New York City's ban was used as a model for the eventual New York State ban that was the subject of the legal challenge made by groups representing the plumbing industry.

The Chicago Architecture Biennial has announced Nora Daley and Sarah Herda as the new co-chairs of its board of directors. Both co-chairs will be responsible for setting a strategic vision for the future of CAB, and galvanizing support for the next edition of the biennial.CAB describes Daley as a respected arts innovator and civic leader bringing over two decades of experience at the intersection of strategy, learning, and systems rebuilding in the public and private sectors. Meanwhile, Herda is a founding board member of CAB who served as artistic director of the inaugural exhibition. Herda has spent the entirety of her career leading cultural organizations dedicated to supporting architectural ideas and discourse, CAB adds.News of the appointments comes one month after CAB announced Jennifer Armetta as its new Executive Director. The biennial is currently preparing for its sixth edition, beginning on September 12th, 2025, under the titleShift: Architecture in Times of Ra...

Rigidity is the target of a new interdisciplinary project at the Cornell AAP led by ecoLogicStudio founder Jenny Sabin that developed a new system of photovoltaics that can contour more flexibly to different surfaces of structures thanks to its mimicry of complex biomechanics.Its called HelioSkin, and it was produced through a collaboration with physicist Itai Cohen and plant biologist Adrienne Roeder as part of Cornells new Department of Design Tech, to which Sabin is serving as the inaugural Chair.Image is courtesy of Cornell University AAPThe product works by harnessing a kind of 'nonstandard angularity' derived from heliotropism, an innate biological mechanism found in sunflower plants that allows them to track light by manipulating the curvature of their stems at the cellular level.This process is then repeated in software that was developed by Sabin, allowing for mechanically tracking 'skin' to be developed for use in retractable roofs, stadiums, and skyscrapers.Image i...

Our latest weeklycurated jobs roundupfrom theArchinect Job boardincludes eight architecture firms and one gallery with Marketing and Office Administration job opportunities in New York City.For helpful guidance on how to get that next job, make sure to check outArchinect's Guide to Job Titlesseries and ourArchinect Tipscollection. Rafael Violy Architects seeks aSocial Media Producer"We are seeking a highly creative and motivated Social Media Producer to join our dynamic architecture firm. The ideal candidate will be passionate about architecture, design, and storytelling, with a strong grasp of social media platforms and video editing techniques. This position involves producing engaging video content that showcases the firm's projects, behind-the-scenes processes, team culture, and industry insights. You will be responsible for creating visually compelling content and writing social media captions that aligns with our brand's voice and enhances our online presence."Tok...

David Magie Childs, the SOM architect responsible forOne World Trade Center, Time Warner Center, and other office buildings, has died at the age of 83, the New York Times reported. Childswho recently designed the replacement for 400 Lake Shore Drive in Chicagogrew up in the northeast and gained notoriety by the early 1980s through his work in the Washington, D.C. area before a move to SOMs New York office accelerated his career in 1984 when he was named Partner."Mr. Childs was the antithesis of a 'starchitect,' whose celebrity derives from unmistakable flourishes. And he candidly acknowledged his place in the architectural pantheon," his obituary reads.The Times also printed a brief recollection from Paul Goldberger, which reads: "There was always an earnestness to his architecture, a seriousness of intention and a deep belief in urbanistic values. He was concerned about the larger civic good, and he worked hard to convince developers to take this into account. This was his l...

The 2025 class of Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Honorary Fellows has been announced by Canadas oldest and most visible professional architectural association.The five architects to receive the honor, which denotes their elevation to the RAIC College, all are Honorary Members of the RAIC and will remain on as Fellows for life in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the professional community both domestically and abroad.This years list of Honorary Fellows includes former American Institute of Architects (AIA) presidents Kimberly Dowdell and Emily Grandstaff-Rice; the Chicago-based academic Michelangelo Sabatino; University of Victoria professor Martin Segger; andHis Late Highness, Prince Aga Khan IV, who passed away this February at the age of 88. Each joins the 43 other newly namedFellows in the RAIC College and last year's elevationofAdele Weder, Yvonne Hancock, Claire Weisz, Lesley Lokko, and the late Claude Cormier.Fellows and Honorary Fellow...

As the new Trump Administration passes 60 days in office, tariffscontinue to form a cornerstone of the Administrations trade policy. On March 12th, the US imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada with more potentially coming on April 2nd. Meanwhile, a trade probe on US lumber imports being carried out by the US Commerce Secretary may yet see tariffs imposed on lumber products from countries including Canada.Archinect has reported extensively on the impact of such tariffs, whether implemented or threatened, on the US architecture and construction sector. Construction input prices have risen, with the ABC noting in February that tariff threats caused a rapid escalation in material prices. The ABC has also previously warned that a trade war with Canada and Mexico could impact construction spending, while the AIA said last week that a continuing decline in their Architecture Billings Index is being partly fuelled by tariff uncertainty.The developments present two urgent situa...

As the important task of debris removals continues in the devastated areas of Altadena, the LA Times has picked up on the mission to recover historic tiles from the surviving mantelpieces of burned homes. There, a patchwork battalion of masons, homeowners, and other volunteers are working diligently under the monicker Save the Tiles to save the sometimes hundred-year-old vestiges of the early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement and Los Angeles architectural past from potential looters.The community at the foot of theSan Gabriel Mountains lost up to 9,400 homes during Januarys Los Angeles Fires. Save the Tiles' effort is taking place side-by-side with aseparate SoCalNOMA effortseparate SoCalNOMA effortwhose intention is to preserve Altadenas historic Black communitys stake in the face of developer encroachment.

A report from Gensler featuring findings from a careful study of office-to-residential conversions in six different markets. The study was produced with the help of HR&A Advisors, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and two other entities.Four key "levers" that can be used for achieving conversions beyond their current pace. Principal Steven Paynter says: "This study is different. We conducted in-depth research on both the physical realities of downtown buildings and the financial feasibility of conversions. Our approach is grounded in facts real data, real buildings, and real economic conditions so that cities can craft policies that actually work in the real world."There are currently an estimated 70,000 units in the conversion nationwide.

The Frank Gehry-designed Binoculars Building in Venice Beach has been listed for sale. As reported by The Real Deal, CBRE has listed the 78,000-square-foot office building for real estate investment trust W.P. Carey, though without an asking price.W.P. Carey purchased the building 30 years ago for approximately $18 million. Google has occupied the premises since 2011, and its current lease on the building does not expire until October 2030.Image credit: Wikimedia user Bobak Ha'Eri licensed under CC BY 3.0Designed by Frank Gehry in collaboration with artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, The Binoculars Building was completed in 1991. The building is immediately recognizable for the 44-foot-tall binoculars, spanning three stories, positioned at the entrance. The binoculars are not just decorative, and also function as a vehicular entrance.While known for its binocular-style entrance, the building is a fusion of three distinct shapes. The sculptural binoculars sit at the...

The American Institute of Architects has launched a search for its next EVP/Chief Executive Officer. The search will be conducted by a committee chaired by AIAs 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell, which will also include representatives from the AIAs Strategic Council, National Associates Committee (NAC), Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), AIA International, and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS).The search comes after the AIAs previous EVP/CEO Lakisha Ann Woods stepped down in February. Late last year, Woods was cleared of wrongdoing by an independent investigation following a misconduct scandal. After Woods was cleared, the AIA Board of Directors filed anethics complaint against her accusersin September.Since Woods departure, the position has been held on an interim basis by Stephen Ayers. Earlier this week, Ayers penned an open letter to the General Services Administration on behalf of the AIA, expressing a strong caution against man...

Texas-based Corgan has announced they are expanding into the Pacific Northwest market with a new office metro Seattle. This is now the fifth new market that the 87-year-old firm has entered in recent years to include 19 offices and will support clients for data center, aviation, and transportation projects as well as others in the multifamily, healthcare, and government sectors. The firm reports a growing demand for business in the region, Alaska, and Pacific Canada. Corgan is also looking to add a pair of architectswith expertise in two of these sectors to its Dallas headquarters via Archinect Jobs.

The Real Deal recently threw some cold water on the push to create more units of affordable housing in New York City after the start of 485x tax abatement that mandates a higher ($40/hour) wage floor that kicks in with new development above 99 units."Normally, the density for such a site would be 140 apartments or so," one developer of a corner lot near Union Square told the outlet. "It doesnt pencil out, given that if you add an extra 20 to 30 units your cost of construction goes up dramatically."This could affect a number of firms working in the multifamily market in the city and its 'City of Yes' plan to construct a minimum of 80,000 new homes within a 15-year timeframe.

Seven new Best in Class winners of the 35th Brick in Architecture Awards were selected recently by theBrick Industry Association (BIA). Each was chosen out of a group of 39Gold, Silver, and Bronze, joined again by the team that won the overall Craftsmanship Award, which this year was given to a multifamily design in New York City bySLCE ArchitectsandINC Architecture & Design."The award winners highlight bricks limitless versatility to create inspired, sustainable designs that achieve any aesthetic," BIA President and CEO Tricia Mauer said. The 2024 'Best in Class' winners include:EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES:Rothschild College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TNArchitect: David M. Schwarz ArchitectsBrick Manufacturer: Glen-Gery, Endicott Clay ProductsMason Contractor: IMS Masonry

A tri-lateral Rebuild Advisory Committee formed by UCLA, USC, and the Urban Land Institute(ULI) has published a new roadmap that will help in the rebuilding effort in the wake of the Los Angeles Fires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades this January. The Committee identified seven 'roadblocks' to on-the-ground efforts. Their report includes other detailed recommendations and case studies and can be accessed via ULIs Knowledge Finder platform.Heres more of the latest updates from the post-fire recovery effort in Los Angeles:Poll: most in L.A. support stricter building codes, restrictions after recent firesHow long will recovery from L.A.'s fires take? New Urban Institute analysis suggests a long waitSCI-Arc research on Los Angeles wildfires to be exhibited at Venice Biennale

This summer in London, the Design Museum will begin hosting More than Human, an exhibition featuring designs considerate of a multispecies environment from more than 50 participants whose work challenges the core tenants, presumptions, and pedagogies of contemporary Western design practice.This represents the first major exhibition to be curated jointly with the museums Future Observatory research operation. The dates for the exhibition are July 11th to October 6th, 2025.Rebecca Lewin, the Senior Curator of the Design Museum says, We want people to leave the exhibition feeling inspired and informed but also hopeful for the future. The huge network of issues raised by the climate crisis can feel overwhelming, but the fields of design, art, and architecture are finding creative and often beautiful solutions for the needs of the planet. It has been heartening to collaborate with such an incredible group of talented creative minds from across the globe to bring this project together...

Tadao Andos 12-year-old Malibu home is up for grabs once again after the buyer of Kanye West and Kim Kardashians former post-nuptial digs, Steven Belmont, listed the property for $39 million via his Orange County-based brokerage. The Wall Street Journal says, "With [a] renovation in full swing, Belmont is putting the beachfront property back on the market for $39 million. If he doesnt find an appealing offer, hell list the property for between $55 million and $65 million closer to completion [] Belmont is continuing with construction, and expects the project to be done in early 2026."The disgraced musician, last seen selling swastika t-shirts after the Super Bowl, gutted the formerly $57.3 million mansionover the course of a year before himself re-listing the property in December 2023 and then reducing its asking price last April to the same amount.

Following our previous look at an opening for aSenior Architect at Robson Forensic, we are using this weeks edition of ourJob Highlights seriesto explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for an Architect/Designer at To Be Done Studio.The role, based in Washakie, WY with the possibility of a remote arrangement, calls for an individual to join To Be Done Studio on a contract basis to work on the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Hub project. Eastern Shoshone or Shoshone heritage is strongly preferred for the role, as is a professional degree or significant experience in architecture, and proficiency in Archicad, Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and Adobe Creative Suite.Image courtesy: To Be Done StudioWhy the role interests usThe open role at To Be Done Studio offers us the opportunity to explore the story behind the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Hub project. The cultural center, developed by the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Fort Washakie, aims to preserve Tribal archives, artifacts, and records current...

The Yale Center for British Art will reopen its doors to the public on March 29, 2025. The museum is emerging from a two-year closure dedicated to a major conservation project aimed at preserving the iconic building, which was Louis Kahns final architectural work.Entrance court and skylights. Image credit: Richard CaspoleCompleted posthumously in 1977, the center stands as a key example of Kahns architectural philosophy, emphasizing structure, light, and natural materials. The latest conservation effort, building on over a decade of research and a previous phase of interior refurbishments in 2015, sought to maintain the buildings historic integrity while integrating modern systems and sustainability improvements.Roof and skylight domes. Image credit: Richard CaspoleKey updates include the installation of a new liquid membrane roof and the replacement of 224 original acrylic skylights with polycarbonate domes that enhance durability and energy performance while preserving the vi...

HOK has been selected to design a 2.8 million-square-foot expansion at Dulles International Airport by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The expansion will add 22 new international gates to Concourse Tier 2 in its first phase and a new Concourse Tier 3 in the following. Also, HOK says: "It will honor the architectural significance of Dulles International Airports main terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen in the 1960s, while positioning the airport for future growth and innovation."The firms previous aviation/transportation work includes the 2019-2023 Chicago OHare Terminal 5 expansion and a new terminal for Salt Lake City International Airport from 2020.

The Frick Collection in New York City has shared the first photos following its Selldorf Architects-led renovation ahead of a public reopening on April 17th.View from 70th Street Garden. Photo: Nicholas VeneziaLauded recently by critic Michael Kimmelman as a "sensitive and deft" intervention that, at times, reaches poetic heights while resolving the previous spatial challenges that were inherent in the Beaux-Arts from the time of its transition to a museum in the 1930s.Reception Hall. Photo: Nicholas VeneziaA new education center, bookstore (the museum's first), new gallery rooms, a paper conservation studio, and cafe are among the new additions included in the 87,000-square-foot design, which is clad in Indiana limestone.Library Gallery. Photo: Joseph Coscia, Jr.West Gallery. Photo: Joseph Coscia, Jr.Overall, it adds 27,000 square feet of new space, while another 60,000 that has been repurposed. The Fifth Avenue Gardenat one time the focus of a disputed, Davis Brody Bond-desig...

Hayley Eber has been named as the next Executive Director of the Van Alen Institute in New York City. The current Acting Dean of The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union, Eber, will take over the reins in June as the Institute celebrates its 131st birthday. Eber is also the founder of New Yorks Studio Eber (formerly known as EFGH), which was founded in 2007 and has participated in the Venice Biennale, Tallinn Architecture Biennale, and Shanghai SUSAS.In a statement announcing her appointment, Eber said: "Community-building, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to just and sustainable urban futures have been central to my leadership at The Cooper Union principles that resonate deeply with Van Alen Institutes core mission. I am thrilled to build upon Van Alens rich history in shaping architectural and urban dialogue, and to advance its critical work empowering communities to create transformative public spaces in New York City and beyond."...

Studio Gang has unveiled its design for a Womens Leadership Center at Williams Bay, Wisconsin for the nonprofit organization Lincoln Road Enterprises.The project will help spearhead a rich program of leadership education and development in a retreat-like setting overlooking Geneva Lake. Its size is equal to 24,000 square feet, supporting "the place where conversations happen that change the world," in the words of the Centers President and Founder Ann Drake.Image courtesy Studio GangInside, gently curved spaces punctuated by large windows and skylights allow the design mimic to a phenomenon known as 'crown shyness' as a paean to the 8.6-acre sites tree canopy that informs much of the concept. Local stone and white oak wood will complete its references to the textures of the landscapewhile reinforcing a sense of lightness and warmth throughout. Image courtesy OLINThe three-building program includes the largest Lodge visitors center with dining opportunities and outdoor terra...