On this World Architecture Day, we recognize places that reflect the global call to Design for Strength — not just structurally, but socially, environmentally, and culturally. Along Westminster Street in Providence, the Trayne building introduces thoughtful infill housing and supports renewed walkability along a key urban corridor, while the adjacent Grant’s Block — once an undeveloped lot — was transformed into a beloved public park through consistent community use. On Nantucket, the Veranda House was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2022. Constructed in the same location and scale, the new building honors the legacy of the original — reestablishing its presence in the historic neighborhood while meeting today’s standards for life safety and accessibility. The result is both a return and a renewal, restoring housing to the island community with deep respect for its past. And in South Providence, the Southside Community Land Trust Headquarters reclaims a long-neglected 19th-century structure as a hub for food access, urban agriculture, and community education. Designed to serve both local residents and a statewide network of farmers, the building blends heritage preservation with flexible, future-ready spaces — advancing health, equity, and resilience in one of Rhode Island’s most underserved neighborhoods. Each of these places strengthens the fabric of their neighborhoods — not just by enduring, but by evolving. #worldarchitectureday

Public spaces can help shape human behavior. Landscape architects design public spaces to function physically and empower people psychologically. Safety, amenities, and beauty are all elements of successfully designed places that encourage human connections. Skate parks become natural social hubs for youth and the young at heart, turning individual recreation into shared experiences. Project: Wilkes-Barre West Side Riverfront Parks Master Plan #LandscapeArchitecture #LandscapeDesign

Most residents want cooler, greener communities, but where do they start? When community members in Boston advocated to preserve an underused, city-owned lot for green space, the first question was how to turn it into a space people would actually want to use. They teamed up with YouthBuild Boston and Architecture for Public Benefit to design and build shade and seating to invite residents to use the space and encourage the city to make further improvements. 💭 Their experiences, strategies and design ideas served as inspiration for the Tactical Guide to Cooling Infrastructure. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dx8mTeBg #Resilience4Communities #NewVoiceinResilience

Lighting the Future: Designing Identity Through Innovation Lighting is more than a utility, it’s a language. And when thoughtfully designed, it speaks volumes about a city’s soul. In our proposed Futuristic City Kingston in Jamaica, we’re reimagining urban identity through biotech-integrated infrastructure, smart lighting systems, and culturally resonant design. This isn’t just about illumination, it’s about storytelling. Every pole, every glow, every shadow becomes part of the city’s narrative. We believe that cities of the future must do more than function, they must feel. They must reflect heritage, foster wellbeing, and inspire pride. That’s why our lighting strategy is woven into a broader vision of AI-driven public services, regenerative architecture, and inclusive innovation. Let’s keep designing legacies that don’t just shine. They speak. #FuturisticCityKingston #SmartCities #UrbanIdentity #BiotechInfrastructure #LightingDesign #JamaicaInnovation #ResilientCities #UrbanNarratives #GlobalSouthLeadership #CityOfTheFuture

“Through both community engagement and design, we are creating a framework for a place where industry, housing, and open space can function together as a complete neighborhood.” – Adam Lubinsky, Principal   The approval of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Vision Plan marks an ambitious reimagining of New York’s waterfront. One that balances the regional needs of a working port with the local needs of housing, jobs, and public space. It does so not by choosing one over the other, but by designing for all at once.   WXY led the plan’s urban design and engagement strategies in collaboration for the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the BMT Task Force, collaborating with Buro Happold, One Architecture & Urbanism (ONE), TYLin, Creative Urban Alchemy, LLC, and others on the final plan. Together, the team created a framework where industry and neighborhood life coexist, where ground floors support active streets, and where resilient infrastructure anchors a thriving, connected community.   The plan represents more than modernization. It redefines what a mixed-use port neighborhood can be, showing how equity, scale, and sustainability can align to shape the future of the city.   Explore more about the project at https://lnkd.in/e5nrTBWp

Reimagining Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway | Design Workshop https://lnkd.in/g9swawWN As Philadelphia approaches its 250th birthday, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway – once envisioned as a scenic drive through civic institutions and garden – has become fragmented green spaces separated by high-speed traffic routes. Grassroots efforts and community planning have built momentum for transformation. This proposal reimagines the area not as a parkway bordered by green spaces, but as Philadelphia’s next great park: connected experiences, expanded activities, unified green spaces, climate-resilient design, and offering multimodal transportation – creating a cohesive public space worthy of the city’s legacy. #landscapearchitecture #USA #Philadelphia

The Power of Observation ++ [city ideas] Allan Jacobs has been a powerful voice in urban design because he insists on seeing cities first, really observing how people use streets, paths, and public spaces, rather than imposing top-down ideals. He showed that “great streets” are built from patterns: consistent building edges, human-scaled facades, places to stop, shade, visual interest, and a balance of movement and pause. For city managers, his lessons are especially useful: treat street redesigns as experiments informed by observation, prioritize physical form-based codes, and let real human use lead decisions. By embedding Jacobs’ approach, a city can evolve streets that are not just efficient but beloved, places that invite people to walk, linger, and invest in their community. Enhance community pride.

🏙️ Adaptive Reuse: Toronto's Heritage Building Approach How do we preserve the soul of Toronto’s heritage buildings while adapting them for modern life? In this highlight from Building Toronto’s Skyline, Nick Ainis speaks with Eric Rodrigues, Founding Principal & Creative Director of Boldera Architects, about how adaptive reuse can protect cultural identity while creating sustainable, livable spaces. Eric shares how heritage conservation isn’t about freezing buildings in time — it’s about reimagining their purpose for today and tomorrow. 🎧 Watch the clip, and catch the full episode here: 👉 https://ow.ly/yW7U50X7S33 #AdaptiveReuse #HeritageConservation #TorontoArchitecture #UrbanDesign #BuildingTorontosSkyline #Fusioncorp

Did you know some UK cities are building bee-friendly bricks into new homes, and it could redefine urban biodiversity? Cities aren’t just for people anymore. In places like Brighton & Hove, every new building includes “bee bricks”, tiny habitats designed for solitary bees, hidden within our city walls. It’s not yet a national rule, but it’s a major sign that urban design is evolving to support wildlife. Pollinator populations are declining in many regions, but research shows inventive steps like bee bricks, wildflower corridors, and insect hotels can help reverse the trend. By turning concrete into a canvas for nature, city planners, architects, and residents are joining a movement that reimagines what “eco-innovation” really means. What you should know: - Some UK cities now require bee bricks in new buildings, supporting urban pollinators one nest at a time. - Urban design can protect biodiversity through simple, cost-effective features like bee habitats and wildflower corridors. - Small changes in building rules, driven by local authorities, can spark a big positive impact for ecosystems in our neighborhoods. Should bee bricks become a standard feature in all new buildings? What other urban sustainability ideas could help transform city life? Share your thoughts. Would you support these changes where you live? Comment below! #UrbanSustainability #EcoInnovation #BeeConservation #Architecture #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #YasmineMahmoudieh

1529 N Fremont introduces missing middle housing to Chicago, IL’s Lincoln Park — 132 compact rental units, 20% attainable, designed for young professionals and first-time renters. Hear from George Sorich, Vice President, Residential, on how this transit-oriented, mixed-use development fosters a walkable, connected community. For CityPads. Designed by NORR. Built by ENC. Video produced by ENC. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gcpMDHeb CityPads, ENC Construction & Development, George Sorich AIA, LEED®AP, Adam Jeckel #MixedUseDevelopment #Residential #PurposeBuiltRentals #AttainableHousing #Chicago #Architecture #NORR