Buildings & Design

  • Interior rendering of a modern convention center with high ceilings, a large glass wall on the left, an escalator leading to an upper level with glass railings, and a geometric star-shaped cutout on the right wall.
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    Retrieved from Dallas Convention Center on June 04, 2025
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    Dallas hires Turner, AECOM for convention center renovation

    The project, worth $3.7 billion overall, will expand the current facility to more than 2 million square feet.

    By Jennifer Goodman • June 5, 2025
  • Podcast cover image for "Cities in Motion," presented by TomTalks and Smart Cities Dive, featuring an aerial view of a busy urban highway network.
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    Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
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    Sponsored by TomTom

    [Podcast] Key trends in urban mobility transformation

    In this podcast series, explore trending topics related to the larger theme of urban mobility transformation challenges and opportunities.

    By Smart Cities Dive's studioID • June 4, 2025
  • Construction workers begin to rebuild a business
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Private construction pullback drags down overall spending

    Nearly 22% of contractors have reported project delays or cancellations due to tariff-related impacts, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

    By Sebastian Obando • June 3, 2025
  • Row of white hard hats with green ribbons placed on shovels for a groundbreaking ceremony.
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    Permission granted by Schneider Electric
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    Sponsored by Schneider Electric

    Public facility investments that unlock financial resilience

    Why investing into infrastructure improvements enables economic growth, mitigates the impacts of extreme weather, and provides a way to capture and reinvest cost savings.

    May 19, 2025
  • A building rooftop covered in solar panels.
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    Permission granted by LeFrak
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    Q&A

    Jersey City developer completes solar housing retrofit it says is largest of its kind

    The 450 solar panels at the apartment complex offset the property’s HVAC and common area emissions by 13%, the developer's community relations head said.

    By Mary Salmonsen • April 17, 2025
  • The exterior of Brockton, Massachusetts, City Hall.
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    "City Hall" [Photograph]. Retrieved from City of Brockton, Massachusetts.
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    Brockton, Mass., leverages energy savings contract to preserve, improve two historic buildings

    New window, lighting and HVAC systems aim to reduce energy and improve air quality, including in one building that has been unusable in extreme weather. 

    By Joe Burns • April 14, 2025
  • Aerial shot of urban downtown
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    RoschetzkyIstockPhoto via Getty Images
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    Denver adds flexibility to building performance guidelines

    Following public input, including some backlash from building owners, the new rules will push back compliance deadlines, remove electrification report requirements and reduce penalty rates, the city said. 

    By Joe Burns • April 9, 2025
  • An intersection of two Baltimore streets seen from above with cars parked along the curb on one street.
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    Court orders Baltimore to spend $44M on sidewalk upgrades for ADA compliance

    The agreement follows others requiring public right-of-way improvements in Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Los Angeles.

    By Danielle McLean • April 9, 2025
  • Adults and children sit in small groups in chairs and on blankets on a grass lawn with bare trees and skyscrapers on either side
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    Rachel H. Pollack/Smart Cities Dive
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    Public spaces could better meet community needs: survey

    Too little funding and too much bureaucracy make city public space improvements difficult, according to a new report from the Project for Public Spaces.

    By Kalena Thomhave • April 3, 2025
  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why urban areas are a challenge for casual restaurant chains

    High rents, difficult buildouts and space limitations are among many reasons why casual full-service chains often avoid locations in cities. But urban siting opportunities exist, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • April 3, 2025
  • Man seated at table with the seal of the President of the United States surrounded by men and women.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

    Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said. 

    By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 2025
  • An aerial view of Fountain Square in Evanston, Illinois.
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    "Fountain Square Evanston" by Madcoverboy is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Building performance standards set to proliferate, evolve in 2025

    State and local governments continue to develop building standards that draw on existing frameworks and implement new metrics for measuring performance. 

    By Joe Burns • March 25, 2025
  • Several people on a train station platform with a commuter train and a sign reading "New Rochelle."
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    A train station is at the heart of this NYC suburb’s downtown revitalization

    New Rochelle, New York, has attracted $2 billion in development and seen its population grow over 7% in five years. Now, a project to remake its iconic train station aims to bring further benefits.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • NYC DDC, Kodua, Foley, Joshi, Constantino, roof, facade, $10.7M
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    Courtesy of DDC
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    $10.7M court upgrade to be one of the last projects to use NYC’s old contracting method

    The city’s new method of contracting will help projects like the judicial center renovation get done sooner, city officials say.

    By Robert Freedman • March 21, 2025
  • An aerial view of Madison, Wisconsin.
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    AlenaMozhjer via Getty Images
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    Madison, Wisconsin, benchmarking program to phase in smaller buildings

    Continuous benchmarking and system tune-ups can help owners and operators reduce annual energy use and provide cities with necessary information for setting performance targets, experts say.

    By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025
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    Denis Tangney Jr. via Getty Images
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    New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

    Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

    By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025
  • An aerial view of a stadium dome torn apart revealing the field below.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Tampa Bay Rays exit $1.3B stadium deal

    After Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field and created economic uncertainty in St. Petersburg, Florida, funding delays were too much, the team’s owner said.

    By Zachary Phillips • March 17, 2025
  • Photo looking up at a high rise building
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    Retrieved from Screenshot: Google Maps.
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    Baltimore property set for office-to-residential conversion for sale

    The developer planned to turn the historic One Calvert Plaza into apartments before facing financial difficulties.

    By Leslie Shaver • March 17, 2025
  • An intersection in Washington, DC, showing two facades of an office building about seven stories tall.
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    "1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW.jpg" by APK is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Tax break programs help spur downtown DC office-to-residential conversions

    The Housing in Downtown Program has supported three housing conversion projects to date, while a new program will provide tax breaks to projects that convert offices to “anything” in the city’s business corridor.

    By Danielle McLean • Updated March 5, 2025
  • A worker performs diagnostics on an HVAC unit.
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    Sarinya Pinngam via Getty Images
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    Fund supports local building innovation

    The HVAC association grants have funded energy audits and equipment assessments for school districts, churches other pro bono projects.

    By Joe Burns • Feb. 28, 2025
  • Washington state energy efficiency grants
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    Wackerhausen via Getty Images
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    Washington State grants $14.3M for public building retrofits

    Twenty-six recipients will use the funds for energy-efficient improvements to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings, the Washington State Department of Commerce says.

    By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2025
  • A rendering of a large building in Chicago with the word "Bally's" emblazoned on the side in red, over a river.
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    Courtesy of HKS
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    Bally’s $1.7B Chicago casino gains site approval

    The gaming development is slated to rise on the site of the old Chicago Tribune printing plant along the Chicago River.

    By Matthew Thibault • Feb. 21, 2025
  • The Boston Harbor and Financial district in Boston, Massachusetts, USA at sunrise showcasing its mix of contemporary and historic buildings.
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    Marcio Silva via Getty Images
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    Boston expands net-zero emissions requirements to new buildings, large additions

    The zoning change requires most new buildings to be net zero when they open. The city previously set similar performance standards for existing buildings.

    By Joe Burns • Feb. 4, 2025
  • View of the White House with flowers and fountain in front.
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    OlegAlbinsky via Getty Images
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    The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

    From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Rendering of the $1.6 billion hospital on the Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital Campus in northeast Houston.
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    Courtesy of Harris Health
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    9 largest commercial construction starts of December 2024

    Billion-dollar projects, including a hospital replacement in Houston and a Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, kicked off even as overall construction activity cooled to close the year.

    By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 27, 2025