College Park’s ‘Main Street’ Finishes Safety Upgrade
This article was originally published in Maryland Today. Written by Allison Eatough ’97. Chester Harvey’s commute from Washington to the University of Maryland via Metro and a foldable bicycle has always been eco-friendly, if not always convenient. Sometimes he’d have to use the sidewalks and clunk over the concrete seams every second. Or he’d take an indirect route using shoulders and side streets to avoid busy Baltimore Avenue.
Building Towards AI?
The story originally appeared in Inhabit Magazine. The following images in this story were generated using Midjourney by MAPP designer Jelena Djakovic, using keywords pulled from each of the interviews.
To Design the Future, Look to the Past
When it comes to designing for a warmer planet, modern-day architects may find inspiration not from the latest technology, but from their earliest predecessors: the Sumarians of Babylon.
Federal Overhaul … of D.C. Buildings
The FBI Headquarters fits into the urban fabric of Washington, D.C., like a rayon leisure suit in a collection of silk blouses. The bleak, blocky building in the brutalist style (sideburns-era, all-concrete), nestled among its neoclassical counterparts on Pennsylvania Avenue, is a low-rise low point in the architectural annals of a monumental city.When the FBI relocates to Maryland in 2036, however, the building site could have a second life, said University of Maryland architecture Professor Matthew Bell.
Students Vie for National Title in Ninth Annual Colvin Case Study Challenge
Four teams made their “case” for top honors Saturday at a long-running national student competition hosted by the University of Maryland’s Colvin Institute for Real Estate Development. Clemson University beat out the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and New York University (NYU) for the winning title—and a $10,000 prize—with their analysis of a three-phase, mixed-use project in Charleston, S.C. at the 2024 Colvin Case Study Challenge.
Stephen Ayers Named Interim CEO of American Institute of Architects
The Honorable Stephen T. Ayers ‘85, FAIA, LEED AP has been appointed interim executive vice president and CEO of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). An accomplished architect and administrator with decades of leadership in public service, Ayers will assume the role in February following the departure of current EVP/CEO Lakisha Woods.
6 Little-Known Facts About a Founding Father
This story was originally published in Maryland Today.
Brutal Truths About “The Brutalist”
At a key moment in Brady Corbet’s film “The Brutalist,” architect Laszlo Toth, a tortured visionary played by Adrian Brody, berates another architect for revising his design of a career-making project in rural Pennsylvania: “Everything that is ugly, stupid, cruel, but most importantly, ugly … is your fault,” he roars. The scathing scene is one reason the film lives up to its name (copious drug use, violence and sexual assault, and a nearly four-hour run time also help). But it’s realistic, said architecture Assistant Clinical Professor Ken Filler.
The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation Mourns Harold Adams, FAIA
Legendary architect and teacher Harold Adams, FAIA, died April 12, 2022, at his home near College Station, Texas, following a short illness. He was 82. An early faculty member instrumental in devising the Maryland architecture program’s first professional practice courses, Adams was the visionary behind national design firm RTKL Associates (now CallisonRTKL) and a prominent architect in the Washington, D.C. region. He remained a mentor, supporter and benefactor of the school, most recently as a member of the Board of Visitors, until his death.
“The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had as an Architecture Student”
Written by Maggie Haslam and Brianna Rhodes. Photos by Jelena Djakovic.How do you create more foot traffic in a slice of downtown Washington, D.C. that has seen more retreat than feet—first emptying after the pandemic, and now with a shrinking federal workforce?