NCSG Welcomes Chester Harvey
For transportation planners eager to get people out of their cars and on their feet, one of the most effective strategies, says the National Center for Smart Growth’s (NCSG) Chester Harvey, is also one of the cheapest: more trees. Streetscapes—the tree canopies, architecture, public art and other ur...
Sustainable Maryland Granted State Funding by Maryland General Assembly
A bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly this month will establish the first-ever state funding for UMD’s state-wide “greening” program, Sustainable Maryland (SM). SB14, which passed the Maryland’s house and senate April 11, will provide $500,000 annually to UMD’s Environmental Finance Center ...
Making ‘Place’ Through Art and Design
A long stretch of sidewalk along New Hampshire Avenue offers a straight shot from Langley Park to Takoma Park. While overgrown and noisy, University of Maryland students and faculty are working with community partners to see its potential as a place, not just a pass-through: a lush, trellis-covered ...
MAPP Alum Dr. Georgeanne Matthews Joins Architecture Program as New Assistant Professor
Georgeanne Matthews is all about the bigger picture. A seasoned architect specializing in public design, her portfolio comprises the institutional architecture that fortifies a community’s identity and place: libraries, community centers, campus master plans and K-12 design. But to Matthews, that ne...
Architecture Alumna Julia Nagele Brings Towering Design—and Meaning—to Seattle’s Skyline
The majestic skyscrapers designed by Julia Nagele (M.ARCH ’96) don’t reach Seattle’s cloud cover in a conventional fashion. Glassy and gleaming, they shift and undulate, emulating both sophistication and whimsy. Skyglass, Nagele’s zig-zag creation under construction for Seattle’s downtown, seemingly...
Book Pulls the Lid Off Canned Food’s History
Written by Karen Shih '09, originally published in Maryland Today.Humble cans of peas, chicken noodle soup and chili got a little more respect during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people stocked up on shelf-stable foods to avoid unnecessary trips to the grocery store. But canned goods have fallen far fr...
A New Spot for Spot
What makes a good dog park? Peek inside a canine’s mind, and chances are it’s a pretty short list: a place to run, butts to sniff, maybe the occasional squirrel.With millions of dogs adopted in the U.S. during the pandemic, the demand for dog parks has made them a priority for local governments like...
Meet Mohammad Gharipour, MAPP’s Next Director of Architecture
The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation will welcome Dr. Mohammad Gharipour to the University of Maryland this August as a professor of architecture and the next director of the Architecture Program. An accomplished and award-winning scholar, leader and teacher, Gharipour comes to UMD ...
Marccus Hendricks Promoted with Tenure to Associate Professor
Dr. Marccus Hendricks has been promoted with tenure to associate professor of urban studies and planning by the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (MAPP+D). A sought-after national voice in environmental justice, Hendricks’ work exposes the massive infrastructur...
Research Addressing Mental Health Crisis Earns “Grand Challenges 2.0” Funding
An interdisciplinary project that explores how nature can nurture better mental and physical health was awarded a University of Maryland “Grand Challenges 2.0” institutional grant. A partnership between faculty from five UMD colleges and schools—including architecture Associate Professor Jana Vander...