Wanda Lau

For years, visitors arriving at AIA’s headquarters encountered an iron gate perched atop concrete stairs and flanked by brick walls. But today, the entrance is less of a challenge to visitors and more of an invitation. The non-historic portions of the walls are now gone. A sloped wood walkway traverses from the street to an activated courtyard, forming a link bet...

The adage “we are what we eat” applies to buildings as well. Prudent product specification plays a critical role in the construction industry, which is responsible for more than half of the raw materials extracted globally and approximately 39% of greenhouse gas emissions—28% from building operations and at least 11% from embodied carbon, or the...

Shelter anchors Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, yet nearly 800,000 people experienced homelessness in the U.S. last year. Even if a person’s housing seems stable, circumstances can change quickly: They might lose the ability to work because of an injury or illness, then lose their job and health insurance. In the absence of public safety nets and familial support ...

From our interview with homeowners Cathylee and Steve Arbaugh
Cathylee: As we neared retirement, we began looking to move from the Chicago suburbs.
Steve: I spent a combined 40-plus years working as a buyer for national retail chains and then in brand marketing for startups to Fortune 100–500 companies. Cathylee was a salesperson and has worked in commercial and residential interior architecture and design for more than 38 years.

Continual learning is integral to the identity and success of many designers. But sometimes, a person’s current role or firm can’t meet their education needs. One option is to reenter higher education as a non-traditional or mid-career student.

Of the 162 buildings featured in the 2003 book “Best Addresses: A Century of Washington’s Distinguished Apartment Houses,” one in particular caught the eye of a real estate professional, a past client of Colleen Healey, AIA.

After design school, recent graduates sometimes find architectural practice daunting and disheartening. Prior firm experience can temper the transition, as can learning from instructors with a foothold in the profession.

The landscape for climate discourse has shifted domestically, but USGBC Silver member company Host Hotels & Resorts is continuing business as usual—and that’s a good thing. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Host is the world’s largest lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) ...

On a burgeoning corner in downtown San Jose, California, a 19-story office building with a sprawling average floor plate of 54,000 square feet could kill the city vibe. But Gensler San Francisco had a solution.

Two vacant office buildings in Austin were turned into a vibrant campus to support the academic, social and community goals of a growing K-12 international school.

To reflect the homeowners’ multiple ties to Japan, Jacobschang Architecture translated aspects of the country’s traditional architecture into a new build in Culver City, California. A front door of Japanese chestnut boards hand-tooled in a Naguri cut style opens to a genkan entryway of rugged stones and concrete to receive outdoor shoes.

For a 1970s condominium renovation, Jim Zack, FAIA, and Leland Classen seized the opportunity to run with their design vision. “A good client is willing to let us do what we want,” Jim says. “The freedom allows us to explore and build.”

In Seattle’s Tangletown neighborhood, a couple with a large dog asked Robert Hutchison to extend the rear of their 1913 Craftsman bungalow to strengthen its connection to the gardens and add much-needed guest and flex spaces.

Architectural education has its roots in the apprenticeship model. When you first entered the profession, senior designers and project managers likely introduced you to building codes and flashing details. However, you may be several years and promotions into your career before starting to wonder, “Do I have a true mentor? Would I benefit from having one?...

Extreme weather is happening with greater frequency and intensity. Of the 45 years the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has tracked weather and climate disasters with damages reaching or surpassing $1 billion (adjusted for inflation), the 10 years with the highest event number all fall after 2010.