This past year the Windy City was abuzz with architecture and design news: everything from the Obama presidential library to a Star Wars invasion. The Pulitzer Prize winning critic talks about Chicago’s unique architectural heritage and the culture shift brewing in the profession.

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When word trickled out that Gehry would take over master planning for the river, it caught some locals by surprise. No one was more startled, and more critical, than this poet, politician, community activist, and citizen planner.

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John King’s tale of two cities is the story of two distinct public processes: San Francisco’s famously fractious culture, vs. Chicago’s ruthless top-down model of Mayor-as-last-and-final-word.

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When official planning efforts floundered in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans took it upon themselves to rethink and reimagine their city.

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On the tenth anniversary of the federal flood, some thoughts on the state of the Crescent City and why its future challenges have global implications.

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The profession is chronically disconnected from the public it’s supposed to serve. It’s time to rediscover some lost design tools and learn the value of authentic engagement.

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