Your blog is terrific, thank you. I have been working on several "prototype articles" to explain design thinking to educators and pitch the need for it in our schools. I also have been shamelessly trying to coin a term "Variables Thinking" which I think from an education standpoint would be the ultimate skill students need to face our future. Blog is easily found by searching term. Thanks for the hard work delineating the non-linear and parallel etiologies of design thinking. very cool and very helpful! Good luck with the Phd.
Keep up the great work and strong responses to commenters who post with ego more than collaborative spirit!
Wicked good and very helpful post Stephanie. Many thanks. I work in international development and I have been struggling with the evolution of Design Thinking. HCD and 'Lean'. This was a excellent primer for me.
What happened from the mid 1980′s to date was a race to discover new methods for improving business, service and design. Each methodology can be traced through history and analysed independently should you wish to interpret historical readings in context of the method under investigation. I will highlight an example of what I mean as we move along.
This is the history of Design 2.0, product & service creation. That has not been the already arrived future of design thinking for at least a decade.
Service Design is not a "holistic perspective…that distinguishes itself from all previous design methodologies" as from the outset it presumes you need a service. This is a typical Design 2 methodology orientation, some might say limitation, also found in product design thinking and experience design thinking. Those are known today as downstream methods in comparison to upstream methods of design thinking that begin with no preconceived outcome assumptions.
Meta Design methods (Design 3 & 4) have no preconceived challenge or solution paths built in so Meta Design is not "focused on social sustainability". Sustainability is recognized as one of many important problem types that now exist. Meta Design is not restricted to that problem type. Sustainability design methods are geared towards presuming sustainability related challenges and that is different from Meta Design methodologies and orientation.
Stanford has many impressive fancy titles to offer up under the subject of design thinking and is primarily still stuck in their legacy system Design 2 mode where design thinking is presented as product creation. That has not been the leading edge of design thinking for at least a decade. The American graduate schools of design have been slow to adapt to the changing aspects of design thinking in real world practice.
Much of what is being sold today as design thinking actually originates from the applied creativity community of practice rather than from design history. If you don't know that you might find the present picture of design thinking rather confusing. This is particularly true of collaboration and cocreation. What leading practices are doing today in the realm of cocreation has its roots, not in participatory design history but rather in appllied creativity where behaviors have always been front and center. You won't find much about (inbound) behaviors in the history of design. Instead what you will find is (outbound) interest in users. Applied Creativity has its own history beginning in the modern age around 1940. Much deep historical knowledge and research regarding how to work upstream comes from applied creativity not design.
On line you will encounter many "histories of design thinking" being written by folks who are trying to write the story based on their relatively narrow understanding of design history as a single track. Those one dimensional history depictions leading up to today tend to be fatally flawed but perhaps useful to those looking for a cocktail-party drive-by understanding of what design thinking is today and how we got here. Good luck to all.
You have grossly misquoted, mis understood and twisted my words and research out of context. It is clear that you have not read my previous posts leading up to this one. For this reason, i do not feel it is worth challenging and correcting your opinion.
I dont really like to engage in public debates that are grounded in proving oneself better or more knowledgeable than another. The chest beating/bicep flexing reaction in industry (and unfortunately also present in academia) that has been made common practice by previous generations is disappointing. Being part of the 'new' and 'young' generation, i feel that i should aim to put a stop to this mentality. This strategy is redundant in our current social environment and hopefully will die out as elder professionals retire.
It does elude me as to why you would bother passing critique to those of us who, in your opinion, portray 'cocktail-party, drive by understandings' of design thinking. Moreso, why you would take the opportunity to promote your own "research" in a forum you dont respect. I had a look at your document and could quite legitimately pass it off in the same manner- cocktail bites of superficial insights with no reference or evidence. Without reference to papers, people, books, articles or practice to back up your insights, anyone could promote a pdf filled with made up insights in order to be perceived as seemingly innovative. But i am sure this is not the case and knowing your experience am giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Personally, i believe in giving credit where credit is due. I have done so with your work and expect the same respect towards my own. You are knowledgeable and experienced enough to understand that I have devoted substantial (full) time work towards my research on design thinking. I do not get anything out of promoting your company or any other person. I do not get paid for endorsements, and am not out to 'make a buck' from design thinking or related practice i discuss here- and im certainly not out to prove other people wrong. The aim of this blog is to share insights and knowledge from my research as well as spark thoughtful discussions on related topics.
You opinion is most welcome whether it challenges or supports my argument. My only request is that you offer the same respect towards my efforts as i have done your own. I also request that you thoroughly read my previous posts before trolling on my, or other individuals websites, and stay true to context. And if you vehemently disagree with my research and contentions, i will not be offended should you wish i retract all references to your company and your work. These are, after all, simply modern interpretations of Buchanan's orders of design.
Thank you for putting much time and effort into responding and im sorry we dont share the same view.
"chest beating/bicep flexing" "as elder professionals retire." Huh? WTF? That is nasty unwarrented stuff.
You asked me to clarify a two sentence contribution and so I did. My previous brief comment on your post remains. It is a simple statement. Your "Brief History of Design Thinking" above reflects the Design 1 & 2 worlds. There is nothing particularly unusual there. It remains an industry and academic bias. Evidently that is not what you wanted to hear.
I can see in your other posts on this blog that you are referencing the NextD work and the models that we created and shared. I am happy to see that you are making use of that work in your own sensemaking. We interact with and are visited by many graduate and post-graduate students working on the future of design. I believe you have yourself been invited to our office. As I recall you were also invited to be a student moderator of the NextD discussion list on LinkedIn at one time. Your tonalities seem to have changed more recently. That is unfortunate.
In any case if you want to come by and have chat about the difference between the NextD Complexity Ladder work and what you describe as "Buchanan's orders of design." I would be happy to extend that invitation to you. Regardless you are certainly welcome to continue using the NextD models as you figure out your own path. At this point that work has been widely seen and made use of by many. We remain happy with that small contributions of NextD.
It is not nasty and not unwarranted. You mis represented my argument and mis quoted my words to fit with your defamatory analysis. I don't mind that you have a differing opinion, but when you label my efforts as 'cocktail drive by understandings' (amongst others) and ignore the fact that i state quite clearly that what i have provided on this blog is a *summary* of a larger and more in depth review of literature from my thesis, i classify that as trolling. You knew what you were doing and frankly id expect more understanding from someone with your expertise.
Deliberate attempts to inspire reactions to then blast those that appear annoyed/frustrated as "not liking what they hear" is just a cheap shot. Of course my tonality will differ when met with this sort of reaction.
Thank you for reading and referencing to my work, it is greatly appreciated!
Still in my search on Design Thinking… Another article I came across that answered some unanswered questions..
This material is priceless! Thank you so much for posting this, and is it possible to use it for one of my assignments on Design Thinking module. It must have taken you so much time to bring it all to one nice paper that would put everything in shelves in my head (at least).
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Of course you may cite whatever you like for your assignment.
Interesting series of posts on the development of Design Thinking, Stefanie.
Thank you for blogging! I would be totally lost on design thinking history if not this and two previous post on the topic. Thank you so much!!!
I'm writing my master thesis on design thinking and innovation management for a business degree. Obviously, since I'm not coming from design field, I have some difficulties with putting together more or less chronological line on the history of design thinking in short, a page or two. This material has already been priceless help! Yet, I got a bit confused and I want kindly ask your assistance/clarifications.
If I understood correctly, it could be put together this way (please see below).
Yet, then I start comparing this timeline based on your blog post with your circular scheme and I got lost with two basic questions. Firstly, what happened with meta design? Did it just sort of continuation of user-centered design which was getting more and more holistic approach? Secondly, what was first: service design (based on the circular scheme) or human-centered design (based on blog post)? Were they developing parallel?
Sincerely thank you in advance for your further clarifications and explanations on the topic.
First of all, i would be careful about making a statement about chronological developments of design thinking. I very loosely define a broad history that i understood to have evolved through my readings on design; this history being drawn by major trends and developments in design practice and research.
I wouldnt label the 1960s as participatory design. Participatory design was introduced during this phase but was not popular until the late 1980s. You are right, however, to understand that participatory design was a precursor to user centered design. User centered design did not emerge until the 1980s and in fact it was often used interchangeably with human centered design during this time (but user centered was more common). Our conventional understanding of human centered design did not emerge until the late 1990's. It is important to note that often many of these practices existed prior to the dates i outline, but that the dates i define are when they started to become popular or commonplace.
Meta design sort of merged with service design and environmentally/sustainably focused design practice. Thus, it is often used in conjunction (or synonymous with) strategic and systemic design. Meta design is user centered in that it relies on social innovation, but the emphasis of its practice is on the wider, holistic and systemic perspective. My impression is that meta design has really died as a term and blended into the general practice of 'fourth order' design.
In terms of service and human centered design- this is a tricky question to answer. Service design is often defined as having its roots in marketing. Human centered design, although appearing as a new term, was used around the time user centered design emerged. If we take service design as an designerly extension on marketing, and human centered design as an extension of user centerd design, then these two fields evolved concurrently. But if we are speaking about service design and human centered design as we understand it today, then i would argue service design emerged before human centered design as a term and concept became commonplace.
I hope this makes sense and that i have clarified your questions for you!
I'm currently studying engineering, and my final-year project is about introducing Human-centered Design into the curriculum at my university.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you SO MUCH!
Thanks a lot for sharing here some of your research. It´s really interesting, and very nice and easy understood. Not much of that!
I have a question or two to your timeline, because I´m a little confused: Schould `NOW + design thinking´ considers as headlines or are they to be understood as preliminary last point on the timeline? In the ladder case, would that mean that you see DT as something new(ly defined) grown out of or build on top of previous designpracise and thinking….? Instead of DT understood as some kind of key element or inner "soul" of designing (what ever kind of design(ing) and maybe through anytime), but of course changed over time like for instance business has changed.
Apologies for the delayed response. Yes i do see design thinking as something that is (outside of design practice) newly defined and has grown out of as well as built upon previous design practice and thinking. But design thinking is also acknowledged as a kind of 'third' style of knowledge (as bruce archer would call it) and it is definitely -at a very basic level- innate to human nature. It is just that designers generally fine tune this innate "soul" or intuition and thus feel more comfortable working in this style of thinking and doing. That said, there does exist fundamental characteristics that appear to be at the core of designing and design thinking, but the practice does and will evolve over time as our world changes around us. I believe design reflects and is reflected in our current state in society and human development.
Many thanks for taking the time to answering me.
It answers very well,og rereading your text I understood more of it :-). Now I recognise that DT can both be the cognitive way of thinking (where using more of the right side of the brain is part of it), a methodology (a practice with tools and processes and reflecting this), and now also as a mindset (which is seen in HCD, organizational design and Design Management used at strategic level in organsations). So when you state that DT is grown out of previous practice and thinking (design theory?) it is as a mindset? Is that the right way to put it?
Talking about a "style of knowledge" is this then understood a cognitive way? And the two other styles is then?
I invented the first UCD process for web development, which is basically still the standard today, when I was designing the first online trading systems on Wall Street. Believe it or not, I don't care anymore.


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What is the meaning of the term "militia" in the Second Amendment?
December 7, 2019 November 27, 2019 by Steven
The Revolutionary War ended when the peace treaty was signed.
The people who signed the peace treaty with the British might just know more than today's lefty pundits. After all, they authorized the United States to exist.
The Second Amendment:
A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Notice that it is the right of the people — NOT the right of the militia.
The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to add further restrictions on the government. The Bill of Rights itself says so. Many people think that rights come from government. They have been fooled. Rights do NOT come from government. Government can only take away rights. The Bill of Rights DOES NOT grant any rights. The Bill of Rights adds further restrictions on government. The bill itself (Link) stipulates its purpose:
in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added".
Some people like to argue about the word "militia" in the Second Amendment. They argue that the right to bear arms is only for the organized militia, or that militias are government agencies with government weapons, or that the militia is only State National Guards. BUT JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WERE THERE AND THEY NEVER HAD SUCH THOUGHTS.
DO NOT BE FOOLED
Don't be fooled by the word "regulated" in the phrase "A well regulated militia". It does not mean "disciplined" nor even subject to a chain of command. The word regulated means governed by rules, or "subject to governing principles". From Latin Regula "a general rule".
We are already regulated by "a general rule" that created government. The first sentence of Declaration of Independence states that the Law of Nature entitles government to exist. According to Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law (a law encyclopedia published in 1765 and used in the Colonies) This rule of conduct applies with equal obligation to individuals and to nations. And indeed the jura summi imperii is the force that government must obey. For all political power is vested in the people.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT MILITIA IS "WE THE PEOPLE"
Your State's Constitution will tell you who is in the militia. Read it. And notice that it does not require training as some people suggest.
In the 1939 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Miller, 307 US 174, we learn what the Second Amendment was about. In order to suppress a military coup that overthrows the government, we must be able to show up on the battlefields with weapons equal to the military, in order to take back our government. If you are prohibited from buying weapons equal to the military, then perhaps you do not live in a free country — perhaps "We The People" have lost control of what we created.
JOHN ADAMS signed the peace treaty with the British
President John Adams in his October 11, 1798 letter to the officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of Massachusetts:
An address from the officers commanding two thousand eight hundred men, consisting of such substantial citizens as are able and willing at their own expense completely to arm and clothe themselves in handsome uniforms, does honor to that division of the militia which has done so much honor to its country."
That's right. Almost 7 years after the Bill of Rights, and 18 years after Massachusetts was a state (by the way, John Adams wrote the Massachusetts Constitution) the militia consisted of citizens willing to completely to arm themselves at their own expense. Don't be fooled into believing that this has changed. The Constitution does not change. Those who swore to defend it must perpetuate it. Congress has no authority to commit mutiny.
John Adams might just know why we created a government. He signed the Declaration of Independence. He signed the Peace Treaty with Great Britain authorizing the U.S. to exist. He was U.S. Vice President, U.S. President, Ambassador to several countries, primary author of the Massachusetts Constitution, and former Governor of Massachusetts.
Thomas Jefferson also signed the peace treaty with the British
Thomas Jefferson in his "Legal Commonplace Book" quoting a passage is from Cesare Beccaria's Essay on Crimes and Punishments, originally published in Italian in 1764:
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms … disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed one."
Jefferson owned a copy of Beccaria's treatise in the original Italian. He later purchased an English translation, published in London in 1809, which was sold to the Library of Congress (Sowerby, Entry 2349, 3:21).
My free essays at NotFooledByGovernment.com
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The three things that are abhorrent to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Power to Tax is the power to destroy.

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Posts tagged with "Office Buildings":
Renzo Piano completes offices for Kum & Go in Des Moines, Iowa
Renzo Piano Building Workshop has officially completed the much-anticipated Krause Gateway Center in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. As the new headquarters for Midwestern convenience store chain Kum & Go, the six-story building features an open and transparent design that resembles a glass pagoda. RPBW designed the 160,000-square-foot structure in collaboration with Iowa-based firm OPN Architects. Construction wrapped up late last year on the project site, situated on the north end of the city's famous Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass facade, the Krause Gateway Center provides 360-degree views of the city and the art garden below, while housing offices for 800 Kum & Go and Krause Group employees. It also includes a two-story underground parking garage, a fitness center, large meeting rooms, and a dedicated art space. The focal point of the modern design is its sun-soaked interior lobby, created with a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors and workers alike. Sustainability, accessibility, and engagement with art are key elements of the Krause Gateway Center's overall design. The curtain wall exterior allows ample daylight into the office space while the elongated overhangs that divide the floors shade the interior and control temperature. An outdoor terrace and a green roof populated with sculptures offer breathing spaces for employees to access during the day. In addition to the unique, people-centric design, the building takes up just 25 percent of the project site, where over 100 trees and various landscape furniture dot the landscape for further public use. In the near future, RPBW will build out a café for the building's Grand Avenue lobby entrance along with exterior seating.
Roche Dinkeloo's Ford Foundation Building reopens for the 21st century
Upon stepping inside the new, light-filled Ford Foundation for Social Justice, you'd never know the crisp and clean, 415,000-square-foot building felt darker and smaller just four years ago. The landmark headquarters of the formerly-named Ford Foundation was designed by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates in 1967 and has long been considered one of New York's greatest architectural treasures. Its 12-story, corten steel structure featuring textured granite walls and floor-to-ceiling glass windows were emblematic of groundbreaking mid-century modern design, but in recent years the prized building has fallen behind the times. This month, Gensler's New York office completed an extensive renovation effort to redesign and rebrand the organization's Midtown East facility as a sustainable hub for social justice–oriented groups to commune and collaborate. The 51-year-old building was reconstructed in compliance with updated city safety codes with an increased attention to energy efficiency and accessibility. Where rays of daylight used to only trickle into the structure's iconic, glass-clad atrium, they now sweep through the office areas and out the other side of the building. It's arguably one of the sunniest spaces in the neighborhood and now boasts near-complete transparency. "People used to walk by here and have no idea what was going on inside," said Darren Walker, the Foundation's current president. "It sat here like a mammoth, making a statement of discretion and tranquility. But now, while you can see so much of the original vocabulary of the building in things like its 6-foot planning grid and innovative use of brass, it's much more transparent and energetic." Central to Gensler's revamp was expanding the amount of public and meeting spaces for outside organizations from 53,600 square feet to a whopping 81,000 square feet. With more room to host global groups committed to human equity and achievement, the Foundation aims to bolster its outreach efforts while also promoting its own themes of transparency, fairness, and dignity through an inviting design. Gensler also added extra lifts, subtle wheelchair ramps, gender-inclusive signage, and updated workplace furniture to meet ADA standards—all in order to encourage diversity within the Foundation's four walls. This idea of displaying human value through design also translates to the new open office plan that nurtures collaboration and gives employees access to coveted daylight and ample views of the lush Dan Kiley–designed garden atrium. Jungles Studio, in collaboration with SiteWorks, rehabilitated the space to align with Kiley's simple original vision. To combat years of overgrowth and erosion, they deepened the tree holes, improved irrigation, and restored the garden's reflecting pool as well as the brick pavers throughout. This indoor greenhouse is visible from the workspace above now that the closed-door private offices that once lined the atrium walls have been opened up as laneways on each floor. Ed Wood, design director and principal at Gensler, said the overall design intent for the project was to create a feeling of the "new, but familiar." Perhaps the most impressive part of the Foundation's renovation signifies just that. During the project, over 1,500 pieces of furniture were meticulously restored while over half of the original Warren Platner–designed wood pieces were refinished to match their original stain. Each legacy lighting fixture, bronze accent, leather-laid item, piece of millwork, as well as the carpet and wood flooring was either refurbished or reimagined using extremely similar materials or pieces salvaged from the Foundation's storage. The updated interior successfully transports visitors back to a time when Mad Men era-design dominated New York's office towers without making it look cheesy and out of date. It's actually refreshing. When the Ford Foundation first opened, it was a design marvel and a nod to the Foundation's claim to be the wealthiest organization of its kind in the world. With this update, Gensler brought the building back to life and advanced its architectural status by not only making it a prime example of a 21st-century renovation project but by intelligently piecing back together all the iconic elements that made the interior so irresistible decades ago. The public spaces inside the Ford Foundation for Social Justice will officially open to the public in January. Its grantees and affiliate organizations will be welcomed into the new convening spaces starting then as well. The project is pursuing LEED Platinum certification. In addition to the staff, the building permanently houses Philanthropy New York, the United Nations Foundation, and the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.
New inventions hit the mute button in open offices
The hum of innovation and collaboration at work these days is reaching a fever pitch, and a lot of us are having a hard time concentrating. New incubation spaces are producing a myriad of novel solutions to world problems and for many the buzz of that activity is becoming a distraction. Our open-plan office spaces, the hallowed halls of design thinking, potentially threaten our most cherished commodity: privacy. Recently, innovative companies like Hushme, Panasonic design studio Future Life Factory, and others have developed novel solutions to the cubicle quietness conundrum. The invention of the "Hushme" ushers in a new era of voice privacy. The Bluetooth-connected headphone device is hailed as the first voice mask for mobile phones. The sophisticated microphone-enabled mask links with your smartphone and provides a firewall against eavesdropping coworkers. An added benefit is that it makes one think twice before opening one's mouth. According to a recent article on techcrunch, "Open offices have driven Panasonic to make horse blinders for humans." The product, known as "Wear Space" blocks out a worker's peripheral vision while incorporating noise-cancelling technology. It also curbs risky impulses like making unnecessary eye contact with coworkers. Panasonic, however, is not the first to enter the work noise–reduction space. Cross collaboration has produced some exciting results from some unexpected places including the tattoo and the camping industries. Pause Pod developed a lightweight pop-up tent that fits easily in a good-looking shoulder bag. Whether you are reading, napping, meditating, or simply recharging, Pause Pod provides the ultimate privacy and relaxation while taking up minimal real estate at the office. The tattoo industry produced a more drastic and controversial proposal: the eyelid tattoo. The clever device provides cover from nosey co-workers and allows one to take quick in-office naps during a presumably exhausting day of collaboration.
Google fills a historic timber hangar with its sleek new Los Angeles office
The Spruce Goose, a derogatory nickname for the Hughes H-4 Hercules, only flew once, but the largest plane ever built (entirely out of wood, to boot) continues to live on in pop culture ephemera. The plane has found a permanent home in Oregon's Evergreen Aviation Museum, but the Los Angeles hangar where the Spruce Goose was built is getting a second shot at life. Under the timber hangar's four-story-tall roof, ZGF Architects has completed a voluminous open office for Google that celebrates the building's aeronautical heritage. Inside the 450,000-square-foot Playa Vista space, ZGF has restored the building's historic Douglas fir "spine," a series of curved ribs that support the ceiling, using wood salvaged from the hangar. Any leftover wood was used for furniture throughout the office. The Spruce Goose hangar was the largest timber building in the world when it was completed, and ZGF and engineers Arup mostly kept true to that legacy by scattering wooden finishes throughout and leaving the ceiling exposed. An enormous ship-like structure at the office's core anchors the circulation routes and staircases to each floor, and according to ZGF, creates a "unique building-within-a-building design." The hangar had largely laid dormant until Google took it over as a tenant, though in the past it's served as a soundstage for films like Titanic and Avatar. In renovating such a cavernous space, ZGF punched skylights throughout the 750-foot-long building's roof to maximize the amount of incoming daylight. The office space also features plenty of aviation-themed conference rooms, a fitness center, cafes, a 250-person event space, and aerial boardwalks that connect the first, second, and third floors. A "perception sculpture" made up of 2,800 hanging steel balls has been installed in the central atrium, that, when viewed from a specific angle, reveals the airy shape of the Spruce Goose plane. The references to Howard Hughes's and the site's place in aviation history is also celebrated throughout with placards and stories about the building, the Spruce Goose, Google, and L.A. Although Google has approximately 1,000 employees in the city, it's unclear how many will work out of the Spruce Goose office. ZGF is no stranger to designing for tech giants and is currently part of the team renovating Microsoft's Redmond campus. "Los Angeles is an ideal home for Google's newest office," said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was on hand for a tour of the building over the weekend. "Our city is a hub of innovation, creativity, and homegrown talent that shaped the aerospace industry in the past and that's redefining the tech sector today. "Expanding Google's presence in Playa Vista connects an historic building with our dynamic future, a site that will serve as a hotbed of scientific excellence and economic success for years to come."
viaARCHITECTURE brings joy to a small office in Lower Manhattan
There are good clients and then there are good clients with great projects. They don't always go together, but when they do, the result can be inspiring architecture and design. viaARCHITECTURE, the New York City firm led by Frederick Biehle and Erika Hinrichs, found both when they were commissioned to design the New York offices for Creative Capital. The nonprofit began as a project to "reinvent cultural philanthropy and to support innovative artists pursuing adventurous projects in all disciplines." It was founded in response to the National Endowment for the Arts' abandonment of support for individual artists, and the nonprofit is proud to claim "a fierce commitment to freedom of expression." In the last few years, they have supported artists as diverse as Meredith Monk, Laura Poitras, and Rebecca Solnit, among many others. Biehle was excited to design the group's office space and produced a working environment that is a thrill for its 20 daily inhabitants and any additional visitors. The organization's office is in a typical cramped New York site on Maiden Lane near Wall Street on the 18th-floor. But the architects were able to open up the space and emphasize the view out through a number of tall windows. The 5,000-square-foot space is further enhanced by exposed concrete floors and ceilings with stripped-down beams and columns all focused on the view out to the street and sky. In addition, the office design, which emphasizes communal, co-working spaces instead of individual work rooms, have space-saving pocket doors and multiple openings to increase spatial adaptability and visual access. The space feels open and light-filled despite its less than desirable dimensions. Visitors to Creative Capital exit a small elevator and turn into a narrow hallway, where they are greeted by a colorful double-wide sliding metal door that pulls one into the space. It is hard to convey how the architects' color palette has created an entirely joyful work environment for its employees, something that is not always the case in narrow Lower Manhattan work spaces. It should be noted that the architects worked with their clients to produce not only a desirable work environment but also one that was affordable for the nonprofit. The construction fees for the office were integrated into the ten-year lease plan, and the architects produced efficient built-in furniture and the rest is discounted Herman Miller task furniture for the remainder of the space. This commission was a special one for the architects and produced a project that improved the daily work experience for its users. It's a case study in what architects can do to improve everyone's lives.
An Estonian office block receives a splash of color with an aluminum mesh facade
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Estonia-based architectural practice molumba has enlivened a suburban office block with a unique concrete and aluminum screen assembly. The project was commissioned by AS Elering—the nation's largest transmission systems operator for electricity and natural gas—as a dramatic, three-fold expansion of the preexisting structure in Mustamäe, a southwestern neighborhood in the nation's capital of Tallinn.
Facade Manufacturer Metal-Disain Oü (metal sheets), Talot AS (concrete panels), JU-Metall Oü
Architects molumba, Eeoo Stuudio Oü (interior)
Facade Installer Oma Ehitaja
Facade Consultants Novarc
Location Tallinn, Estonia
Date of Completion 2018
System Steel frame with prefabricated concrete panels and metal sheets
Products Metal-Disain Oü PW keevisrest
Over 140 turquoise mesh piers ring and visually buttress each elevation, a play on historical castellation and Gothic design found throughout Tallinn's Old Town. The piers are built of full-length aluminum strips measuring 12 to 41 feet, which are in turn welded to a series of connecting bars. Each pier possesses its own steel support structure consisting of two internal, vertical columns fastened to the welded connecting bars. The design of the complex references the spindly and bundled power line, a ubiquitous feature across urban landscapes. AS Elering operates a multi-acre electrical substation next door. According to design lead Karli Luik, molumba envisioned the project as "the brain of the electricity and gas transmission network, monitoring and administrating their vitally important circulation." As a vitally important aspect of Estonia's energy infrastructure, the entire 40,000 square-foot complex is ringed by a perimeter wall fashioned of the same turquoise aluminum screen. For molumba, the bigger question was how to give the mesh triangles a truly functional quality outside of their aesthetic elements. The two planes of the piers form an acute isosceles triangle: the two congruent sides measure just under four feet while the base is approximately three feet. This shorter edge is placed atop the building's 20 by 10 foot black precast concrete panels and wedged between window openings. With a 41-degree circumcenter angle, the piers function as effective passive sun shades for office functions within. Additionally, the mesh frame serves as an industrially-produced lattice screen for future vegetative growth to coil up the facade. The interior, designed by Stuudio Oü, features a design that similarly echoes the building's utilitarian function. Spiraling stairwells, built of concrete and steel, vertically course through the east and west elevations of the headquarters, while exposed pipes, cables, and pendant lamps made of recycled insulators line the ceiling and walls. A central vegetated courtyard and a two-story, wood-paneled stairwell, with steps of varying size, are the office block's principal communal areas. At the core of it all lies the "Brain," where the nation's energy transmission network is surveilled through a hippodrome of monitors.
Neil M. Denari Architects unveils a sculptural rooftop office space in El Paso
Los Angeles–based Neil M. Denari Architects (NDMA) has unveiled plans for a 10,000-square-foot office and gallery addition slated for the Sotoak Realty company in the Union Plaza District of El Paso, Texas.
The adaptive-reuse project aims to add a sculptural rooftop pavilion to an existing three-story red brick warehouse. The proposed addition cantilevers 18 feet over an adjacent street and features a red aluminum panel soffit designed in homage to the region's clay-rich soils.
For the project, the designers have created a north-facing window wall that will capture daylight, a feature that compliments an interior light well connecting a rooftop terrace with the building's main stairs and a lower level gallery. Renderings for the project depict a bright open office area flanking a cluster of executive suites, with perforated metal panel window walls lining the eastern-facing portions of the space. The project is currently entering the construction documents phase, according to the Texas-born Neil M. Denari, principal at NMDA.
The project is expected to be completed in 2020.
Architect: Neil M. Denari Architects Client/Developer: Sotoak Realty Location: El Paso, Texas Expected completion: 2020
Aluminum complements wood in this office building's woven skin
Laval, a town in western France town historically known for the manufacturing of fine linens, has received a new 24,000-square-foot, three-story office building featuring unique ornate screening systems. Designed by Paris-based Périphériques on a small parcel of land, the project supports a growing culture of startup companies by bringing together multiple organizations with large shared collective spaces. The relatively straightforward massing of the building comprises a subtly shaped box defined by required setbacks and two subtractive cuts for daylight penetration, punctuated by a central wood-clad courtyard and roof terrace.
Facade Manufacturer WICONA
Architects Périphériques
Facade Installer ISORE; MIRO (construction)
Facade Consultants Egis Bâtiments Centre Ouest (technical engineer)
Location Laval, France
System Reinforced concrete frame with timber and aluminum screens
Products Perforated metal corners, mirrored stainless steel siding by ISORE
The courtyard massing scheme sets up two primary facade responses: an external perforated aluminum screen and an internal, diagonally installed wood screen. The architects said the main goal for these two assemblies was to create different atmospheres, a device to mediate the surrounding landscape, and an intimate courtyard patio. "The perforated metal offers a way to observe the landscape from inside the office and creates a kinetic effect from the outside," said Emmanuelle Marin, principal at Périphériques. The primary external facades are organized into approximately 18-inch modules defined by vertical floor-to-ceiling bands of glazing interspersed with insulated metal panels. Perforated bronze and silver–colored aluminum angles were set at contrasting angles to produce what the architects call a "kinetic screen." This solar shading device is attached back to the primary facade slab edge. The spacing and overlap of the two layers of aluminum are responsive to solar orientation and internal program. The courtyard is lined with a timber sunscreen composed of four-inch thick horizontal members set at a slight inclination set along a 4-foot grid. A continuous pathway framed by the building envelope wraps the courtyard on the inside, and an interior glass wall buffers noise and filters daylight. HVAC and plumbing systems are organized along this pathway for efficient, centralized distribution. Marin said one of the successes of the project is the softening of the urban environment, achieved by the courtyard massing and wood cladding. "The acoustics within the courtyard patios are very interesting, producing an effect that makes the outdoors feel more like an interior space."
Gensler's NVIDIA headquarters opens, with a super-roof that lets the outside in
NVIDIA's cavernous, Gensler-designed 500,000-square-foot headquarters opened for business late 2017, capping off a seven-year effort to create a new state-of-the-art office complex for the technology company. Located in Santa Clara, California, the triangular complex takes a decidedly inward approach to the open, creative office type. Unlike Facebook's park-topped headquarters or Apple's ring-in-the-forest complex, which feature expansive connections to the outdoors and commingle quasi-public access with offices, NVIDIA's new home base is self-contained and mono-functional, more high-tech tent than big-nature oasis. Instead of bringing the outside in, Gensler's designs utilize a soaring internal volume and 245 perfectly calibrated triangular skylights set into a modular, undulating roof that turns the inside out. Workers are expected to arrive by car, entering the building's underbelly via two basement parking levels containing 1,500 stalls. A glass-enclosed elevator core welcomes arrivals before whisking them to the cavernous offices above, where they are greeted by a faceted, black metal panel cocoon wrapping the all-white elevator core. This angular, two-story volume creates a sheltered area at the heart of the building underneath an orderly grid of skylights that was laid out using virtual reality software to determine each skylight's final placement. Hao Ko, principal and managing director at Gensler, said, "We worked hard to get the right specifications of glass makeup to allow us the right quality of diffused and soft sunlight in the space. The final result—where the daylighting is evenly dispersed throughout and evenly experienced by everyone—is a testament to the upfront work we did in design." Because of Santa Clara's zoning laws, the structure could only rise two stories and ultimately topped out at 50 feet tall. In response, Ko's team created two soaring levels within the arched envelope of the building, taking the opportunity to transform the office's many staircases into broad, socially vibrant areas while also creating an upper level that functions more like a mezzanine than a fully-enclosed floor. Along the ground, squat cubicles, an institutional-seeming dining hall, and multifunctional lab spaces orbit the opaque core, which itself contains lounges, meeting rooms, coding nooks, and research areas. The level above, meanwhile, is populated by parallel rows of cubicles interrupted by acoustically-sealed meeting pods that extend every which way. The end result is a workplace envisioned and constructed to look good—and work well—in any light.
Take a first look at BIG's Manhattan-bound "tower-in-the-park"
The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has released the first batch of renderings for its latest Manhattan project, a 60-story office tower set to touch down in NoMad. As first reported by New York YIMBY, "29th & 5th" will rise from the site of the former historic Bancroft Bank Building, replacing an 800-foot-tall luxury condo tower designed by Moshe Safdie. As seen in the renderings, the building at 3 West 29th Street will consist of two slender, linked rectangular masses with a glass curtain wall. Differentiating each volume will be the width of the windows, with the curtain wall of the eastern half holding much wider windows than its western counterpart. One of the project's more interesting features is the "spine" of cantilevering concrete terraces running up the tower's eastern side, which will give each floor access to outdoor space. According to the project's EB-5 materials–a program designed to lure foreign investment in the building in exchange for a potential green card–the tower is being designed with a heavy emphasis on wellness. "The building will incorporate a LEED-Certified design and highly amenitized offering package promoting employee connectivity, communal workspaces, and fitness options that will pioneer a new frontier of wellness and sustainability within the workplace. The building is designed with smaller 13,400-square-foot floor plates that will attract an underserved market while leaving ample lot area to design a vibrant park surrounding the building." While permits filed with NYC's Department of Buildings show that the project was submitted as a 34-story, 300,000-square-foot tower, YIMBY is reporting that the original application was used to begin foundation work ahead of a final plan reveal. This set of new renderings paints a picture of a tower that's at least 60 stories tall, with a possible height of 800-to-850 feet and up to 600,000 square feet of floor space. The skyscraper's massive heft has been made possible by developer HFZ Capital's agglomeration of air rights from throughout the neighborhood. No completion date has been given for 29th & 5th at the time of writing.
405 Park Avenue buys St. Patrick's air rights for a glassy upgrade
Only two days after AN reported that the owners of St. Patrick's Cathedral in East Midtown, Manhattan, were planning on selling a portion of the venerable church's air rights to an undisclosed buyer, Crain's New York has reported that the transfer will go towards enlarging 405 Park Avenue. The 17-story, currently unassuming brick-and-glass office tower will grow another four stories and have its facade replaced with an all-glass curtainwall courtesy of global architecture firm Gensler. The office building was purchased by co-owners MRP Realty and Deutsche Bank Asset Management, an arm of the German bank, in early 2016, and will become the second building (after 270 Park Avenue) to expand under the East Midtown rezoning. MRP and Deutsche bank will be buying 30,000 square feet of the cathedral's air rights–out of a total one million–which is expected to earn St Patrick's around $7.2 million to use for maintaining the area around the church. As a result of the sale, 405 Park Ave. will undergo a gut renovation as well as the enlargement, bringing the total floor space up to 205,000 square feet. Crains also reports that the two owners will be charging a premium after the transformation, with prices north of $100 per square foot. The news comes on the heels of the highly contested announcement that the Union Carbide building down the street would be demolished, as owners JPMorgan Chase are seeking to replace the tower with an upgraded supertall. It seems unlikely that the same forces will mobilize to protest the changes at 405 Park Ave.; though the building was originallu designed by New York mainstays Cross & Cross as a neo-classical 12-story apartment building in 1915, a total renovation in 1957 left the location unrecognizable from its original incarnation. Now it seems that history will repeat itself as the office building builds even taller.
Irish retrofit rediscovers golden rectangle proportioning systems
Located in Dublin's historic D4 district, Eaton House serves as Eaton Corporation's new global headquarters. It is located in an early 19th-century Georgian neighborhood containing a mix of residences, small businesses, parks, and embassies. The project occupies the site of five original terrace houses dating to 1830. A new building replaced these houses in 1970 following their demolition.
Facade Manufacturer Poesia (glass brick); Savema S.P.A. (stone fabricator)
Architects Pickard Chilton (Design Architect); MCA Architects (Executive Architect); KA Architecture (Interior Design Architect)
Facade Installer Duggan Systems (window wall and glass brick); Eiregramco Ltd. (stone installer); John Sisk & Son Ltd. (general contractor)
Facade Consultants Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers (structural); Meehan Associates (sustainability)
Location Dublin, Ireland
System adaptive reuse of 1970's reinforced concrete frame structure
Products Arandis granite stone sourced in Namibia; custom hand-cast glass block, PPG Kynar finish on custom aluminum "portal" frames
This project, led by Pickard Chilton, was an extensive reuse of the existing 33,000-square-foot concrete frame structure. The architects designed the building retrofit to be of its time while respectful of its historical context, re-envisioning the exterior enclosure in linear coursed stone, clear vision glass, and handmade cast glass bricks. "One of the most important aspects of the facade design process was that this did not replicate the historical context," said William Chilton, principal at Pickard Chilton. "The city was a great partner in this effort." The architects worked with the neighborhood community and city regulatory agencies throughout the design process to deliver the project. This involved meeting with historic oversight committees very early on in the process before a design was ever proposed. In parallel to this effort, and continuing through the design phases, the architects set regular meetings with residents in the neighborhood. Chilton said these conversations produced a healthy dialogue with the community which helped to inform the design process. "This was a very intense regulatory process, but ultimately very satisfying. The embrace of this project by the community has been particularly gratifying."
Once the overall design strategy was confirmed, the design process was executed very quickly over the course of a few months. An analysis of the original terrace houses revealed the facades were organized based on the golden rectangle. The composition of the new facade works within the constraints of the existing 1970's concrete frame while reflecting the original 19th-century terrace houses in its organization, with clear glass openings recognizing the original golden rectangle proportions. The architects realized these openings would actually decrease the amount of daylight that had been admitted into the building. To maintain their specific proportional composition, but introduce more daylight, the architects introduced cast glass into the facade composition after discovering the durable material was historically integrated into sidewalks in the neighborhood to admit daylight into basement spaces. The glass blocks were handmade to specific dimensions which coordinated with the proportions of the stone coursing dimensions so that mortar lines in the masonry facade would translate uninterrupted into the window composition. The effort led to a more open, productive work environment, improving daylight by 38 percent and helping the project to achieve a LEED-NC Gold rating. The cast glass bricks sit recessed within a secondary frame. Insulated glazing installed to the interior side of the cast glass to ensure thermal continuity without disrupting the unique hand-crafted aesthetic. The glass blocks are supported every few courses with horizontal metal rods. When looking from the interior, this tectonic assembly disappears. "An enormous amount of energy spent around the detailing to make this work," said Ben Simmons, an associate at Pickard Chilton. "There wasn't a precedent we could look towards." MCA Architects collaborated closely with Pickard Chilton from the onset of the project to execute key exterior enclosure and glazing details like this. The materiality of the primary facade challenged conventional thinking about "historic" materials. After a mock-up comparing brick with a granite stone material, the architects convinced regulatory agencies and the owners to proceed with stone. In the spirit of the historically sensitive project, the installer worked closely with the architects on installation details focused on traditional hand-laid masonry construction craft. Metallic-coated aluminum "portal" frames offer a subtle luster to daylight reflecting off windows, adding a dynamic quality to the facade. This, paired with the sheen of a stone that resembles an iron spot brick, offers a facade that more dynamically responds throughout variable daylighting conditions. Eaton House has been recognized with four AIA awards, including an inaugural award from AIA Europe. "The project was diminutive in size, but quite significant in terms of its impact," said Chilton. "By doing this project, it really opened our eyes to the potential for this type of re-envisioning work. This was the smallest project we've ever done. It underscored our interest and commitment to seeking out projects of quality no matter the scale. If it's an interesting design problem, and the client has aspirations of quality, then we are all in."


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Detroit Architecture
Should you move to Detroit?
By Aaron Mondry Mar 2, 2020, 10:14am EST
Photography by Michelle Gerard & Jenna Belevender
Thinking about moving to the Motor City? That's great.
Detroit's population has been on a steady decline over the last half-century, and the city needs some new residents.
It's also got a lot going for it. Detroiters are some of the nicest city folk in the country. The music scene, both for local acts and as a destination for national ones, is superb. The food and beverage scene is starting to get props. It's a mecca for Art Deco architecture—with plenty of other marvelous examples in other styles. And pretty much no matter where you're moving from, Detroit is likely to be more affordable.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. While Detroit has been the subject of breathless national stories about its "revitalization," you should use that word with caution here. Poverty is still an enormous problem. Its public schools system is on a long road to recovery after mismanagement from a state takeover. While you'll probably want to own a car, don't ask about the roads. Public transit is also a work in progress. And we haven't even mentioned winter yet.
There's obviously a lot to consider if you're thinking about living here. To help make your decision about whether to move to Detroit, here are 15 things you should know.
It's still the Motor City.
Detroit's ascent to become, at one point, the fourth-largest city in America was on the hood of the automobile. It's the birthplace of the assembly line, the first mile of paved road, and the first freeway; a place where unions flourished; and home to the "Big Three" automakers.
While those companies are no longer the dominant force they once were, they definitely left their mark on the city. That's especially evident in the area's infrastructure, which is based largely around freeways and wide boulevards.
The vast majority of people in Detroit who can afford a car, own one.
That said, the town's infrastructure is improving.
For all the caveats about car ownership, Detroit has been investing more in its infrastructure and public spaces. The transit situation is improving. Bus ridership is up thanks to better on-time performance, more convenient lines, and a unified payment system. (Though as recently as 2011 a local transit advocacy group gave the city's buses an 'F' grade after a survey found nearly 50 percent were late.)
More bike lanes are added to the roads every year. Streetscaping projects are underway across the city to make roads more walkable and bikeable. The Joe Louis Greenway, a 31-mile non-motorized loop, is in development. A Detroit bike-share program has been steadily expanding since it launched in 2018. A streetcar started running a couple years ago (though because it only goes a few miles on a single street, it's of limited use).
Getting around without a car gets more manageable by the day.
There are far more houses than apartments.
While most new developments are larger mixed-use structures, single-family homes are by far the most common housing type here. And the city's long-time dependence on cars has resulted in a sprawling landscape that is ideal for people who crave space (and maybe even a garage) of their own.
But if you're looking for dense, walkable streets with lots of high-rises, there are fewer options here.
Detroiters are unbelievably friendly.
People not from Detroit are often taken aback when they're walking down the street—head down, earplugs in—and hear a passing stranger say "What up?" We greet folks, with a nod or word, pretty much every time we encounter someone, stranger and acquaintance alike. And we look them in the eye while doing it.
For people used to moving around anonymously, this can be jarring. But for those who enjoy human connection, it's a pleasure. Detroiters also hold the door open, make small talk, invite you over for a barbecue, and introduce you to their whole family.
There's a lot of struggle in Detroit, but camaraderie helps us all get through it.
Understanding Detroit's history is highly recommended.
You can easily get by in transient towns like New York or Washington, D.C., without needing to learn a ton of their history. Not so in Detroit.
Most things that define the state of the city today—its geography, demographics, and culture—can be traced back to racist policies and trends, like housing and job discrimination, demolition of vibrant black neighborhoods for freeways, and white flight. These events have built up decades of justifiable resentment and a skepticism of outsiders, especially those with a goal of "fixing" Detroit.
If you want to move here in the present, you'd be wise to learn about the city's past.
The city is a showcase for black excellence.
Detroit is about 80 percent African American and has been a majority black city for decades. So it's no wonder that black culture and pride imbues almost everything.
At a public event, there's bound to be music (probably funk, soul, or hip-hop) and dancing. Murals featuring portraits of black icons, like Coleman A. Young (Detroit's first black mayor), Rosa Parks, and Barack Obama, are painted all over the city. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is one of the city's great institutions. The Heidelberg Project and Dabls African Bead Museum, designed by black artists with black themes, are two gorgeous and profound public art installations.
Detroit is a beautiful black town.
The city is still a music mecca.
Based solely on talent per total population, few cities can match Detroit's musical heritage.
You probably know about Aretha Franklin and the entire Motown lineup (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, etc.). But this town was and is home to legendary jazz figures like Donald Byrd, Alice Coltrane, and Yusef Lateef. Seminal punk bands the Stooges and MC5 launched their careers in the area. Techno started in Detroit. Hip-hop? Yeah, we got that too—ever heard of Eminem or Danny Brown?
While the city might not be brimming with talent the way it was in the '60s and '70s, there's still a strong R&B, jazz, electronic, and garage rock scene here. And you can catch musicians playing at one of the numerous venues in the city, whether it's historic (Cliff Bells, Baker's), new (Willis Show Bar, Marble Bar, El Club), or dive (PJ's Lager House, Small's).
We love coneys and Detroit-style pizza, but there are lots of other great options for food.
Square pizza, invented in Detroit, has been getting national attention of late. We've also got the classic coney: a hot dog with chili, onions, and mustard.
But beyond these simple comfort foods, Detroit has a solid restaurant scene that's getting stronger all the time. You can get delicious deli, Thai, or Mexican food at affordable prices. Or you can get upscale fare at one of the many award-winning, farm-to-table, or inventive restaurants and bakeries—you may want to check out Sister Pie, Selden Standard, Saffron de Twah, and Folk. Coffee shops have also proliferated in recent years, with great options in every corner of the city. You definitely won't be missing out on great cuisine by moving here.
Detroit is still affordable, but with caveats.
Overall, housing in Detroit is way more affordable than other major American cities. But prices have been on the rise over the last decade, especially in the urban core, where the average rent for a two-bedroom unit is around $2,000.
To get a really affordable place, you're going to have to live away from the city center and probably own a car. Considering Detroit has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country—in part because they're calculated by ZIP code—your cost of living is going to go up, making it less affordable than it seemed at first.
The housing market is full of fixer-uppers.
Until recently, residents had been steadily leaving Detroit for decades. But abandonment of homes escalated rapidly with the bottoming out of the real estate market after the 2008 housing crash. In Detroit, poor residents received overassessed tax bills that they couldn't pay, and countless homeowners went into foreclosure.
That's left the city with many thousands of vacant or abandoned homes. A tragic situation to be sure, but a potential opportunity for someone with the ability or inclination to renovate a home. It's still possible to find a modest or even historic home that needs some love and can be bought for well below market value. It'll take some serious labor to make it a cozy place to live, but it may also be worth it.
The school system is a work in progress.
For families with children, this is often the biggest deterrent stopping people from moving to the city.
Almost all of Detroit's public schools have issues with building maintenance, teacher retention, or student achievement. Private schools are often prohibitively expensive. And since part of state funding for schools depends on head count, sending your child to a private or charter would directly result in disinvestment from the city's underfunded public school system.
That's a difficult dilemma for any parent.
The weather is a mixed bag.
As you can see, Detroit has a lot of issues. And yet somehow the weather always seems to get talked about the most.
January and February can be especially brutal. It snows, and then you get days of subzero temperatures, and then you spend 10 minutes scraping ice off your car only to get stuck in a snowbank on your drive to work.
But for as much as we hibernate in the winter, we burst out when conditions improve. Belle Isle—the largest island park in the U.S.—is teeming with people when the weather is nice. You'll find folks sunbathing and swimming on the beach, picnicing in the sheds, meandering in the conservatory, or attending the exuberant Kite Festival. People bike, hang out at Campus Martius Park, stroll along the Riverwalk. It's hard to beat a Detroit summer.
There isn't as much outdoor space as other cities—but there are definitely some gems.
Detroit isn't the greenest or most topographically interesting town. It's incredibly flat and, because of how spread out it is, you'll probably find yourself driving or at best biking to visit the city's parks.
That said, there are some fantastic and varied green spaces. We do have the aforementioned Belle Isle and its 982 acres. Rouge Park, the city's largest, has beautiful trails where you can momentarily feel as if you're in the wilderness. There are a number of other smaller neighborhood parks that have excellent maintenance and programming, and the city has been investing in them recently.
Plus, if you're going by car, you could always drive an extra 20 minutes to get to a huge metropark for lengthy hikes or cross-country skiing.
Living here will give you an education in pre-1950s architecture.
There was an absurd amount of wealth in pre–Depression era Detroit. Barons of automobiles (Dodge, Fisher), retail (Hudson, Kresge, Kern), publishing (Booth, Scripps), and many other industries made their fortunes here.
During the Roaring '20s, these industrialists built towering and beautiful Art Deco skyscrapers, many of which are still around today. There's the Fisher Building with its bold marble exterior, the Guardian Building with its distinct Aztec design, the Penobscot Building with its varied sculptural setbacks, the Fox Theatre with its lavishly decorated interior—we could go on.
Community is an essential part of life.
Detroiters have lived with little municipal support for years. In its place, they developed a strong network of block clubs, neighborhood associations, and community groups to get things done.
These groups not only provide residents with a sense of belonging, but also organize neighborhood cleanups, celebrations, patrols, gardens, development plans, housing stabilization, and much more. Often it's easy to get involved and provide immediate support to your neighborhood thanks to these robust existing systems.
The Heidelberg Project
3600 Heidelberg Street, , MI 48207 (313) 458-8414 Visit Website
Fisher Building
3011 West Grand Boulevard, , MI 48202
Campus Martius Park
800 Woodward Avenue, , MI 48226 (313) 566-8250 Visit Website
Fox Theatre
2211 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
Penobscot Building
645 Griswold Street, , MI 48226
, , MI
, , LA 70130 Visit Website
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 East Warren Avenue, , MI 48201 Visit Website
21860 Joy Road, , MI 48228 Visit Website
African Bead Museum
6559 Grand River Avenue, , MI 48204 Visit Website
The Guardian Building
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View all stories in Detroit Architecture


The survey highlights another major development – over two thirds of the respondents say they are using employment data to help them retain key staff, evaluate skills and create more powerful offers for top candidates. Within two years, 79% of recruiters will be using data as part of the hiring process. What does this mean for recruiting platforms? Essentially, the reliance on data to identify candidates, take them through the application process and deliver an unrejectable job offer means SAAS recruitment software will need to be cloud-based, highly secure and intuitive to use. Why? Because recruiters and recruitment consultants will find they need to input data at many more key points in the selection process and that data will need to be instantly available to other decision-makers in the organisation. New government rules on data storage mean that any employment software has to be un-hackable and offer permission levels that can be managed easily as recruiters come and go. Because data will be so essential to success, ease of inputting the kind of information that is necessary to make good decisions has to be a priority too.
Finding such software to support recruiting might suggest that it's essential to invest a fortune but in fact relatively cheap recruitment software, like Recruit So Simple, offers such features as standard.
The Scottish Chambers of Commerce have produced their quarterly report which makes grim reading for recruiters – sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and finance and business services are experiencing their greatest difficulties in meeting recruitment needs since the survey began. In fact, in the Financial and Business Services sector 47% of firms say they are currently experiencing recruitment problems. Sadly, while Brexit uncertainties continue, Scotland is likely to struggle to fill its recruiting needs. Flexible staffing software is likely to help agencies and employers move rapidly to identify and recruit the best candidates.


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Q: Recursion: Children are being added to wrong parents in iterative deepening depth first search .getSuccessorStates(node) returns the correct successor states (children). I have tested this method on its own using the graph provided in this problem. The problem lies when I add recursion to the mix for this iterative deepening depth-first search algorithm. When I check the value of the self.parent dictionary after everything has been returned in order to backtrack and find the shortest path, some nodes in the dictionary are matched with an incorrect parent. I'm 99% sure it has to do with recursion when I store self[parent] = node, because getSuccessorStates gives the correct children for the given node, but self.parent contains some values with wrong parent to children pairings. I'm wondering if I put self.parent[child] = node in the wrong place in the code?
def __init__(self, graph):
        self.graph = graph
        self.nodesCreated = 0
        self.maxFrontier = 0
        self.maxExplored = 0
        self.parent = {}

def recursive_depth_limited_search(self, node, limit):
    if node == self.getGraph().getGoalState():
        return node
    elif limit == 0:
        return "cutoff"
    else:
        cutoff_occurred = False
        for child in self.getGraph().getSuccessorStates(node):
            self.setNodesCreated(self.getNodesCreated() + 1)
            self.parent[child] = node
            result = self.recursive_depth_limited_search(child, limit - 1)
            if result == "cutoff":
                cutoff_occurred = True
            elif result != "No solution found":
                return result
        if cutoff_occurred:
            return "cutoff"
        else:
            return "No solution found"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Meaning of Parables Explained With Popular Examples from Literature
A parable is a story/prose or a verse that intends to give a message or teach a moral principle. This post talks about the meaning and examples of parables in literature.
Neha B Deshpande
Last Updated: Feb 8, 2018
Popular Parable Books
► A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
► The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
► Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Literature is one of the most powerful mediums of expression. Other than acting as a medium for creativity, literature sometimes also acts a powerful medium to deliver a message to society at large. As kids, we grew up listening to stories that were not only entertaining, but also delivered sensitive morals. This way, the message is not only delivered effectively, but it also does not sound preachy in nature. Stories and prose that deliver some morals―religious or non-religious―are called 'parables' in literature.
What is a Parable?
'Parable' is a word that is derived from the Latin word parabola, which means comparison, and the Greek word parabolē, which means analogy. A parable is a story that illustrates or delivers a message. They are also redefined in today's style by incorporating them in scenarios of the modern-day. Examples of parables are also found in poetry.
A short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson; especially: one of the stories told by Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible. A parable is a short story that intends to give a message. ―Merriam-Webster
Famous Parables in Literature
The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen
An emperor was so fond of wearing beautiful clothes that he paid no attention to the growth of his kingdom. Two weavers from a foreign land once came to his kingdom and proclaimed that they were so wonderful with their work, that only a person of merit or the one who is not stupid could see what they weaved.
The emperor came to know about them, and invited them to stitch clothes for him. They ordered the finest and richest silk, and set on their work. In reality, all the fine silk and thread went into their bags, and they simply duped others by weaving nothing. When the emperor sent his trusted officials to check the progress of their work, they were aghast to see nothing. Moreover, no one spoke for the fear of being ridiculed as stupid or unfit for their positions.
When they presented the 'outfit' to the emperor, he too was baffled to see nothing at all. But others praised how good the silk was, only to prove that they were not stupid, and protect their posts. Now, to protect his name, even the emperor decided to pretend that he loved the fabric, and the outfit was awesome. He paraded naked in his kingdom, and none of them spoke, until an innocent kid pointed out that he is wearing nothing, as a matter of fact.
Moral: We often fail to oppose something or point out something that is wrong, for the fear of being ridiculed. Everyone wants to speak, but no one speaks. It might happen that, in a business meeting, all employees want to oppose some idea or policy, but no one opposes and keeps mum, which is a loss for everyone.
Triple-Filter Test by Socrates (Unknown Author)
Once Socrates was stopped by an acquaintance, and was told by him that he has heard something about his friend. Before he could proceed further, Socrates stopped him, and told him to filter his information by passing three tests. First, he asked him whether he was sure that what he had heard was the truth. Then he asked whether he was going to tell something good about his friend. When he replied in the negative, Socrates asked him the last question: whether the information is going to be of any use to him (Socrates). When the acquaintance denied its usefulness, Socrates simply replied that he did not need to know anything that is not the truth, not good, and also of no use to him.
Moral: The message is simple. People waste their precious time in gossiping about others. If we turn a deaf ear to such gossips, it will avoid unnecessary defamation of any person. It's best to mind our own business.
Examples of Parables in Poetry
Parable Of The Dove by Louise Glück.
Parable Of Faith by Louise Glück
Parable For A Certain Virgin by Dorothy Parker
Examples of Parables in the Bible
There are many examples of parables that are recorded in the Bible, through which Jesus Christ has imparted his teachings to his disciples.
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Parable of the Mustard Seed
► Parable of the Talents
Modern-day Examples of Parables
Parable of The Broken Window by Frédéric Bastiat in his essay That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Not Seen
This is a famous example of an economic fallacy. A young boy once accidentally breaks the window pane of his father's shop. A passerby comments that it is actually a blessing in disguise for other people in the economy. To repair the window, they have to hire the services of a window repairman, thus giving him his livelihood. However, one generally tends to look at only one side of the coin. If the shopkeeper did not have to spend on repairing the window, he could have spent it on something which he wanted, perhaps buying shoes. By diverting his funds elsewhere, he cannot invest money in buying shoes, which implies lesser income to the shoemaker.
Moral: In short, destruction is not the way to keep money circulating, and we blindly believe that it will do good to the society in the long run.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? By Leo Tolstoy
Two sisters have a debate as to which life is better: city or country life. The elder sister, who lives in a city, advocates that city life is much better comparatively, since they don't have to toil in the soil, and can enjoy many comforts. The younger sister states that, their life is rough, but they don't waste their time on useless things, and have no other worries.
The younger sister's husband, Pahom, thinks that everything is good with their country life, except that he needs a bigger piece of land, so that he does not have to fear the Devil. Pahom luckily manages to buy more land. However, with more land, his heart desires even more land. In a bid to gain more, he travels to the Bashkir land. The Bashkirs have a deal with him that he can have as much land as much he walks throughout the day, for a thousand rubles. Their only condition is that, he must come back to the starting point at the end of the day. Pahom's desire to achieve more makes him walk so much, that he loses his strength, and when he finally reaches the starting point, he has no strength to live, and succumbs to weakness. The Bashkir chief laughs, and Pahom's servant states that he now needs only that much land that is enough to bury him.
Moral: Man is never satisfied, and he often becomes greedy in a bid to gain more. How much is more, cannot be defined, and it is up to him to decide how far he must go simply to achieve something he wants at the expense of others.
Parables are indeed an interesting way to deliver a message, without being monotonous. However, they differ from a fable, which generally employs fictional or talking animals.
Symbolism Examples
Characterization Examples
Imagery Examples
Metaphor Examples in Literature
Anachronism Examples in Literature
Colloquialism Examples in Literature
List of Literary Techniques
Types of Literature
Importance of Literature
Literary Devices
Analysis of Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Naturalism in Literature
Literature Review Format
Gothic Literature


LEAF Academy has assembled an advisory council that is comprised of global leaders in education. They bring knowledge and experience from some of the very best educational institutions around the world. Additionally, each of them is a leading educational thinker and they have committed significant time and effort to advising the LEAF Academy team over the past three years. In addition to their work advising here in Slovakia, they have also hosted LEAF Academy faculty and administrators on their campuses to help prepare them.
Madeleine K. Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was a member of the President's Cabinet. She is a Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Dr. Albright chairs the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. In 2012, she was chosen by President Obama to receive the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of her contributions to international peace and democracy. Dr. Albright was originally born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on the eve of WWII and still maintains close ties to her native Central Europe. Madeleine K. Albright is an honorary member of our Advisory council.
Chris Bradford is a Co-Founder and CEO of African Leadership Academy (ALA) – the unique Pan-African institution whose mission is to develop the next generation of African leaders, 6000 over the next 50 years, who will transform the continent. Chris led the design of ALA's innovative curriculum, which merges rigorous academics with powerful courses in Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies. He also shaped the Academy's admissions process, which has selected over 600 young leaders from over 13,000 applicants from more than 50 nations since 2008. Chris holds a BA in Economics from Yale University and an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University.
Brad Gioia is Headmaster of Montgomery Bell Academy that enjoys a 145-year history as one of the top college preparatory school for young men in grades 7-12, offering a progressive approach to traditional education. Through rigorous academics, engagement with teachers and significant afternoon activities MBA develops the character in young men that serve as their foundation throughout their lives. He has led the MBA since 1994. Brad holds an M.A. in English from Middlebury College.
With twenty-five years of experience in education as a teacher, coach, advisor, department head and college counselor, Chris has spent his entire professional life preparing young leaders for maximum impact in their careers and communities. Chris holds a master's degree in education from Harvard university in administration, planning and social policy, in addition earned his undergraduate degree in biology and environmental science. He is equally passionate about soccer as he is about teaching, serving as head coach at four different schools, as well as an assistant coach at Harvard university and Dartmouth college. He has developed highly successful, championship-level teams, using the game to build individual character and team values.
Chris was the assistant dean of African leadership academy (ALA) in Johannesburg, South Africa. ALA is the most selective (<5% acceptance rate) and transformative school (6 million stakeholders impacted in eight years) on the continent and additionally ALA alumni have been awarded US $65 million in scholarships and aid to universities all over the world. Chris played an integral role in each of these, leading the admissions team and the university guidance team. Chris has also worked at top boarding schools in the United States.
Chris worked as the Head of school at LEAF Academy in 2016/2017 school year.
Dr Lim is Executive Director, SMU Academy and Academic Director, Office of the Provost at Singapore Management University. She has extensive experience in the Singapore Education System: as teacher, head of department, deputy principal and principal of three other schools including the prestigious Raffles Institution. She had key roles in corporate communications and curriculum planning and development at the Education Ministry's headquarters. She holds a BA (Hons) and MA from Cambridge University, a Master's in Education from the Nanyang Technological University in Language Education and a Doctorate in Education from the University of London. Her topic of study was technological integration in education.
Keith Pusey combined a career as a performer – violinist and conductor – with worldwide interests in education. He has taught at a university, a conservatoire, and, for thirty years, at Winchester College in the UK – as Head of Department, Director of Studies (academic deputy head) and Registrar (director of admissions). Educated at the Royal College of Music and the University of Manchester, he completed two diplomas and a degree. An experienced examiner, adjudicator and inspector, he is a member of the advisory boards of three schools, the principal examiner for the Advanced Certificate for University Entrance (offered in the Far East on behalf of the World Leading Schools' Association), and a senior inspector and consultant for ISI – the independent schools' inspectorate.
Dominic A. A. Randolph became Riverdale Country School's sixth Head of School in 2007. Dominic is a leader in the international character education movement. He is a co-founder of the non-profit educational research organisation, Character Lab; a steering committee member of the International Positive Education Network; and an ongoing collaborator with IDEO on design-thinking in education. In 2014, the Brookings Institute featured an article by Randolph on character education as part of an investigation on character and opportunity. He also served as the Assistant Headmaster at The Lawrenceville School, an independent boarding school of 800 students and he earned both his BA and MA from Harvard University.
Ralph Townsend is Headmaster of Winchester College, a prestigious school for boys in the UK. He was previously Headmaster of Oundle School and before that Headmaster of Sydney Grammar School. In 2010 he became Dean of a group of ten schools known as the Winchester International Symposium. He is also English Editor of the World Leading Schools Association Record, a bilingual journal of educational dialogue between China and the West.


Yipppeee! I received a Best Blog Award from a new friend Sunday Blues who visited by my blog yesterday. Thank you for giving me this award Len.
The rules of the award state that you must post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted you this award and a link to his/her blog.
Pass the award on to 15 other blogs you have recently discovered and think are great!
Remember to contact the bloggers you've awarded to let them know they have been chosen.
And these are the blogs that I've discovered recently that features their crafts, handmades and their artistic imaginations.
So, friends don't forget to visit all the Artist listed.
Wow, thanks so very much for my first award.I am so surprised...15 blogs to nominate,well, that´s a lot and not sure if I can do it. Give me some days..OK :)Once again, thank you and have a great weekend! Oh, I also will add you to my blogroll!!


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Argam Artashyan January 16, 2022
Vivo X80 Series Specifications Tipped, See Expected Prices
Vinay Patel January 16, 2022
Samsung To Unleash Exynos 2200 Later This Month Or In Early February
Samsung has originally scheduled to release the next-generation Exynos processor on January 11. The company not only canceled its plans but also removed the official tweet. This caused a lot of stir on the net. Not accidentally, many users think Samsung has canceled the Exynos 2200.
Rip Exynos 2200
— Dohyun Kim (@dohyun854) January 11, 2022
Dohyun Kim revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S22 series will have only one version in select regions and markets that include North America, Europe, the Middle East. As you guess, the model he is talking about will sport the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Moreover, even in South Korea, the Galaxy S22 might get only one version as well.
Also Read: Exynos 2200 Version Of The Galaxy S22 Will Be Available In These Countries
Samsung Exynos 2200 Parameters
Prior to this, we heard too much about Samsung's self-developed Exynos 2200 processor. The leaked info showed that the CPU adopts a 1+3+4 core design. The super core has a clock speed of 2.52GHz, the large core clocks at 2.50GHz, and the small core's frequency is 1.73GHz. The CPU part of the chip will use the ARM v9 architecture. The SoC will also integrate the AMD RDNA 2 architecture core display. The graphics performance is expected to be equal to that of the Apple A15 chip, with 384 stream processors and a frequency of up to 1.31GHz.
According to BusinessKorea, the Exynos 2200's GPU is developed by AMD and adopts the latest RDNA2 architecture. Previously, Samsung Electronics used Arm's Mali GPU with low power consumption as the design goal for the Exynos chip. But technical experts pointed out that its performance is better than that of Qualcomm's Adreno.
Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S22 series will all use Snapdragon 8 Gen1 processor
In addition, Samsung Electronics' "The new GPU is expected to resolve the problems of the Exynos 2100. We intend to sharpen our competitiveness by loading GPUs for games into mobile devices."
Samsung Electronics plans to increase the competitiveness of its APs with the Exynos 2200. According to market research firm Counterpoint, Samsung Electronics ranked fifth in the smartphone AP market in the third quarter of 2021 with a 5% market share, down 5% points from 10% in the same period in 2020.
As for the launch postpone, the company said it plans to launch the Exynos 2200 in late January or early February before the Galaxy S22 goes on sale, stressing that there are no issues with its production and performance. Moreover, this chip aims at gaming. So if there is a heat dissipation problem similar to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it can't handle this task. So maybe it's better to push back the launch time but come in with a final product.
Exynos 2200Samsung Exynos 2200Samsung Galaxy S22
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Argam Artashyan
Back in 2010, he was dismissed from his position as a lecturer at the university. This made him get another job at his friend's digital marketing company as a blog writer. After a few years, when he was thinking the article writing is his mission, Google pushed the Panda update and affected the company and websites he was working at. (Un)fortunately and surprisingly, he got an offer to head a large knitting factory. In 2016, he got his Ph.D. and resumed teaching at the University … and writing tech-related articles following his passion.
Samsung Exynos 2200 will come alongside S22 series; will fix all 2100 issues
All Three Samsung Galaxy S22 Phones Will Use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Exynos 2200 beats Snapdragon 8 Gen1 in multi-core performance
Samsung Galaxy S22 series will all use Snapdragon 8 Gen1 processor


Is God Calling you to the Catholic Faith? Are you seeking answers to questions about becoming Catholic? Or are you baptized Catholic and want to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation? If so, we invite you to journey with us in RCIA.
You do not have to make a commitment to become Catholic prior to the start of the process. The RCIA journey begins with your desire to learn more about becoming Catholic. You will have a chance to have your questions answered and participate in the faith journey with others inquirers.
We begin in September on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Please see the weekly bulletin for dates. Adult seekers are invited to attend these "no obligation" inquiry sessions where we share our journeys in faith and answer any questions or concerns.
The formal RCIA process begins Sept 2018 and continues to meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
The sacraments are celebrated at the Easter Vigil in the Spring 2019.
Throughout the history of Christianity, people of all faiths have found their way to the Catholic Church. While each person's journey is as unique as the individual themselves, all are drawn to the one God and for the same purpose – to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults offers a program of faith formation, discipleship and fellowship for adults 18 years and older that will prepare them for full initiation/communion into the Catholic Church at Easter.
Come to the RCIA Inquiry classes Wednesday evenings 7:00pm - 8:30pm beginning this September. No Commitment Necessary.