Newsmixed-useCompany Building In Nordhorn By Westphal Architekten
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Feb 13, 2025Company Building In Nordhorn By Westphal Architekten
The rows of shed roofs give the building a striking silhouette. © Olaf Mahlstedt
Westphal Architekten have designed a prestigious headquarters for the Nordhorn-based company Rosink. The striking shed roofs of the production hall give the building an unmistakable identity.
Rosink Objekteinrichtungen, based in Nordhorn, on the border with the Netherlands, supplies customised interior furnishings for offices, shops and medical practices. In order to accommodate its growth and modernise its production, the company decided to leave its old location and build a new building that would adequately represent the company. To this end, Rosink invited ten architectural firms to participate in a restricted competition, which was won by Westphal Architekten.
The Bremen-based firm's design is characterised by clarity of form and function. The production hall and the administration wing are separated by a narrow inner courtyard. The two functional areas are held together by a uniform facade cladding of champagne anodised aluminium trapezoidal sheeting, which lends the building an understated elegance.
The courtyard leads employees and visitors to the main entrance in a two-storey foyer that acts as a hinge between production and administration. Central functions such as a meeting room and a spacious lounge and multi-purpose room for around 65 employees are also located here. In the office wing, glass walls provide plenty of light but also openness and transparency.
The production hall is also flooded with light through the shed roofs and side windows that follow the shape of the sheds. The striking silhouette is clearly visible from the adjacent main road. The non-glazed, south-facing part of the shed roofs is covered with photovoltaic elements. The wide-span support structure, with only six internal columns, allows for long-term flexibility of use, allowing for different production scenarios or future conversions. Technically, the building is state of the art. With new machinery and a fully digitalised control system, the medium-sized company has been able to significantly reduce its production times. The building is heated exclusively with the company's own wood waste.
Architecture: Westphal ArchitektenClient: Rosink ObjekteinrichtungenLocation: Nordhorn (DE)
Structural engineering, building services engineering: Lindschulte IngenieurgesellschaftOpen space planning: Anke Deeken, Büro für Architektur Stadt- und Freiraumplanung LichtplanungFire prevention planning: Böcker IngenieureSound insulation planning: Zech Ingenieurgesellschaft
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Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Luxury Residential Serenia District In Dubai Is Launched By DeveloperThe launch of Serenia District, a Dh$5 billion (US$1.36 billion) upscale residential community in the Jumeirah Islands neighborhood of Dubai, has been announced. Spanning 55,742 square meters with a 325,161 square meter built-up area, the project will feature six integrated high-rises.
The design will have the buildings centered around "lifestyle zones," including the Serenia Signature Clubhouse, Health and Social Zone, Sports and Recreation Spaces, Family Oasis, Nature Discovery Zone, and a Wellness Retreat. The first phase introduces West Residence, a 46 story high-rise with 419 units of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, offering views of Jumeirah Islands.
A standout feature is the 9290 square meter Serenia Signature Clubhouse, which will include an infinity pool, gym, rooftop café, male and female spas, an indoor paddle court, a half basketball court, a games room, and retail and dining spaces. The project, designed by Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei, draws inspiration from the Japanese Ireko design language.
Located near business and entertainment hubs, Serenia District will be able to integrate 20 kilometers of walkways to promote an active lifestyle. At the same time, its starlight facade lighting will provide subtle illumination throughout the day and night.
Learn more at World Construction Networkmixed-use
12 March 2025
building systems UK
City Planners Approve Enabling Works For Newcastle’S Historic Founders PlaceNewcastle City Council planners have approved crucial enabling works that will unlock a multi-million pound mixed-use development in the heart of Newcastle.
With One Public Estate brownfield funding already secured for the site, the unanimous decision today (March 7) now allows for the first phase of clearance and remediation within the growing Founders Place scheme. Developed by igloo, the neglected and derelict site will evolve into the Orchard Yard housing scheme.
The funding is to help build thousands of new homes as part of the Government’s plans to get the country building again, create jobs and grow the economy. This multi-million-pound boost is awarded to councils to unlock disused brownfield sites. Newcastle City Council were successful in securing £2,4m in the last funding round with £1.65m allocated to bring forward housing on Founders Place.
The South Street site, once home to workshops of the Stephenson Engineering Manufactory, has seen various industrial uses over the decades but fell into disrepair after the last tenant, Doves Building Merchant, left in 2004. The Machine Shop and Smith’s Shop derelict shells are now deemed dangerous and inaccessible.
The enabling work will now allow for the clearing out asbestos, removal of unsafe structures – largely added in the 20th Century with little or no historical value – and put in new retaining structures. This will also unlock millions of pounds of inward investment with the site eventually seeing circa 70 homes being developed.
The phased plans will reinvent the Machine Shop whilst retaining and restoring the fabric of the earliest industrial structures. This will all help bring South Street back to life by providing family homes and apartments, along with business space, a public park and courtyard.
Accessed from Sussex Street, the Smith’s Shop will complement its neighbour by providing further housing and public spaces. Combined, the two developments will once again be open to the public, enhancing the wider area.
Insiyah Khushnood from igloo, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the enabling work which is the first essential step to breathing new life into this derelict site of the former Stephenson Works. Without these works the site would remain abandoned but now we have the opportunity to take the first steps in this important regeneration scheme that will create a thriving residential community within an unused and forgotten part of the city.”
Cabinet member for Economy, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Dan Greenhough, said: “I am delighted that planning committee have approved this.
“These are incredibly important buildings from a historic perspective, but they are also in a dangerous condition due to structural decay and asbestos. This work will enable the buildings to be made safe so work can begin restoring them to their original glory and turning them into much needed housing bringing more activity back to the site.
“This will be another step forward for Founders Place development site which is also attracting good quality jobs to the city.”
Work is expected to start on the site this summer.
Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionalsmixed-use
11 March 2025
Arch Daily Mixed
Sasaki Reimagines Oman’S Second-Largest City With A New Waterfront MasterplanSalalah is Oman's largest logistics port and its second-largest city. Located within a two-hour flight from Dubai and a 90-minute flight from Muscat, the city attracted over one million tourists in 2024. As part of the Oman Vision 2040 investment plan, Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has commissioned Sasaki to develop a master plan for redesigning the city's waterfront. The plan includes renovating the city's coastal public spaces and constructing new housing and infrastructure to accommodate projected growth. The project is part of a broader initiative to double tourism's contribution to the nation's GDP by 2030, with on-site construction set to begin later this year, in 2025.
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The New City Salalah waterfront development designed by Sasaki comprises 12,000 residential units for 60,000 residents across four neighborhoods, 3.5 million square meters of parks, 200,000 square meters of retail and hospitality space, two new hospitals, and integrated multimodal transport links. Covering 7.3 square kilometers, the plan envisions a walkable urban environment, emphasizing 10-minute neighborhoods. It prioritizes mixed-use development and soft mobility, incorporating open spaces, cultural venues, and amenities. The design also features a pedestrianized marina and a new 6-kilometer-long public beach, aimed at attracting travelers.
The masterplan seeks to enhance Salalah's appeal as a year-round sea-and-sun destination at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Romil Sheth from Sasaki highlighted the region's valued natural features, including lush wadis, local agriculture integrated into the city, and an extensive coastline, as key elements complementing the plan's urban design, placemaking, and planning strategies. From a climate resilience perspective, the New City Salalah masterplan includes measures to address rising sea levels and flooding, particularly given the region's khareef monsoon season. These measures include the introduction of a wetland park, revetments, and natural infrastructure strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.
The waterfront development is an integral part of the Greater Salalah Structural Plan, a framework designed to enhance livability by addressing spatial, infrastructure, and mobility challenges while expanding capacity to accommodate the growing Wilayat Salalah, which is projected to reach a population of 674,000 by 2040. The phased development is scheduled to begin later this year, with 5,827 residential units set for delivery in Phase 1.
This initiative joins other urban planning projects announced earlier this year. In Europe, Zaha Hadid Architects was recently awarded a large-scale urban regeneration project in Naples, while Foster + Partners unveiled plans for the reclamation of a former industrial site in Constanța. In North America, RIOS and Field Operations are advancing a project to transform parking lots into a new neighborhood in Chicago, while in Asia, Uzbekistan is preparing to expand its capital city with a master plan designed by Cross Works. Plans range from industrial land reclamation to densification of under-occupied areas, bringing cities up to speed with the climate resilience and social needs of their societies.mixed-use
10 March 2025
Arch Daily Mixed
Rios And Field Operations To Transform Chicago’S West Side And United Center Area Into A Mixed-Use NeighborhoodThe United Center arena in Chicago, designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), Marmon Mok, and W.E. Simpson Company, was built between 1992 and 1994. With a capacity of over 20,000 seats for sports and general events, it includes more than 6,000 parking spaces in lots surrounding the arena. These parking lots span approximately 55 acres (over 22 hectares) in Chicago's West Side (1901 W. Madison Street). A new master plan, named the 1901 Project, aims to transform this space into a mixed-use neighborhood. Led by design collective RIOS, with contributions from landscape architecture studio Field Operations, this long-term, multi-phase project aims to connect neighborhoods by creating new public spaces and infrastructure on a metropolitan scale. The proposal recently received approval from the Chicago Plan Commission.
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According to the United Center Joint Venture, the design draws inspiration from Chicago's motto, Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden). The 1901 Project includes housing, retail, entertainment, and public open spaces across more than 55 acres of privately owned land surrounding the arena, transforming a previously enclosed area into an interconnected, open neighborhood. The project's client describes this $7 billion private investment as a "catalytic development" intended to activate the district year-round as a destination to live, work, and play. It represents a major shift for an underutilized area of Chicago, which currently serves primarily as a parking zone for event-driven automobile traffic.
In contrast to its current function, RIOS emphasizes that the new development would incorporate historical urban features and restore pedestrian activity. The firm highlights walkability as a key principle, incorporating open pedestrian spaces, including a park and walking paths, as part of an integrated urban design strategy. According to Sebastian Salvadó, Creative Director and Partner at RIOS, the project features "a network of plazas and paseos that echo the city's pre-automobile urban fabric", linked by a continuous elevated park draped over the district's rooftops. More than 10 acres of the masterplan are reserved for integrated public spaces accessible for everyone, including the signature elevated park designed by Field Operations.
Following approval from the Chicago Plan Commission, the project's next steps include review by the zoning committee and final consideration by the Chicago City Council. If approved, construction of the first phase is expected to begin in spring 2025. This initial phase includes a 6,000-seat theater-style music hall designed by RIOS, an elevated park spanning more than 10 acres (around 4 hectares), redesigned parking facilities, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and a mix of hospitality and retail buildings. Future phases of the project plan to introduce housing, an expanded multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and targeted projects focused on the enhancement of public spaces established in the first phase. The United Center estimates the project's full completion within 10 years.
The project represents an update to one of Chicago's largest infrastructural spaces, adapting it to contemporary environmental and urban needs. Large surface parking areas, which in the U.S. have been estimated to occupy approximately 5% of the land, have been identified as contributors to urban heat islands. The redevelopment of these spaces has been increasingly explored in urban regeneration efforts, often in comparison to land designated for housing construction. New approaches to parking infrastructure can be seen globally, such as the laminated wood garage by Herrmann + Bosch Architekten or the use of rammed earth in the Neuenburg am Rhein parking garage by MONO Architekten. Designs such as these aim to enhance human interaction in spaces originally designed for cars while mitigating their socio-environmental impact.mixed-use
05 March 2025
Arch Daily Mixed
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Wins Competition To Design The New Midtstadt Mixed-Use Complex In FrankfurtRenzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), in collaboration with Holger Meyer Architekten, has won the competition for the new Midstad project in Frankfurt. Led by Joost Moolhuijzen and Erik Volz, the design reimagines the future of European city centers as resourceful and multifunctional. The project involves a 35,000 m² rehabilitation of an existing department store on the Zeil in Frankfurt's city center, integrating a six-story mass timber extension and a mixed-use, community-driven program. The project involves reconstruction during ongoing operation, partial demolition, and the expansion of the existing department store.
The Midstad Frankfurt project aims to transform the inner-city location of 'Östliche Zeil' by addressing urban, economic, and cultural needs. The new space will combine shopping, leisure, work, dining, entertainment, sports, culture, commercial apartments, and education under one roof. The goal is to convert the existing six-story, monofunctional 1980s department store, Weltstadthaus Peek & Cloppenburg, into a ten-story, multi-use complex. The design preserves three retail floors while adding two 'playground' levels, a two-form entry elementary school on the fifth floor, 56 long-stay apartments, and office and conference spaces on the upper floors.
A key aspect of the transformation is improving the building's permeability and accessibility. New entrances will be added from Reiffensteinplatz and Reineckstrasse, with a light-filled passageway connecting two courtyards. Visitors will be able to navigate the building using either escalators or glass elevators. The building's volume will be fragmented to create a more open, light-filled structure, replacing the closed-off design of the existing department store. The main north façade on Zeil will feature a transparent wood-and-glass screen, offering views into the building's interior, including cultural spaces, co-working areas, and children's facilities, with a prominent two-story multifunctional hall at its center.
Midstad Frankfurt is a renovation project that seeks to transform an existing city-center building into a flexible, mixed-use complex, contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area. According to Midstad's real estate managers, the project demonstrates how urban spaces can be revitalized through adaptable utilization concepts. The developers emphasize that multifunctional buildings capable of evolving with the changing needs of urban visitors and residents can help revitalize city centers. RPBW's design plans embody this vision, showcasing how European cities can be renewed through needs-based planning.
Mixed-use architecture is a key strategic instrument for urban renewal in large cities. Several renowned architecture firms are engaged in similar projects worldwide, including Valerio Olgiati, with his three red concrete towers in Tirana; Gensler, with an office conversion project in New York City; and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), with the remodeling of the HSBC Tower in London. These projects align with broader initiatives to reclaim downtown areas, repurpose disused land, and renovate large-scale underutilized buildings, such as the General Motors and Bedrock redevelopment of Detroit's Renaissance Center and the regeneration of the Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks in London.mixed-use
03 March 2025
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Permits In Progress For 22-Story Mixed Housing In San FranciscoThe site of 2700 Sloat Boulevard has had new preliminary permits filed, showing a 22-story, 233 foot (71 meter) building in San Francisco’s Sunset District. This project, led by Housing America Partner and San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, follows the withdrawal of a 50-story building proposal that had been applied for on the same site.
The development team is utilizing Assembly Bill 2011, which allows ministerial by right approval for affordable and mixed income housing on commercially zoned land, expediting the approval process.
Designed to have residential and retail, the 459,000 square foot (42,640 square meter) building will include 413,750 square feet (38,453 square meters) of residential space, 10,500 square feet (975 square meters) for retail, and 15,300 square feet (1,421 square meters) for a 52 car garage. The project will also provide 217 bicycle parking spaces. Plans indicate 446 apartments, with 207 affordable rental units and 239 market rate homes for sale. Layouts will feature studios, one, two, and three bedroom layouts.
Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) is the project architect, with designs showing tiered setbacks ranging from 8 to 22 stories along Wawona Street and Sloat Boulevard. The 0.87 acre (0.35 hectare) site is positioned near Ocean Beach, the San Francisco Zoo, and local businesses, including Java Beach at the Zoo and the United Irish Cultural Center.
With an estimated construction cost of US$223 million, groundbreaking targeted for November 2025, just 11 months after the initial application, and a notably fast timeline if achieved.
Learn more at SF YIMBYmixed-use
28 February 2025
Profile Miami
Demolition Begins For Transformative Mixed-Use Development 'The Avenue' On Naples' Prestigious Fifth AvenueAprea, led by Andy Penev, announced today that demolition has begun at the future site of The Avenue, a sprawling mixed-use project planned at the gateway to downtown Naples on prestigious 5th Avenue between 5th and 6th Avenues and 9th and 11th Streets.
East of Four Corners, where U.S. 41 turns east toward Miami between the historic Tin City and the renowned Fifth Avenue shopping district, the 4.3-acre site consists of a number of vacant lots and empty, non-conforming buildings, damaged by Hurricane Ian, including the former home of the iconic St. George & The Dragon restaurant shuttered in 2012.
The demolition signals the beginning of an exciting transformation of the gateway to Naples by blending luxury residences with vibrant retail and hospitality spaces. This mixed-use development will consist of four boutique buildings, featuring 50 bespoke residences alongside 75,000 square feet of premier retail space, all designed to offer a pedestrian-friendly environment reminiscent of charming European streets.
The demolition process will involve a phased approach, beginning with installing a site perimeter fence then structural assessments and deconstruction to ensure materials are sorted for recycling and proper disposal. Envirostruct will utilize modern, low-impact machinery to reduce noise and dust emissions while demolishing the existing structures, aligning with the project’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The timeline for demolition spans the next 90 days, with efforts to minimize any disruption to nearby businesses and residents through scheduled work hours and proactive communication with the community.
Envirostruct has been tasked with removing all existing structures and is working closely with the City to ensure the process adheres to all regulations and minimizes any disruption to the community. The general contractor for vertical construction will be announced in the coming months.
Aprea is committed to fostering strong relationships within the community throughout the construction process. “The start of demolition is the first of many milestones to come. We have every confidence Envirostruct will ensure this process will be smooth, efficient and environmentally responsible, setting the stage for the creation of a world-class destination in the heart of Naples,” Penev added.
Residences at The Avenue, which began sales in January, are thoughtfully designed with two to four bedrooms and are priced from under $3 million to $8 million. Each building will feature distinctive amenities, including pools, state-of-the-art fitness centers, spas, and club rooms tailored for co-working and socializing. Residents will also enjoy five-star, hotel-level services, including concierge assistance with in-home package delivery, grocery and dry-cleaning services, beach service transportation and setup, housekeeping and home-watch coordination, and exclusive beach house vehicles for convenient coastal living.
The Dawn McKenna Group, recently appointed as the exclusive sales and marketing team for The Avenue, brings their unparalleled expertise and global reach to introduce this unique development to discerning buyers.
“The momentum for The Avenue is palatable. We’ve enjoyed an incredible response from interested buyers who recognize that The Avenue is poised to set a new standard for luxury living in Naples,” said Christine Lutz, Director of New Developments for the Dawn McKenna Group. “We are thrilled to witness the project’s first major construction milestone.”
In addition to offering bespoke residences, The Avenue will feature lushly landscaped open-air walkways, elite dining establishments, and high-end shops that reflect the vibrant charm of downtown Naples.
Images via @thepanoptikon
For more information about The Avenue or to inquire about purchasing a unit please fill out the form below:
Thank you!mixed-use
25 February 2025
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Mass Dampers Installed For 195 Meter Flagpole In Capital City BakuThe 195-meter flagpole in the Azerbijani capital of Baku, Azerbaijan has been installed and designed to withstand extreme wind and seismic activity. Located on the shores of the Caspian Sea that exposes it to high winds, it also needed to support a massive 35 x 70 meter flag hoisted onto the flagpole. To counteract dangerous vibrations, Munich-based MAURER supplied and installed three precisely tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in the upper sections of the mast.
Composed of ten conical metal segments, the flag pole faces immense wind forces that cause vibrations, leading to resonance and potential structural damage or even collapse. Given these challenges, three TMDs were designed and produced for installation inside of segment nine at approximately 180 meters. The dampers were pre-assembled in Munich, tested by TUV SUD, and delivered to Baku. Because they needed to be installed on the ground before the segment was mounted up onto the mast, they were carefully fitted one above the other before being raised.
The damper masses resemble a three-quarter cylinder. They are each suspended from three pendulum rods secured to the inner wall of the mast. This special shape is necessary so that the maintenance ladder can run up the center of the mast to the top. The damper masses are each secured horizontally to the wall by four hydraulic dampers. These dampen the movements of the pendulums and stop the masses from colliding with the wall.
Each damper is designed to activate at different wind intensities. The largest mass damper is 7.1 tons, measuring 144 x 6,414 mm in length and with frequencies ranging between 0.65 and 1.32 Hz. Suspended by pendulums inside the mast, they counteract the flagpole’s movements, reducing vibrations by a factor of two to ten and ensuring structural longevity for over 30 years.
Familiar with regional conditions, MAURER was also the supplier of custom dampers for the 276.3 meter Baku Tower and 195.9 meter SOCAR Tower.mixed-use
21 February 2025
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Mass Dampers Installed For 195 Meter Flagpole In Capital City BakuThe 195-meter flagpole in the Azerbijani capital of Baku, Azerbaijan has been installed and designed to withstand extreme wind and seismic activity. Located on the shores of the Caspian Sea that exposes it to high winds, it also needed to support a massive 35 x 70 meter flag hoisted onto the flagpole. To counteract dangerous vibrations, Munich-based MAURER supplied and installed three precisely tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in the upper sections of the mast.
Composed of ten conical metal segments, the flag pole faces immense wind forces that cause vibrations, leading to resonance and potential structural damage or even collapse. Given these challenges, three TMDs were designed and produced for installation inside of segment nine at approximately 180 meters. The dampers were pre-assembled in Munich, tested by TUV SUD, and delivered to Baku. Because they needed to be installed on the ground before the segment was mounted up onto the mast, they were carefully fitted one above the other before being raised.
The damper masses resemble a three-quarter cylinder. They are each suspended from three pendulum rods secured to the inner wall of the mast. This special shape is necessary so that the maintenance ladder can run up the center of the mast to the top. The damper masses are each secured horizontally to the wall by four hydraulic dampers. These dampen the movements of the pendulums and stop the masses from colliding with the wall.
Each damper is designed to activate at different wind intensities. The largest mass damper is 7.1 tons, measuring 144 x 6,414 mm in length and with frequencies ranging between 0.65 and 1.32 Hz. Suspended by pendulums inside the mast, they counteract the flagpole’s movements, reducing vibrations by a factor of two to ten and ensuring structural longevity for over 30 years.
Familiar with regional conditions, MAURER was also the supplier of custom dampers for the 276.3 meter Baku Tower and 195.9 meter SOCAR Tower.mixed-use
21 February 2025
construction dive
Deepseek Called A Net Positive For Data Centers Despite Overcapacity WorriesThe global race to develop sophisticated, versatile AI models is driving a surge in development of the physical infrastructure to support them. Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google parent Alphabet — four of the AI industry’s biggest players — plan to invest a combined $325 billion in capital expenditures in 2025, much of it for data centers and associated hardware.
The technology giants’ spending plans mark a 46% increase from their combined 2024 capital investments, according to Yahoo! Finance, and track a doubling in proposed data centers’ average size from 150 gigawatts to 300 gigawatts between January 2023 and October 2024. In December, Meta said it would build a $10 billion, 4 million-square-foot data center in Louisiana that could consume the power output equivalent of two large nuclear reactors.
The planned spending announcements came after the January release of the highly efficient, open-source AI platform DeepSeek, which led some experts and investors to question just how much infrastructure — from high-performance chips to new power plants and electrical equipment — the AI boom actually requires. But experts interviewed by Facilities Dive see AI efficiency gains as a net positive for data center developers, operators and customers in the long run, despite shorter-term uncertainty that could temporarily create overcapacity in some markets.
DeepSeek’s late January commercial launch took many Americans by surprise, but the rise of a more efficient and capable AI model follows a well-worn pattern of technology development, said K.R. Sridhar, founder, chairman and CEO of power solutions provider Bloom Energy.
“In 2010, it took about 1,500 watt-hours to facilitate the flow of one gigabyte of information,” Sridhar said. “Last year it took about one tenth of that … [but] the total growth of traffic, and therefore the chips and energy, has been twice that amount.”
As generative AI model development has grown more capital intensive, the benefits of efficiency have increased as well, Morningstar DBRS Senior Vice President Victor Leung wrote in a Jan. 28 research note.
“DeepSeek's approach to constructing and training its model could be viewed as manifesting this drive towards more efficient models and to be expected as they and other companies seek to reduce AI deployment costs,” Leung said. Continued efficiency improvements could moderate demand for data center capacity over the longer term, Leung added.
As evidenced by the tech giants’ recent announcements, the biggest AI players are unlikely to pull back on planned investments on DeepSeek’s account, Ashish Nadkarni, group vice president and general manager for worldwide infrastructure research at IDC, told Facilities Dive.
For companies like Meta and Microsoft, the drive to build as much AI capacity as quickly as possible is “existential,” with Apple the only major tech company to buck the trend so far, Nadkarni said. Those companies, and others like Elon Musk’s xAI, are using huge amounts of proprietary data to train differentiated foundational models useful in building emerging “agentic AI” tools and other future innovations, he added.
Despite the scale of their planned and in-progress AI investments, the big tech companies “remain at the starting line,” with commercial payoff uncertain and likely still years away, Nadkarni said.
Imminent advances that allow more cost-effective AI deployments could “stabilize the AI industry in the long run” by reducing the risk of a capital spending pullback that could lead to “a burst investment bubble in AI-related sectors,” Leung wrote.
A reduction in the computing power needed to train new models could eventually tip the balance of new data center deployments toward smaller “inference” data centers, which serve user requests rather than model development and refinement, experts say. That would mean proportionally fewer developments on the scale of Meta’s two-gigawatt Louisiana facility or Compass Datacenters’ planned campus in suburban Chicago that could eventually host five massive data centers.
“An acceleration of [large language models] in large training data centers will lead to a natural acceleration of inference data centers … located in proximity to people, processes and machines,” Sridhar said. Inference data centers typically consume tens of megawatts of power, compared with hundreds of megawatts for centralized training facilities.
For now, data center proposals continue to get bigger, with the average proposed data center doubling in size from about 150 megawatts to 300 megawatts between early 2023 and mid-2024, according to an October 2024 report from Wood Mackenzie.
Even if AI efficiency gains continue, new data centers likely won’t change their plans to use liquid cooling systems, which are more effective at cooling high-powered server racks than traditional air cooling systems, said Angela Taylor, chief of staff at liquid cooling provider LiquidStack. Compass Datacenters says its Chicago-area campus will use non-water liquid cooling, while Microsoft recently unveiled a new closed-loop water cooling system that it said could avoid the need for 125 million liters of water annually at new facilities.
Taylor also expects liquid cooling to play a pivotal role in new inference data centers in “edge” environments closer to users.
“[The] edge has harsh operating and serviceability requirements, such as air pollution, hot and humid climate [and] smaller footprints … liquid cooling shines in these types of environments,” she said.
However, some operators of existing air-cooled data centers may rethink capital-intensive plans to retrofit them with liquid cooling systems, which “are still several years away” from widespread deployment, Nadkarni said.
“[Liquid cooling] is a much heavier lift for retrofits,” he said.
Amid long construction time frames and grid interconnection bottlenecks, data center developers like Meta and xAI are racing “to secure as much natural gas as possible,” said Gabriel Kra, managing director at venture capital firm Prelude Ventures.
Entergy Louisiana plans to build three combined-cycle gas plants to power the new Meta campus, while xAI deployed more than a dozen off-grid gas turbines last year while waiting on a grid connection for its Memphis campus.
Over the longer term, the growth of inference data centers “will create a huge need for local availability of electricity in already congested metro areas,” further increasing the value of onsite power, Sridhar said.
But many data centers will still connect to the grid, and more efficient AI models call into question the longer-term economics of premium-priced power deals announced recently, Kra said.
“If the load growth from AI is suddenly curtailed by a factor of five or 10, that has big implications,” Kra said. “We’ve heard recent pitches from companies that are relying on expensive contracts with hyperscalers ….[This] calls those business models more seriously into question.”
On the bright side, lower-than-expected data center energy demand could pay environmental dividends by reducing the need for older coal power plants, Kra added.
If AI models continue to see efficiency gains, then larger enterprises — such as global automakers — may look more closely at bringing more technology development and computing power in-house, rather than relying on third-party resources, Nadkarni said.
That would necessitate capital investment on those companies’ part but could reduce demand for centralized AI computing, he said.
Colocation data centers, where customers rent space to house IT equipment rather than keeping it in their own facilities, are meanwhile “growing extremely fast,” Taylor said.
Colocation facilities tend to be located on highly-connected, adequately powered sites near population centers, making them attractive to users who need computing power in short order, said Scott McCrady, chief client executive at Cologix, a colocation firm. Those located in major network hubs also offer very low-latency computing, which is critical for inference applications from which users expect rapid outputs, he said.
But the tailwinds benefiting on-premise and colocation compute might not be enough to sustain the present data center boom, experts say.
To start, hyperscalers may push for shorter lease terms on large-scale facilities as they weigh uncertainty around future computing power requirements, Leung said.
And the wider industry could be in for a temporary period of overcapacity, similar to what happened in the aftermath of the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nadkarni said. It took years for the market to absorb the glut of fiber networks and data centers built back then, he added.
“I have a nagging worry we’re going to see the same thing this time,” Nadkarni said. “I don’t think we can keep building compute at the same rate.”mixed-use
21 February 2025arch daily
Exploring High-Rise Innovations: 8 Conceptual Towers Redefining Urban Density From The Archdaily CommunityAs cities grow and available land becomes more limited, high-rise architecture plays an important role in addressing urban density while shaping new ways of living and working. Tall buildings are evolving beyond their traditional functions to integrate environmental strategies, enhance public engagement, and contribute to the urban fabric. Architects are exploring new materials, energy-efficient technologies, and spatial configurations that make towers more adaptable to their surroundings. Some projects incorporate green spaces and shared amenities to create a stronger connection between the built environment and its users, while others introduce innovative construction techniques to improve sustainability and efficiency.
Among this selection of projects submitted by the ArchDaily community, The Residences at 1428 Brickell by Arquitectonica in Miami, United States introduces a solar-powered facade that contributes to the building's energy needs. In Dubai, UAE, AVA by SOMA creates a transition from the city into a more enclosed, water-defined environment with a focus on luxury living. In Bangkok, Thailand, HAS Design and Research proposes the Bangkok Civic Center Tower as a new type of public space, combining green landscapes with mirrored surfaces to connect the city with nature. These projects reflect different approaches to vertical architecture and highlight how designers are responding to the challenges and opportunities of dense urban environments.
+ 40
Read on to discover 8 high-rise designs rethinking urban density, with descriptions provided by the architects.
Florida, United States
+ 40
Designed by Arquitectonica, with interiors by ACPV ARCHITECTS, The Residences at 1428 Brickell is a 70-story, 189-residence centerpiece of the quintessential Miami skyline developed by Miami-based developer Ytech. It will rise in Brickell as the first ever high-rise residential tower to be partially powered using solar energy, with 500 photovoltaic-integrated windows along the west-facing façade creating a"Solar Backbone" comprising nearly 20,000 square feet of energy-producing glass
Dubai, UAE
+ 40
Ava demarcates itself from all other luxury residential developments by an unprecedented offering of luxury amenities and bespoke facilities. Each residence is meticulously crafted to the highest standards and offers a unique and fully serviced lifestyle for the residents, their families and staff. The arrival experience for residents and visitors starts out with an unexpected disconnect from the urban realm as they leave the street and city noise and slowly begin their path of discovery towards their destination. Screened off by cascades of waterfalls, the building gradually appears as an isle, completely surrounded by an edgeless body of water that seamlessly extends towards the sea in a perfect continuity. The experience of crossing into the lobby enveloped with waterfalls is a transition from the urban to the surreal, into a welcoming soothing world that subtlety engulfs you within the bespoke world of wonders that Ava represents.
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
+ 40
Inspired by water as a symbol of life and prosperity, this transformation redefines the waterfront experience with the creation of a shopping center with entertainment and dining spaces on a pre-existing man-made island. The iconic Al Khobar Water Tower stands as a landmark of the city, embodying its rich history, culture, and modernity. Rising majestically above the skyline, the renovated structure offers breathtaking panoramic views, attracting tourists from far and wide. Beyond its primary function of supplying water, the project transforms the island upon which it stands into a vibrant destination. The tower serves as a reflection of Al Khobar's progress and commitment to growth, shaping its identity in profound ways. Positioned in a prime location with panoramic Persian Gulf vistas, the Al Khobar Water Tower renovation project strives to craft a functional, visually striking architectural gem. It aims to seamlessly blend with the community, championing an energy-efficient, sustainable design that sets a regional standard. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, it offers an immersive experience celebrating the city's cultural heritage. The 90 m high Al Khobar Water Tower plays a pivotal role in revitalizing the city's waterfront. Beyond supplying water, it seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, fostering a sense of connection and belonging for residents. The project introduces an efficient, sustainable design that establishes a benchmark for future regional development.
London, United Kingdom
+ 40
The description of Aston Martin Headquarters as three "things" places it in a relational object framework. Objects in this relation come into contact, intertwine, and perhaps even participate in a spiral movement, but their identities remain independent. In this project, the distinct positions of the museum, laboratories, and administrative spaces create a non-hierarchical relationship. The mysterious presence of a black object is another central theme in the headquarters' design. This darkness is not merely a force of erasure but acts as an intermediary space, creating a stark contrast between light and shadow that evokes the complexities within. The Aston Martin Headquarters complex features a visually distinct element – a 56-story administrative tower. This imposing structure, often referred to as the "black object," possesses the potential to become a prominent landmark within the urban environment. Furthermore, the complex incorporates dedicated spaces for distinct functions. The "Laboratories," a separate volume, emphasizes the importance of research and development activities within the company. Finally, the Aston Martin Museum, housed within the complex but designated as a separate entity, celebrates the brand's illustrious history dating back to 1913.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
+ 40
The housing shortage in The Netherlands is high and its solution cannot come from the government alone. That is why OLA Architecten from Rotterdam has come up with an ambitious and striking plan for 270 apartments at the end of the famous Kop van Zuid. That is not only an answer to the housing shortage, but also adds an iconic image to Rotterdam's famous skyline. A city park on this site is also inspired by the Manhattan New York Masterplan. Just as the transparent building of The Tree of Life in a solitary position was inspired by the original Masterplan Kop van Zuid by Teun Koolhaas from 1987. The technologies of the future used in the construction of facades go beyond the solutions known so far with regard to the self-sufficient energy of the building.
Babolsar, Iran
+ 40
The "Sky view" Towers project, started in 2022 on a 2526m² land, is up to 16th floor by winter 2024. Occupancy rate varies from 100% on lower floors to 70% on higher ones. Consultants were engaged for minor adjustments without changing original design. Duplex terraces, enhanced lighting, communal spaces, and green elements. Flexible geometric design ensures privacy. Project offers villa-like living with unique layouts. Redesign of parking lots could boost branding and economic model.
Las Vegas, United States
+ 40
Designed by Perkins Eastman, with interiors by One Line Design Studio, Cello Tower represents a new caliber of living in Las Vegas. Rising 32 floors, each of the 240 residences and eight penthouses blend refined interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the Las Vegas skyline and mountains. With more than 40,000 SF of amenities across three floors, park-like landscapes throughout and a transformative retail destination at its base, Cello Tower stands as a beacon of modern luxury.
Bangkok, Thailand
+ 40
Architects Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, founders of HAS Design and Research, proposed the "half-tower" form to symbolize the harmony between architecture and nature. One side features vertical green landscapes and a stone façade, grounding the building to the earth, while the other side, with mirrored glass and cable cars, embodies the fusion of urban life and nature. The Bangkok Civic Center Tower is not just an architectural marvel but a living model of public space, seamlessly connecting green belts.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN UNBUILT PROJECT
We highly appreciate the input from our readers and are always happy to see more projects designed by them. If you have an Unbuilt project to submit, click here and follow the guidelines. Our curators will review your submission and get back to you in case it is selected for a feature.mixed-use
19 February 2025arch daily
Exploring High-Rise Innovations: 8 Conceptual Towers Redefining Urban Density From The Archdaily CommunityAs cities grow and available land becomes more limited, high-rise architecture plays an important role in addressing urban density while shaping new ways of living and working. Tall buildings are evolving beyond their traditional functions to integrate environmental strategies, enhance public engagement, and contribute to the urban fabric. Architects are exploring new materials, energy-efficient technologies, and spatial configurations that make towers more adaptable to their surroundings. Some projects incorporate green spaces and shared amenities to create a stronger connection between the built environment and its users, while others introduce innovative construction techniques to improve sustainability and efficiency.
Among this selection of projects submitted by the ArchDaily community, The Residences at 1428 Brickell by Arquitectonica in Miami, United States introduces a solar-powered facade that contributes to the building's energy needs. In Dubai, UAE, AVA by SOMA creates a transition from the city into a more enclosed, water-defined environment with a focus on luxury living. In Bangkok, Thailand, HAS Design and Research proposes the Bangkok Civic Center Tower as a new type of public space, combining green landscapes with mirrored surfaces to connect the city with nature. These projects reflect different approaches to vertical architecture and highlight how designers are responding to the challenges and opportunities of dense urban environments.
+ 41
Read on to discover 8 high-rise designs rethinking urban density, with descriptions provided by the architects.
Florida, United States
+ 41
Designed by Arquitectonica, with interiors by ACPV ARCHITECTS, The Residences at 1428 Brickell is a 70-story, 189-residence centerpiece of the quintessential Miami skyline developed by Miami-based developer Ytech. It will rise in Brickell as the first ever high-rise residential tower to be partially powered using solar energy, with 500 photovoltaic-integrated windows along the west-facing façade creating a"Solar Backbone" comprising nearly 20,000 square feet of energy-producing glass
Dubai, UAE
+ 41
Ava demarcates itself from all other luxury residential developments by an unprecedented offering of luxury amenities and bespoke facilities. Each residence is meticulously crafted to the highest standards and offers a unique and fully serviced lifestyle for the residents, their families and staff. The arrival experience for residents and visitors starts out with an unexpected disconnect from the urban realm as they leave the street and city noise and slowly begin their path of discovery towards their destination. Screened off by cascades of waterfalls, the building gradually appears as an isle, completely surrounded by an edgeless body of water that seamlessly extends towards the sea in a perfect continuity. The experience of crossing into the lobby enveloped with waterfalls is a transition from the urban to the surreal, into a welcoming soothing world that subtlety engulfs you within the bespoke world of wonders that Ava represents.
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
+ 41
Inspired by water as a symbol of life and prosperity, this transformation redefines the waterfront experience with the creation of a shopping center with entertainment and dining spaces on a pre-existing man-made island. The iconic Al Khobar Water Tower stands as a landmark of the city, embodying its rich history, culture, and modernity. Rising majestically above the skyline, the renovated structure offers breathtaking panoramic views, attracting tourists from far and wide. Beyond its primary function of supplying water, the project transforms the island upon which it stands into a vibrant destination. The tower serves as a reflection of Al Khobar's progress and commitment to growth, shaping its identity in profound ways. Positioned in a prime location with panoramic Persian Gulf vistas, the Al Khobar Water Tower renovation project strives to craft a functional, visually striking architectural gem. It aims to seamlessly blend with the community, championing an energy-efficient, sustainable design that sets a regional standard. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, it offers an immersive experience celebrating the city's cultural heritage. The 90 m high Al Khobar Water Tower plays a pivotal role in revitalizing the city's waterfront. Beyond supplying water, it seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, fostering a sense of connection and belonging for residents. The project introduces an efficient, sustainable design that establishes a benchmark for future regional development.
London, United Kingdom
+ 41
The description of Aston Martin Headquarters as three "things" places it in a relational object framework. Objects in this relation come into contact, intertwine, and perhaps even participate in a spiral movement, but their identities remain independent. In this project, the distinct positions of the museum, laboratories, and administrative spaces create a non-hierarchical relationship. The mysterious presence of a black object is another central theme in the headquarters' design. This darkness is not merely a force of erasure but acts as an intermediary space, creating a stark contrast between light and shadow that evokes the complexities within. The Aston Martin Headquarters complex features a visually distinct element – a 56-story administrative tower. This imposing structure, often referred to as the "black object," possesses the potential to become a prominent landmark within the urban environment. Furthermore, the complex incorporates dedicated spaces for distinct functions. The "Laboratories," a separate volume, emphasizes the importance of research and development activities within the company. Finally, the Aston Martin Museum, housed within the complex but designated as a separate entity, celebrates the brand's illustrious history dating back to 1913.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
+ 41
The housing shortage in The Netherlands is high and its solution cannot come from the government alone. That is why OLA Architecten from Rotterdam has come up with an ambitious and striking plan for 270 apartments at the end of the famous Kop van Zuid. That is not only an answer to the housing shortage, but also adds an iconic image to Rotterdam's famous skyline. A city park on this site is also inspired by the Manhattan New York Masterplan. Just as the transparent building of The Tree of Life in a solitary position was inspired by the original Masterplan Kop van Zuid by Teun Koolhaas from 1987. The technologies of the future used in the construction of facades go beyond the solutions known so far with regard to the self-sufficient energy of the building.
Babolsar, Iran
+ 41
The "Sky view" Towers project, started in 2022 on a 2526m² land, is up to 16th floor by winter 2024. Occupancy rate varies from 100% on lower floors to 70% on higher ones. Consultants were engaged for minor adjustments without changing original design. Duplex terraces, enhanced lighting, communal spaces, and green elements. Flexible geometric design ensures privacy. Project offers villa-like living with unique layouts. Redesign of parking lots could boost branding and economic model.
Las Vegas, United States
+ 41
Designed by Perkins Eastman, with interiors by One Line Design Studio, Cello Tower represents a new caliber of living in Las Vegas. Rising 32 floors, each of the 240 residences and eight penthouses blend refined interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the Las Vegas skyline and mountains. With more than 40,000 SF of amenities across three floors, park-like landscapes throughout and a transformative retail destination at its base, Cello Tower stands as a beacon of modern luxury.
Bangkok, Thailand
+ 41
Architects Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, founders of HAS Design and Research, proposed the "half-tower" form to symbolize the harmony between architecture and nature. One side features vertical green landscapes and a stone façade, grounding the building to the earth, while the other side, with mirrored glass and cable cars, embodies the fusion of urban life and nature. The Bangkok Civic Center Tower is not just an architectural marvel but a living model of public space, seamlessly connecting green belts.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN UNBUILT PROJECT
We highly appreciate the input from our readers and are always happy to see more projects designed by them. If you have an Unbuilt project to submit, click here and follow the guidelines. Our curators will review your submission and get back to you in case it is selected for a feature.mixed-use
19 February 2025Bisnow
Newquest Cancels $350M Mixed-Use Project In PearlandNewQuest Properties’ proposed mixed-use development with restaurants, retail, apartments, a hotel, sports and entertainment in Pearland is no longer on the table, the victim of economics the company said no longer work.
NewQuest had been in talks with Pearland officials to put the $350M project on 93 acres at the intersection of State Highway 288 and Beltway 8 in Pearland's Lower Kirby District.
But NewQuest President Austin Alvis said the site, which is owned by asset management company PGIM, is no longer under contract and NewQuest has no plans for its development, according to the Houston Business Journal.
“The cost of public infrastructure and the cost of doing deals became a challenge that the deal couldn't support,” Alvis told the HBJ. “Ultimately, just the economics don't work on it, and so we've decided to focus on projects that have a more imminent timeline.”
The proposed plans were first reported in late 2022, and NewQuest said it had been planning the project since 2019, according to the HBJ. Pearland Economic Development Corp. said that talks about the project ended in summer 2023.
The NewQuest project was slotted to rise next to a $53.7M, 181K SF indoor amateur sports facility proposed by the City of Pearland. The facility, with volleyball courts, basketball courts, a fitness center, multipurpose fields and other activities, was pitched as a way to add to city-sponsored recreation activities while relieving programming space pressure from local school districts, the Houston Chronicle reported.
But the city abandoned the plans for that sports facility a few months before NewQuest’s project was canceled. City officials cited cost as a contributing factor, according to the HBJ.
Pearland EDC still hopes to see something developed on that site that is different from the “typical box development that you see at every corner of the freeway,” President Matt Buchanan told the outlet.
NewQuest abandoning its plans is not the first time a development proposal for the site has been canceled.
Poag & McEwen Lifestyle Centers bought 127 acres there in 2005 and planned to build a $150M outdoor shopping center, the Houston Business Journal reported. Ultimately, only a 150K SF Bass Pro Shops was built before Poag & McEwen gave up on the project around the time of the Global Financial Crisis.
HBJ reported that Alvis did not rule out the possibility of developing the site in the future.
Buchanan noted that the Highway 288 corridor is getting denser, and NewQuest is known to wait close to a decade for the right time to develop a site.
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Sound good? Just hit yes and continue on your way.mixed-use
10 February 2025Bisnow
Newquest Cancels $350M Mixed-Use Project In PearlandNewQuest Properties’ proposed mixed-use development with restaurants, retail, apartments, a hotel, sports and entertainment in Pearland is no longer on the table, the victim of economics the company said no longer work.
NewQuest had been in talks with Pearland officials to put the $350M project on 93 acres at the intersection of State Highway 288 and Beltway 8 in Pearland's Lower Kirby District.
But NewQuest President Austin Alvis said the site, which is owned by asset management company PGIM, is no longer under contract and NewQuest has no plans for its development, according to the Houston Business Journal.
“The cost of public infrastructure and the cost of doing deals became a challenge that the deal couldn't support,” Alvis told the HBJ. “Ultimately, just the economics don't work on it, and so we've decided to focus on projects that have a more imminent timeline.”
The proposed plans were first reported in late 2022, and NewQuest said it had been planning the project since 2019, according to the HBJ. Pearland Economic Development Corp. said that talks about the project ended in summer 2023.
The NewQuest project was slotted to rise next to a $53.7M, 181K SF indoor amateur sports facility proposed by the City of Pearland. The facility, with volleyball courts, basketball courts, a fitness center, multipurpose fields and other activities, was pitched as a way to add to city-sponsored recreation activities while relieving programming space pressure from local school districts, the Houston Chronicle reported.
But the city abandoned the plans for that sports facility a few months before NewQuest’s project was canceled. City officials cited cost as a contributing factor, according to the HBJ.
Pearland EDC still hopes to see something developed on that site that is different from the “typical box development that you see at every corner of the freeway,” President Matt Buchanan told the outlet.
NewQuest abandoning its plans is not the first time a development proposal for the site has been canceled.
Poag & McEwen Lifestyle Centers bought 127 acres there in 2005 and planned to build a $150M outdoor shopping center, the Houston Business Journal reported. Ultimately, only a 150K SF Bass Pro Shops was built before Poag & McEwen gave up on the project around the time of the Global Financial Crisis.
HBJ reported that Alvis did not rule out the possibility of developing the site in the future.
Buchanan noted that the Highway 288 corridor is getting denser, and NewQuest is known to wait close to a decade for the right time to develop a site.
Success! You are subscribed to the Bisnow Houston Newsletter.
or click here to copy link to clipboard
LOGIN TO BISNOW
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towards a paywall. Our news is free and we intend to keep it that way.
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Upcoming regulations in the European Union require us to show this pop-up and ask you to agree to keep using Bisnow.com. We want to take 15 seconds to tell you what's going on:
Sound good? Just hit yes and continue on your way.mixed-use
10 February 2025construction dive
Google Plans $75B Investment To Build Out Cloud Ai CapacityMassive AI infrastructure investments are the new normal in cloud. Capacity constraints are a common theme, too.
Microsoft promised in January to spend $80 billion on AI-enabled data centers during its current fiscal year and said it was vexed by power and capacity shortages during the final quarter of last year.
Amazon, which reports earnings Thursday, was projected to spend $75 billion on capital investments last year, the majority of which was to “support the growing need for technology infrastructure,” CFO Brian Olsavsky said during an October earnings call.
“We have more demand that we could fulfill if we had even more capacity today,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said during the call. “Pretty much everyone today has less capacity than they have demand for, and it's really primarily chips that are the area where companies could use more supply.”
Pichai touted gains in data center efficiency through Google’s deployment of in-house TPU chips and AI Hypercomputer architecture Tuesday. “We develop every component of our technology stack, including hardware, compilers, models and products,” he said. “This approach allows us to drive efficiencies at every level from training and serving to developer productivity.”
As data center construction progressed, Google Cloud saw fourth quarter revenues grow 30% year over year to $12 billion. Cloud segment revenues for the full year were up 31% to $43.4 billion.
The company plans to invest roughly $16 billion to $18 billion in capital expenditures during the first quarter, according to Ashkenazi.mixed-use
06 February 2025Arch Daily Mixed
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban CenterThe site of Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to undergo a major transformation, developed by UNStudio in collaboration with several other firms. The master plan aims to reimagine the location of the first World Expo held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia into a new urban center, integrating the structures of the original Expo with new developments to create a cohesive and engaging new district. The development, part of Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan, leverages approximately 80% of the existing infrastructure and buildings from Expo 2020, minimizing waste and maximizing the value of previous investments.
+ 11
The 3.5-square-kilometer development is designed to accommodate over 35,000 residents and 37,000 professionals, while maintaining capacity for approximately 50,000 annual visitors. The masterplan shifts from the organic layout of the Expo 2020 thematic districts to a more efficient grid system. This improved urban structure enhances navigation and accessibility.
The development is organized into five new districts: Expo Downtown, a high-density mixed-use area, Expo Fields, featuring sports facilities and residential components, Expo Hills, a low-density residential area with open spaces, Expo Business, understood as an innovation campus, and Expo Valley, a low-density residential neighborhood planned for completion in 2026. Each district incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational elements.
A key focus is on creating a green and vibrant public realm. The landscape design, led by SLA, incorporates elements of the Expo 2020 themes of Sustainability, Mobility, and Opportunity. This involves extensive green spaces, water features, and the planting of over 30,000 native trees. The integration of the Dubai Exhibition Centre further enhances connectivity and activity within the site. The design prioritizes efficient urban planning, incorporating extensive green spaces and promoting alternative transportation methods such as walking, cycling, and public transit. The project's sustainability goals are reflected in its pursuit of LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent certifications.
In other related news, preparations are underway for the next edition of World Expo, to be held in Osaka, Japan. Construction photographs reveals the "Grand Ring," designed by Sou Fujimoto, which will encircle the exhibition grounds, while most of the national participants have unveiled designs of their pavilions, including Kengo Kuma's design for the Portugal Pavilion, and the German pavilion, by LAVA Architects.mixed-use
05 February 2025Arch Daily Mixed
Expo City Dubai To Be Transformed By Unstudio Into New Urban CenterThe site of Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to undergo a major transformation, developed by UNStudio in collaboration with several other firms. The master plan aims to reimagine the location of the first World Expo held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia into a new urban center, integrating the structures of the original Expo with new developments to create a cohesive and engaging new district. The development, part of Dubai's 2040 Urban Master Plan, leverages approximately 80% of the existing infrastructure and buildings from Expo 2020, minimizing waste and maximizing the value of previous investments.
+ 11
The 3.5-square-kilometer development is designed to accommodate over 35,000 residents and 37,000 professionals, while maintaining capacity for approximately 50,000 annual visitors. The masterplan shifts from the organic layout of the Expo 2020 thematic districts to a more efficient grid system. This improved urban structure enhances navigation and accessibility.
The development is organized into five new districts: Expo Downtown, a high-density mixed-use area, Expo Fields, featuring sports facilities and residential components, Expo Hills, a low-density residential area with open spaces, Expo Business, understood as an innovation campus, and Expo Valley, a low-density residential neighborhood planned for completion in 2026. Each district incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational elements.
A key focus is on creating a green and vibrant public realm. The landscape design, led by SLA, incorporates elements of the Expo 2020 themes of Sustainability, Mobility, and Opportunity. This involves extensive green spaces, water features, and the planting of over 30,000 native trees. The integration of the Dubai Exhibition Centre further enhances connectivity and activity within the site. The design prioritizes efficient urban planning, incorporating extensive green spaces and promoting alternative transportation methods such as walking, cycling, and public transit. The project's sustainability goals are reflected in its pursuit of LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent certifications.
In other related news, preparations are underway for the next edition of World Expo, to be held in Osaka, Japan. Construction photographs reveals the "Grand Ring," designed by Sou Fujimoto, which will encircle the exhibition grounds, while most of the national participants have unveiled designs of their pavilions, including Kengo Kuma's design for the Portugal Pavilion, and the German pavilion, by LAVA Architects.mixed-use
05 February 2025Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Demolition On 13-Story Building In New York City Makes Way For 63-Story SkyscraperDemolition is progressing at 37 West 57th Street, marking the latest step in the development of a 63-story, 1,100-foot (335-meter) skyscraper at 41-47 West 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The project, led by developer Sedesco and designed by OMA, will include 119 condominiums averaging 1,992 square feet (185 square meters), a 158-room hotel, and a 10,212-square-foot (949-square-meter) restaurant. The site spans both West 57th and West 58th Streets, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Sedesco acquired the 13-story office building at 37 West 57th Street in early 2023 for 77.5 million dollars, adding 87,855 square feet (8,165 square meters) to the planned 453,200-square-foot (42,099-square-meter) tower. Recent images show scaffolding and netting covering the structure, with interior demolition underway. A construction hoist will be anchored to the western lot line wall, where windows have been removed and boarded up.
Meanwhile, initial site preparation has begun at 41-47 West 57th Street, where an excavator is clearing debris, though full excavation is expected to begin after the demolition of 37 West 57th Street is complete.
Renderings depict the tower rising among the Billionaires’ Row supertalls, with a gradually tapering northern elevation clad in glass facing Central Park. The eastern façade is composed of concrete, with a recessed glass cutout following the tower’s angular form to a sharp point below the summit. The hotel will occupy floors two through twenty, with residences above.
Sedesco received a 20 percent increase in the tower’s allowable size in exchange for improvements to the 57th Street subway station at Sixth Avenue as part of the Zoning for Accessibility program. The developer will construct two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevators, one at the southwestern corner of West 56th Street and Sixth Avenue, and another connecting the underground mezzanine to the platform. Approved by the City Planning Commission on December 1, 2021, the initiative also includes a new elevator machine room, updated communication systems, reconfigured turnstiles, and a US$9.83 million maintenance fund. Work on these transit upgrades has not yet begun.
Learn more at New York Yimbymixed-use
30 January 2025construction dive
7 Mixed-Use Projects To Watch In 2025Multifamily start activity has slowed significantly over the past year, with a 28.8% year-over-year drop reported in November. However, there are still developers taking advantage of opportunities to deploy capital — many of them on a very large scale.
These mixed-use projects are located across the country in both urban and suburban areas, some already started and others expected to break ground soon. Here are a few examples of the largest mixed-use projects making news this year:
Location: Queens, New York
Developer: Related Cos.
Cost: $3 billion
Groundbreaking: June 2021
New York City-based Related Cos. has its eye on revitalizing a 62-acre section of Queens near the Flushing River and next to the New York Mets’ Citi Field stadium. Willets Point, once an ash dumping ground, has long been known for its auto shops and junkyards.
The $3 billion redevelopment plan calls for 2,500 new affordable homes, over 20,000 square feet of retail, a 650-student public school and 40,000 square feet of public space. A new $780 million stadium for the New York City Football Club soccer team is expected to open on the site in 2027.
Remedial work at the site began in June 2021 and has since been completed. The first vertical phase will include 1,100 of the planned affordable housing units.
Location: Apex, North Carolina
Developer: RXR
Cost: $3 billion
Groundbreaking: December 2024
New York City-based real estate firm RXR is underway on the first phase of development at the $3 billion Veridea mixed-use project in Apex, North Carolina, located southwest of Raleigh. The 1,100-acre project had been in the planning stages for 17 years when RXR took over the site in 2023, according to a press release shared with Multifamily Dive.
The first phase will include 1,500 multifamily units; 1,100 single-family homes and townhomes built by Miami-based home builder Lennar; 150,000 square feet of commercial, retail and restaurant space; over 200,000 square feet of industrial space and a new campus for Wake Tech Community College, according to the release.
At full buildout, Veridea will offer up to 8,000 residential units, 3.5 million square feet of retail space, 12 million square feet of commercial space and a new public elementary school, in addition to the new college campus, the release said.
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Developers: Cantor Fitzgerald, Silverstein Properties
Cost: $1.8 billion
Groundbreaking: 2023
South Pier, a $1.8 billion master-planned community in progress on the Tempe Town Lake waterfront in Tempe, Arizona, hit a milestone in its construction in October with the topping out of its first phase — Shorehaven, a three-building site mixing residential, retail and recreational space.
Developer Silverstein Properties and financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald, both based in New York City, intend to build a multi-acre complex of apartments, condos, hotels and office towers on the Opportunity Zone site, along with an entertainment pier.
Shorehaven will consist of 722 units ranging from studios to three bedrooms, plus 20,000 square feet of indoor amenities, 30,000 square feet of outdoor amenities and 26,000 square feet of retail, according to the release. The property is slated for completion in 2026.
Location: Houston
Developer: Johnson Development
Cost: $1 billion (projected)
Groundbreaking: Late 2024
Houston-based Johnson Development announced the groundbreaking of Park Eight Place, a 70-acre mixed-use site in west Houston’s Westchase district, on Sept. 25. Site work has since begun on the estimated $1 billion project, with roads and infrastructure set to follow early this year, according to the Houston Chronicle. Information on residential developments at the property is not yet available.
The project is designed around promoting healthier lifestyles, according to the developer’s news release. Michael Cox, president of Johnson Development, says the property is driven by a commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable design and technologies.
The city of Houston awarded Park Eight Place its first developer-initiated Walkable Places designation in November, according to a news release shared with Multifamily Dive. The property will be integrated with the adjacent 200-acre Arthur Storey Park, connecting its residents to a trail system that extends through the metro area.
Location: Pittsburgh
Developer: Piatt Cos.
Cost: $740 million
Groundbreaking: 2025
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission approved a $740 million redevelopment plan for nearly 15 acres of post-industrial land on the city’s North Side on Nov. 12, including future housing, entertainment and retail.
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based real estate firm Piatt Cos. is leading the project, which will be located on the Ohio River. The plan encompasses over 1.7 million square feet of developed space, with 300 apartments, a 125-room hotel, 105 condo units, restaurant and retail space, a river safety facility and a 164-foot Ferris wheel.
Development will occur in two phases. Piatt Cos. plans to start construction on the first phase in early 2025, following approval from the city and closing on the development land.
Location: Peoria, Arizona
Developer: Greystar
Cost: $500 million
Groundbreaking: May 2023
Charleston, South Carolina-based Greystar is underway on multiple elements of its $500 million, 88-acre Peoria Place development in Peoria, Arizona. At full buildout, the site is expected to include more than 700 apartments, 255 build-to-rent homes, 20 acres of open space and a light industrial park.
The industrial center was the first part of the property to break ground, according to AZ Big Media, and the first residential development, Marlowe Peoria Place, followed in January 2024, according to Greystar. Marlowe, still under construction, will include 370 of the site’s apartment homes and 4,900 square feet of retail.
Location: Los Angeles
Developer: Lendlease
Cost: $316 million
Groundbreaking: 2023
Construction at the 3.5-acre Habitat property in Los Angeles’ Culver City submarket is well underway, with two of its buildings — a six-story office and a 12-story apartment building — topping out in early December.
Developed by Sydney-based Lendlease in partnership with Australian superannuation fund Aware Super, Habitat will be a net-zero-carbon property with an integrated solar array and 64 dedicated electric vehicle parking spots, according to the news release. The project broke ground in 2023 and is valued at $316 million, according to Urbanize LA.
On completion in early 2026, the site will include a 253,000-square-foot office building, a 260-unit multifamily building and 2,900 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Apartments at Habitat will range from studios to two-bedroom units.
The project is among the last for Lendlease outside of Australia. The company announced in May that it was exiting international development and construction within the next 18 months, but would honor its commitments to finish joint venture projects, of which Habitat is one.mixed-use
24 January 2025Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
New Proposal In Fort Lauderdale For A 54-Story Mixed-Use BuildingArosa Development has proposed a 54-story mixed-use high-rise in Fort Lauderdale, potentially raising to a finished height of 600 feet (183 meters). The project, located at 315 NE 3rd Street, is a 27,591 square-foot (2,564 square-meter) lot currently being used as a parking area, would add 607 residences ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, a rooftop bar and other communal amenities, and commercial space.
Plans submitted show over 3,700 square feet (344 square meters) of commercial space and nine levels allocated to parking with 659 spots, 52 of which will be allocated to the neighboring Nola Lofts Building. The high-rise would be situated between Nola Lofts and The Rise at Flagler Village.
Fort Lauderdale’s Design Review Committee reviewed the proposal on 15 January 2025. The site was purchased by Arosa Development for US$7.7 million in late 2024, following an earlier proposal for the lot of a 32-story building submitted by a previous owner in 2020.
Learn more at Florida YIMBYmixed-use
23 January 2025