Nate Berg

Most concrete produces pollution. This concrete is made of it

The material that builds our world is the same one destroying it. Researchers in Tokyo have an intriguing solution.

Most concrete produces pollution. This concrete is made of it

Could high-speed rail curb America’s addiction to cars?

Developers behind the private rail company Brightline hope sophisticated design helps sell the public on high-speed rail travel.

Could high-speed rail curb America’s addiction to cars?

How to humanize a $22 billion neighborhood built from scratch

The heart of this massive Boston project is a rock-strewn park by James Corner Field Operations, the architects behind New York City’s High Line.

How to humanize a $22 billion neighborhood built from scratch

22 U.S. monuments feature mermaids. Just two represent congresswomen

A sweeping audit of nearly 50,000 U.S. monuments reveals a stark portrait of American values over time.

22 U.S. monuments feature mermaids. Just two represent congresswomen

A $3 billion maintenance backlog threatens U.S. diplomacy

Broken windows and glitchy air conditioners are fairly anodyne issues—but aging facilities can be more much problematic for diplomats and intelligence agents working on classified issues within embassy compounds.

A $3 billion maintenance backlog threatens U.S. diplomacy

Forget coworking. Your next desk could be in the middle of a forest

These tree-mounted desks put the ‘remote’ in remote working.

Forget coworking. Your next desk could be in the middle of a forest

The suburban office park rises from the dead

Across the country, old office parks are being turned into vibrant, mixed-use spaces.

The suburban office park rises from the dead

The classic A-frame cabin gets a sleek redesign

A newly renovated camp in Southern California shows how adaptable the A-frame cabin—originally designed by modern architect Rudolph Schindler in the 1930s—can be.

The classic A-frame cabin gets a sleek redesign

Who’s really returning to the office? It’s not exactly who you think

A new tool tracks how various cities and industries are—and aren’t—returning to the office.

Who’s really returning to the office? It’s not exactly who you think

This $1.6 billion hospital redesign dramatically reduces ER wait times

The hospital at UPenn reworked the flow of patients—and then redesigned the emergency room to fit those needs.

This $1.6 billion hospital redesign dramatically reduces ER wait times

Innovation By Design

Local Projects is the 2021 Design Company of the Year

In a Q&A, founder and principal Jake Barton describes how the New York-based design firm creates compelling multimedia museum experiences, from the National September 11 Memorial to Tulsa’s new retrospective on the Greenwood massacre.

Local Projects is the 2021 Design Company of the Year

Innovation By Design

Why this coal power plant is the future of green building

Beloit Powerhouse, by Studio Gang, is the winner of the Spaces and Places category in the 2021 Innovation by Design Awards for cleverly reusing architecture that’s already there.

Why this coal power plant is the future of green building

Innovation By Design

Chase’s new branches aim to combat historic racism in banking

Chase Community Centers will be in 16 areas that have been underserved and marginalized by financial institutions.

Chase’s new branches aim to combat historic racism in banking

Innovation By Design

Everything in this shopping mall is temporary. And that’s the point

Stackt, a retail market for pop-up stores in downtown Toronto, is the winner of Fast Company’s 2021 Innovation by Design Awards in the Retail Innovations category.

Everything in this shopping mall is temporary. And that’s the point

Innovation By Design

These giant floating islands could keep cities warm, without burning fossil fuels

Hot Heart, a concept to store heat offshore in Helsinki, is a winner in the 2021 Innovation by Design Awards.

These giant floating islands could keep cities warm, without burning fossil fuels

Innovation By Design

This platform is like ‘Sim City’ for COVID-19 relief—but with real-world implications

UrbanFootprint was designed to let urban designers play ‘Sim City’ IRL. Then COVID-19 hit.

This platform is like ‘Sim City’ for COVID-19 relief—but with real-world implications

Innovation By Design

This poignant museum uses computer vision to reckon with the legacy of colonial Australia

Australia’s Hyde Park Barracks Museum explores the country’s early history through the voices of everyone from the British colonizers to the Aboriginal people.

This poignant museum uses computer vision to reckon with the legacy of colonial Australia

Innovation By Design

It takes a village: Locals joined forces to build this stunning girls’ school in the Indian desert

Diana Kellogg Architects designed the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl’s School, and local women joined regional craftsmen to build it.

It takes a village: Locals joined forces to build this stunning girls’ school in the Indian desert

Innovation By Design

This hospital in the forest treats its patients like hotel guests

Waldkliniken Eisenberg is the winner of Fast Company’s 2021 Innovation By Design awards in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa category.

This hospital in the forest treats its patients like hotel guests

Fast Company Magazine

Jeanne Gang is creating a better future by building on the past

The internationally renowned Chicago-based architect is transforming neglected old structures into modern marvels.

Jeanne Gang is creating a better future by building on the past

Impact

Puerto Rico could rebuild its power grid with renewables, but FEMA plans to fund fossil fuels

Why Kaiser Permanente employees might be on the verge of a strike

These AI-powered dumpsters will help cities treat waste like a utility

News

Reuters calls out AT&T’s connection to far right media outlet OAN

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly worth $100 billion

Apple doubles its office space in L.A. to fight the streaming wars

Co.Design

Black children are almost 6 times more likely to drown than white children. Segregated pools are to blame

It’s time for designers to shift their obsession with user experience to user safety

How Oreos, iPhone cases, and TikTok could help museums make millions

Work Life

Your approach to work is making you unhappy. Here’s a better perspective

How to master the most important skill you need as a freelancer

3 factors that go into a successful career