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Security Issues Central to Design Scheme As part of its ongoing effort to fortify and modernize embassies worldwide, the U.S. State Department unveiled plans for its highest-profile project yet, awarding the New London Embassy to KieranTimberlake on February 23. With a concept that seeks to blend iconic design with the State Department’s demand for a highly secure and sustainable facility, the firm has earned equal parts praise from its client and derision from some critics. At a cost of $1 billion, according to The Times of London, the 500,000-square-foot facility would be the most expensive embassy ever built. Ground breaking

The designer, thinker, and IDEO founder takes on an entirely new role as director of the Cooper-Hewitt. Photo Courtesy of IDEO / Nicolas Zurcher Bill Moggridge If you’re reading this on a laptop, take a second to admire Bill Moggridge’s work. His design for the GRiD Compass—a 1979 personal computer that enclosed a keyboard and screen in a clamshell-like, fold-open case for the first time—set the mold for the contemporary machine in front of you. U.K.-born Moggridge, 66, founded his first design firm in 1969, and over the next two decades the practice created innovative forms for many high-tech products.

While some areas of the economy are experiencing an upswing, architects likely won’t see a boost until next year. For architects standing vigil for a sign that the Great Recession might be easing in 2010, macroeconomic conditions indicate it may be so, but that they must be patient. U.S. real GDP rose 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, and the unemployment rate declined to 9.7 percent in January. But despite such positive signs, economists who follow patterns in construction predict that the architecture industry might not see a boost until 2011. Why? Tight credit, high unemployment, drastic decreases

Unemployed Designers in New York Band Together to Form LMNOP After getting laid off from Mancini Duffy in December 2008, Jennifer Graham felt disappointed and a bit panicky. But those emotions swiftly gave way to optimism. “I was so excited for new opportunities,” she says. Given her thick rolodex and tenacious spirit, she was confident she’d find a new job. “I have a business approach to everything I do,” she says. Photo © Danielle Austen Charlton Hutton, Jennifer Graham, Kristen Mucci, and other designers teamed up to form LMNOP. Related Links: Recession Stories: Where Are They Now? The following month,

Three recent projects attract clients by offering design services in unconventional locations. Design.Starts.Here looked like any other architecture studio: whiteboards covering the walls, a gaggle of stylish stacking chairs, and what one designer called “a really great conference table.” But there was one big difference: You could see it. Photo © Michael Hanson Since he began offering consultations at a farmer’s market, John Morefield’s atypical tactics have brought clients ­— and criticism (top) Design.Starts.Here took a cue from major retail chains with its “pop-up” store (middle). Design99 opened its storefront on the main shopping street in Hamtramck, Michigan, near Detroit (above).

Three architects at established firms share how they land new projects when work is scarce. Photo © SHoP Architects Gregg Pasquarelli SHoP Architects Gregg Pasquarelli William Bostwick: Did you have to reposition the SHoP brand when the recession hit? Gregg Pasquarelli: It wasn’t about repositioning ourselves. SHoP has always had a broad idea of the way architecture could be practiced. We’re not just a design studio—we’ve always ventured into other areas of business. WB: Where are those opportunities now? I know you’ve dabbled in real estate development with the Porter House condos in Manhattan. What else? GP: We’ve been doing

Three architects at established firms share how they land new projects when work is scarce. Photo ' Tim Bies/Olson Kundig Architects Alan Maskin Olson Kundig Alan Maskin William Bostwick: Your firm is best known for its residential work, and that sector was hit particularly hard by the recession. Have you branched out? Alan Maskin: We’ve just tried to hold onto our sectors. This wasn’t a time to start pursuing airports, for example. We’re into our fifth decade as a firm, and we have been through many other recessions. Our residential focus has always carried us through. But we reviewed all

Daniel Libeskind has added a rather unusual building type to his design resume: high-end, green prefab housing.

Photo courtesy Ole Scheeren Ole Scheeren, director of OMA's Beijing office, is leaving to start his own studio. Related Links: Fire-Ravaged TVCC Will Be Repaired CCTV Headquarters OMA-Designed MahaNakhon Tower Announced In early March, news broke that Ole Scheeren, director of OMA's Beijing office, is leaving to start his own studio. The 39-year-old architect also accepted a visiting professor position at Hong Kong University. "My collaboration with Rem Koolhaas and OMA has been an extraordinary experience... We have generated some remarkable projects both in East Asia and North America," he said in a statement. "The time has now come for