June 22, 2025
Quick Insights to Start Your Week
Architecture-engineering-construction🎧 Listen to the Huddle
This is an AI generated audio, for feedback or suggestions, please click: Here
Share
Welcome to this week’s AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) huddle – your go-to source for the latest trends, industry insights, and tools shaping the industry. Let’s dive in! 🔥
⏱️ Estimated Read Time:
Suzanne LaGasa to launch New York City’s first design studio for kids
Suzanne M. LaGasa, stepping down from her role as creative director of Dwell Magazine following NYCxDESIGN and juried ICFF events, is launching “ProtoToto Design Lab,” an independent design education program for children aged 6 to 12.
ProtoToto will debut its offerings with six-week design-focused summer camps at LIU Downtown Brooklyncampus starting June 30, 2025. Fundraising efforts via a Kickstarter campaign launched on May 27, 2025, aim to secure permanent studio locations in Boerum Hill or Cobble Hill.
The mission of ProtoToto is to provide children with a model of play through design, activating a lifetime of creativity and building confidence for future careers. Suzanne LaGasa believes design demonstrates real-world applicability, helping kids value their ideas and develop resilience; its communal nature fosters stronger communication skills.
Top 4 Camp Themes
- Transit Magic: Industrial Design – Focus on commuter train concepts.
- Game Makers: Game Design – Emphasizing game strategy development.
- Amusement Park Design: Architecture – Designing for fun, considering diverse audiences for different rides.
- Dream School & Tree House Design: Architecture – Creating ideal schools and tree houses focused on living and play.
ProtoToto Design Lab is a design studio in Brooklyn founded by Suzanne LaGasa, dedicated to introducing children aged 6–12 to various design disciplines including architecture, graphic design, fashion design, and industrial design. Its mission focuses on maintaining creativity and fostering critical thinking and communication skills in young participants.
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs Master Plan for Sharjah Featuring Two-Kilometre Central Oasis
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has unveiled images of a master plan for Khalid Bin Sultan City, located adjacent to its BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The development draws inspiration from the BEEAH building’s design, incorporating fluid architectural forms reminiscent of wind-swept desert dunes.
The new urban area is structured as a year-round residential district comprising seven distinct neighbourhoods, connected by shaded walkways and anchored around a two-kilometre-long central oasis extending southward. Each neighbourhood features its own public plaza and ensures all are within five minutes walking distance. Important community landmarks include a mosque, cultural centre, outdoor sports facilities, and incubator spaces for the UAE’s creative sector.
The master plan prioritizes climate responsiveness by focusing on walkability over car-centric design to mitigate urban heat island effects. Pedestrian pathways are shaded by native vegetation; amenities like children’s centres, sports areas, and wellness clinics are strategically placed within walking distance of residential districts. Landscaping features varied widths for the oasis corridor alongside tree-lined boulevards with shaded terraces.
In parallel, architecture firm HWKN announced master plan images for another Sharjah neighbourhood designed using artificial intelligence. Sharjah is also preparing to host its third Architecture Triennial in 2026, exploring themes of adaptability and permanence curated by Tosin Oshinowo. Recent projects include the Jawaher Boston Medical District by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and the Sharjah Mosque.
On-site Checking at the Waldorf Astoria’s $2B Renovation
Boston-based Suffolk is managing the completion of the hotel part of the iconic New York City Waldorf Astoria’s extensive $2 billion renovation, scheduled for later this year.
An early challenge involved discovering a beam that was three feet wide instead of one foot as per structural drawings. This contractor noted crews faced similar issues throughout the building’s restoration, which aims to update the historic interiors while converting part into luxury condos.
The project requires meticulous preservation work alongside modernization. Suffolk removed original plaster, millwork, metal details, and stone off-site for storage and later replication when necessary.
To maintain continuity across three distinct components (residential, hotel, core infrastructure), each led by a team with its own leadership, a fourth executive oversees the entire operation.
The renovation involves relocating century-old murals from near the Empire State Building and reopening basements previously occupied by mechanical rooms to restore spaces like the Basildon courtyard and Grand Ballroom.
🤯 Fun Fact of the Week
Meet the Longest Bridge Ever Built: A True Engineering Marvel! China’s Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the longest bridge ever constructed, stretching an impressive 102.4 miles. It’s not just any bridge; it’s part of a high-speed railway that connects distant places. And guess what? Engineers made its foundation super strong to withstand earthquakes. Finished in 2011, this bridge is a testament to human ingenuity and the incredible achievements of smart and determined individuals. It’s a true engineering marvel that defies nature and proves what we can accomplish when we set our minds to it.
Huddle Quiz 🧩
Trend Explained:
⚡ Quick Bites: Headlines You Can’t Miss!
- Municipalities tap AI for permitting.
- Design Vanguard 2025: Ozaeta-Fidalgo.
- Old House Air-Sealing Basics.
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s K.C. DeRhodes House Listed for Sale for $1.17M With Preservation Easement.
Share
Subscribe this huddle for more weekly updates on Architecture and Construction Management! 🚀
Share Your Score!