US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said. 

By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 2025

Building performance standards set to proliferate, evolve in 2025

State and local governments continue to develop building standards that draw on existing frameworks and implement new metrics for measuring performance. 

By Joe Burns • March 25, 2025

A train station is at the heart of this NYC suburb’s downtown revitalization

New Rochelle, New York, has attracted $2 billion in development and seen its population grow over 7% in five years. Now, a project to remake its iconic train station aims to bring further benefits.

By Dan Zukowski • March 25, 2025

$10.7M court upgrade to be one of the last projects to use NYC’s old contracting method

The city’s new method of contracting will help projects like the judicial center renovation get done sooner, city officials say.

By Robert Freedman • March 21, 2025

Madison, Wisconsin, benchmarking program to phase in smaller buildings

Continuous benchmarking and system tune-ups can help owners and operators reduce annual energy use and provide cities with necessary information for setting performance targets, experts say.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

Tampa Bay Rays exit $1.3B stadium deal

After Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field and created economic uncertainty in St. Petersburg, Florida, funding delays were too much, the team’s owner said.

By Zachary Phillips • March 17, 2025

Baltimore property set for office-to-residential conversion for sale

The developer planned to turn the historic One Calvert Plaza into apartments before facing financial difficulties.

By Leslie Shaver • March 17, 2025

Tax break programs help spur downtown DC office-to-residential conversions

The Housing in Downtown Program has supported three housing conversion projects to date, while a new program will provide tax breaks to projects that convert offices to “anything” in the city’s business corridor.

By Danielle McLean • Updated March 5, 2025

Fund supports local building innovation

The HVAC association grants have funded energy audits and equipment assessments for school districts, churches other pro bono projects.

By Joe Burns • Feb. 28, 2025

Washington State grants $14.3M for public building retrofits

Twenty-six recipients will use the funds for energy-efficient improvements to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings, the Washington State Department of Commerce says.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2025

Bally’s $1.7B Chicago casino gains site approval

The gaming development is slated to rise on the site of the old Chicago Tribune printing plant along the Chicago River.

By Matthew Thibault • Feb. 21, 2025

Boston expands net-zero emissions requirements to new buildings, large additions

The zoning change requires most new buildings to be net zero when they open. The city previously set similar performance standards for existing buildings.

By Joe Burns • Feb. 4, 2025

The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025

9 largest commercial construction starts of December 2024

Billion-dollar projects, including a hospital replacement in Houston and a Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, kicked off even as overall construction activity cooled to close the year.

By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 27, 2025

What Trump’s infrastructure funding pause means for cities

A judge in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration Monday to "immediately restore withheld funds." The White House has appealed the order.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Feb. 13, 2025

5 ways builders say Trump can support construction

The Associated General Contractors of America itemized priorities for the new administration that will help bolster building activity.

By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 21, 2025

Adaptive reuse breathes new life into abandoned schools

Repurposed school buildings are home to a variety of groups, including artisans, local governments and restaurants. But funding and getting public buy-in for these projects isn’t always easy.

By Amanda Loudin • Jan. 14, 2025

NY mandates contractor registration for publicly funded projects

Consultant Kathleen Bloss talks about the type of work the law covers and steps that firms must take to comply.

By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 13, 2025

6 smart cities trends to watch in 2025

Transportation systems, housing policy and decarbonization approaches will evolve this year as the Trump administration assumes power and technology continues to advance.

By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski • Jan. 9, 2025

5 ways Trump could impact infrastructure construction in 2025

The incoming administration promises new policies that could affect permits, materials, labor and project funding.

By Julie Strupp • Jan. 8, 2025

Flexible office space set to rise in 2025: Cushman & Wakefield

Some companies are leaning into coworking spaces and other flex spaces amid efforts to reimagine cities, the firm says.

By Joe Burns • Jan. 7, 2025

$7B all-electric light rail project moves ahead in Austin, Texas

The Austin Transit Partnership selected a construction team to build the city’s first light rail system, which is set to open in 2033.

By Julie Strupp • Jan. 6, 2025

9 predictions about what 2025 may hold for US cities

“Playground” cities will thrive, innovative housing programs will proliferate and technology will transform transit and municipal services, these sources say.

By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 2, 2025

‘Smart surfaces’ policy tracker shows how cities boost green infrastructure, solar, cool pavement

Local officials can use the over 450 resources in the tracker to develop their own policies, according to Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Smart Surfaces Coalition.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 20, 2024