Public buildings can power community resilience

Sustainability strategies are also the foundation of resilient design, which prepares public buildings to serve as lifelines when disaster strikes.

By Jeff Kuhnhenn • May 4, 2026

What a city of 25,000 can teach others about modernizing infrastructure

Reduced costs. Stronger services for the community. See how one city did it.

May 4, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards

Cities are using these levers to meet climate goals and address everything from data centers to building decarbonization.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Meet the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award winners

Read about the local government leaders in Florida, New York and Texas being honored for how they’re driving local impact.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 30, 2026

Los Angeles’s future-thinking strategy for 2028 Olympic venues

With support from builders like PCL, LA is investing in infrastructure to support the 2028 games.

April 20, 2026

NYC launches concierge-style service, enhanced web tools to aid Local Law 97 compliance

New resources to help building operators plan retrofits, including resilience planning and expanded workforce development, will cut through red tape, city officials say.

By Joe Burns • April 16, 2026

Single-staircase reform proposed in California

Reducing the number of staircases smaller multifamily buildings require could unlock more housing, advocates say, but a state fire marshal report urges caution.

By Ryan Kushner • April 8, 2026

Office-to-housing conversions grew 28% last year

New York City led other cities in converted residential units by a wide margin, followed by Washington, D.C., and Chicago, according to RentCafe.

By Ryan Kushner • March 30, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays unveil plans for $2.3B ballpark, mixed-use development

The Major League Baseball franchise has long sought a new home. Last week it published video renderings that depict a 31,000-seat venue anchoring a “walkable, retail-rich district."

By Zachary Phillips • March 10, 2026

Brooklyn project shows feasibility of using geothermal in dense urban areas

Although installation costs are higher than for conventional systems, geothermal is cheaper over the long term, project consultants say.

By Robert Freedman • March 4, 2026

After years of delays, NYC makes $4M bet on modular public toilets

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the plan to deliver 20 to 30 new portable, self-cleaning units this year will ensure people can “travel through our city with a little less anxiety.”

By Danielle McLean • March 3, 2026

Oregon mandates heat pumps in new housing

The update to the state’s residential energy code could save residents of housing built after the change an average of $125 a month in energy costs, an analysis found.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 19, 2026

Libraries are central to community life. Many are in aging buildings that are falling apart.

Most U.S. library buildings face deferred maintenance, aging systems and limited funding options that put core civic services at risk, a new GAO report found.

By Vicky Uhland • Updated Feb. 13, 2026

Why local governments need real-time plan review performance insights

Learn how local governments are moving from after-the-fact reports to live, executive-ready insight.

By Natasha Geldard • Jan. 20, 2026

With zoning and regulatory changes, cities aim to spur housing growth

The goals include increased housing density and quicker and cheaper construction. Read how Dallas’ approach stacks up against what experts see coming this year.

By Ryan Kushner • Jan. 16, 2026

14 predictions about what 2026 may hold for cities

AI, infrastructure needs and shifting mobility patterns will shape how cities function in 2026, experts say.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 7, 2026

NYC expands project labor agreements for more than $7B in city projects

The new agreements aim to standardize labor rules, embed community hiring requirements and streamline capital delivery for projects including recreation centers, schools and water infrastructure.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 5, 2025

Smart permitting, phase-out of diesel generators could curb data center impacts

A look at what’s happening in California shows that even in an environmentally progressive state, unhealthy emissions and resource depletion are problems needing a solution, an academic report says.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 3, 2025

Adaptive reuse projects accelerate, driven by schools, offices

Chicago is leading the nation in conversions, as the pipeline for these projects has increased 19% across the U.S, according to RentCafe.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 1, 2025

The World Cup is coming to Atlanta, spurring a historic district’s rebirth

With new pedestrian zones, adaptive reuse projects and a focus on local business, Underground Atlanta aims to make downtown thrive long after the soccer fans have gone home.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Nov. 25, 2025

There was no place for his family to sit. Now the ‘Bench Mench’ has installed 22 benches in Indianapolis.

Anderson York calls his DIY project “a little bit of good mischief.” 

By Vicky Uhland • Nov. 20, 2025

Building climate-resilient communities: The case for performance-based codes

As communities face increasingly severe climate-related disasters, a shift to performance-based building codes is one of the most effective tools they have for protecting against future natural catastrophes and reinforcing community resilience.

By Charlie Sidoti • Nov. 18, 2025

Michigan bets on mass timber to build economy and shrink carbon footprint

A new state grant program aims to accelerate adoption of renewable building materials across public and private projects.

By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 4, 2025

Building a granny flat or tiny house in Charlotte, North Carolina? The city might spot you up to $80K.

Housing-strapped Charlotte is loaning homeowners money to build smaller rental accessory dwelling units on their properties.

By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 27, 2025

New York City is having an office-to-housing conversion boom. Could Chicago be next?

Chicago has a higher downtown office vacancy rate than the Big Apple. Housing advocates say those buildings could help address the affordable housing shortage.

By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 20, 2025

As stadium boom resumes, ‘private funding’ often comes with public strings

Cities eager to tout privately financed sports stadiums are still spending big through tax breaks, land deals and public financing that shift costs back to taxpayers.

By Vicky Uhland • Oct. 20, 2025