Special Issue of Architectural Record Addresses Key Question Facing Architects Today

NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first issue of the new decade, Architectural Record helps answer the question many architects are asking themselves, "What Now?" Buffeted by economic uncertainty, globalization, and disruptive technologies, architects face enormous challenges today. So they are turning to the pages of Architectural Record—the magazine they have relied on for 120 years, through radical transformations in the profession—to navigate today's potential pitfalls and secure a prosperous future.

To provide a perspective on architects' situation, Architectural Record editors take a look at what happened in the first decade of the 21st century (see "What Was," page 52 or go to http://archrecord.construction.com/features/2011/1101what_now/1101what_was/1101what_was.asp), and then interview 10 experts in different areas—from BIM and engineering to suburbia and sustainability—to see how changes will affect architecture over the next decade ("What Next," page 56 or http://archrecord.construction.com/features/2011/1101what_now/1101what_next/).

The issue also includes in-depth coverage of major projects, including  Giant Interactive Group's innovative headquarters in Shanghai, designed by the Los Angeles firm Morphosis (page 64 or http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/2011/01/giant_interactive.asp); the Coliseums, a complex of sports arenas in Medellin, Colombia, by Mazzanti Arquitectos (page 74 or http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/2011/01/coliseums.asp); and Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (page 82 or http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/2011/01/brooklyn_bridge_park.asp).

Interwoven with these stories are short previews of related projects in Guangzhou, China; in London for the 2012 Olympics; and along the waterfronts of North American cities. An expanded Building Types Study looks at Schools of the 21st Century (page 115 or http://archrecord.construction.com/schools/).

The January issue represents a departure from the magazine's usual mix of stories, providing a big-picture look at a particularly difficult moment in the architectural profession. With unemployment in the field remaining high, many architects are looking for help in understanding where their profession is headed.  Experts interviewed in the issue include economist Robert Murray (on recession and recovery), urbanist Ricky Burdett (on cities), architect Sheila Kennedy (on new materials), engineer William F. Baker (on structures), and architect Bob Berkebile (on LEED).

With the publication of its January issue, Architectural Record once again demonstrates why it is an essential tool for every architect and the leading publication in the profession.

About McGraw-Hill Construction:

McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the construction industry. For more than a century, it has remained North America's leading provider of project and product information, plans and specifications, and industry news, trends and forecasts. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers in the global construction industry through Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record, GreenSource, and SNAP. To learn more, visit www.construction.com or follow @mhconstruction on Twitter.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global education and financial information company that plays a crucial role in the knowledge economy with leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Construction