A LAB AHEAD OF ITS TIME

In the glitzy world of computer-generated visualizations that now dominate movies and magazines, it's easy to take for granted the near-photographic quality that architects are able to instill in their renderings of proposed buildings. But behind the scenes have been four decades of grueling, dedicated, and inspired research. One of the world's leading laboratories in this field is the Program of Computer Graphics at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. Next week we'll look at how director Donald Greenberg and his staff and students have developed the theoretical basis for the many of the practical applications available today.

ARTIST'S INSTALLATION BRIGHTENS FRANKFURT'S SKYLINE

The German City of Frankfurt am Main became home to Norman Foster's "ecological high-rise tower" for Commerzbank in 1997. But that addition to the city's skyline was primarily for daytime appreciation—until recently. Now Artist Thomas Emde and his group Blendwork have illuminated the tower and its four-story gardens that spiral around the triangular plan. The collaboration of artist, art historian, and lighting designers has changed the whole night view of Frankfurt.

DESIGN DIPLOMACY: ARCHITECTS AS CIVIC LEADERS

One of the few architects who is also an ambassador, The Honorable Richard Swett, FAIA, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, has been instrumental in organizing an international design diplomacy conference being held now in Copenhagen. Diplomats, public officials, and architects are gathering to discuss the architect's role as advocate, politician, and community leader and how architectural design can support government policy. Denmark is known for its design excellence, both traditional and modern, at every scale from consumer products to urban landscapes.