PROMOTING TOLERANCE THROUGH DESIGN

The recently opened New York Tolerance Center was designed by NBBJ for the Simon Wiesenthal Center to help people and organizations explore issues of prejudice and cooperation. The social laboratory is immersive and interactive, with multimedia exhibits depicting what happens when hate goes unheeded. Next week we'll explore how the architecture supports this important educational mission.

KILLER HEAT IN URBAN SETTINGS

If we had intentionally designed cities to bake their residents in the summer, we might have created cities as we now know them. Typical urban architecture and engineering promote heat accumulation and impede its dissipation. In contrast, noted author Baruch Givoni demonstrates simple design elements that can eliminate some of the primary causes of overheating. Next week Chicago doctor Katherine Kaufer Christoffel will explain how architects can be instrumental in saving lives.