America’s Best Cities for Design - Chicago Tribune

America’s Best Cities for Design An independent ranking of the best large cities in the U.S. for architecture, sustainability, and transit Conducted by: RMJM Hillier Communications Department June 2008

INTRODUCTION Twenty years ago only a handful of cities around the world fell between the 5 and 10 million population marks – places like Mumbai and Sao Paulo – and little attention was paid to issues of urban infrastructure, sprawl and livable habitats. By the end of 2008, however, the situation will be reversed: Roughly 3.3 billion people will live in urban areas, according to a United Nations Report, and by 2050 there will be an estimated 27 cities in the world with populations greater than 10 million. While countries in Asia and Africa are expected to see the largest change in population, the rural-to-urban migration will also impact the United States. Issues like sustainability, transportation systems and preservation of historic buildings will be frontand-center in policy debates like never before. But why does that matter? Loosely defined, “design” is an arrangement of elements. But it’s how these elements are arranged that impacts the way people work, live and play – especially in urban areas where privacy and personal space are at a premium. At its core, design is central to creating a physical environment that enhances the public quality of life. What we’ve set about to do in this survey is rank the top 10 best cities for design across the United States – cities where amenities like transportation, art and public parks are recognized and appreciated for the benefit they provide to the urban fabric and good planning is paramount. It’s a subjective science, but by drawing attention to those cities that are “design-savvy,” and those striving to be, we hope to shed light on where cities are going and what they need to consider while getting there.

METHODOLOGY

8. Employees in creative industries 9. Housing and community design awards (AIA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development) 10. Buildings on the National Historic Register The Interviews Residents of the ten cities that proved most promising through data collection were then polled for their thoughts on everyday life. Zogby International was commissioned by RMJM Hillier to conduct a telephone survey of adults in 10 large cities (New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, Washington DC, Boston, Denver). The sample is 1024 interviews with approximately 22 questions asked. Samples are randomly drawn from telephone cd’s of national listed sample. Zogby International surveys employ sampling strategies in which selection probabilities are proportional to population size within area codes and exchanges. Up to six calls are made to reach a sampled phone number. Cooperation rates are calculated using one of AAPOR’s approved methodologies and are comparable to other professional public-opinion surveys conducted using similar sampling strategies. Weighting by [education, age, race and gender] is used to adjust for non-response. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Zogby International asked questions on topics such as: • General impression of your city’s public transit system or roadways • Whether or not your city encourages creative or design-oriented activities • The quality of architecture • Frequency of visits to museums or public green space

To identify, study and rank the ten best cities for design in the U.S., RMJM Hillier broke the task into four sections: Data Collection, which included secondary research from primary sources; Interviews with residents of each city, executed by Zogby International; Anecdotal Data gathered via interviews with AIA representatives in each city; and, finally, rankings as determined by the data and opinions of in-house experts.

The Anecdotal Data

Data Collection

Finally, combining the qualitative and quantitative research, the panel made a final determination as to the order of the best cities for design.

RMJM Hillier selected to study the largest cities in the United States – those with a population greater than 500,000, as determined by the U.S. Census – as its study group.

Individual interviews were conducted with representatives from local chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The data was incorporated into individual city reports and assisted with ranking the cities. The Rankings

A panel of RMJM Hillier design experts then set ten criteria for what makes a design-wise city. The firm gathered quantitative data on the ten criteria using reliable, external sources to narrow the group of cities to ten of the most promising candidates. 1. Public transit systems and urban infrastructure 2. Number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings 3. LEED registered buildings 4. Opportunities for art and design education 5. Number of museums 6. SustainLane rankings of cities 7. Number of National Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) (for all categories including architecture, interior architecture, and regional and urban design)

AMERICA’S BEST CITIES FOR DESIGN

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BEST CITIES FOR DESIGN The shift from an industrial to post-industrial economy where technology, medicine, tourism and “creative industries” provide an economic foundation has made the visual environment one of a city’s greatest assets for drawing visitors, attracting top talent, and drawing people back to cities to create a solid, stable tax base. Realizing that economic opportunity and environmental beauty can be mutually compatible, cities are adopting policies or instituting programs to clean up the environment, build quality buildings, enhance infrastructure, and promote community through public spaces. We call those cities, “design-savvy cities.” Following is our ranking of the ten best cities for design across the country. They’re leading the charge in everything from public transit and sustainability to creative communities and quality design.

1 Chicago, Illinois Population: 2,833,321

With the ground-breaking Sears Tower, a renowned jazz and blues history and a recently revitalized riverfront district, Chicago has worked hard to earn its new-found title as the capital of sustainable design and its reputation for innovative culture and architecture. The city’s prolific talent in encouraging and executing “green” design is part of the reason Chicago ranks #1 in the study. The city also ranks well for the number of LEED Certified buildings, the number of museums, and the number of creative employees. Indeed, sustainability trumps most public and private policy concerns in the city. Already 37 buildings are LEED certified and the Mayor has put a green roof on City Hall and a wind turbine at the Daley Center, the city’s civic center. Commenting on the fact that much of the impetus for sustainable design has emerged from the Mayor’s office, “there doesn’t seem to be a big wall between local government, private agencies and other non-profits,” said Zurich Esposito, executive vice president of the AIA Chicago. The public transit system, on the other hand, could use some help. There may be a handful of systems around the city; however, they’re experiencing notable problems. “The city still relies on cars. We don’t have a comprehensively excellent public transportation system. To get to certain areas, it might be more difficult than it should be,” commented Mr. Esposito. The arts scene has made some gains in recent years. More venues and more companies are leading to more successful productions – in both arts and theater. And the residents agree: An impressive 83% of residents think the city encourages creative or design-oriented activities. Equally impressive, 87% of residents think the quality of architecture in Chicago is excellent or good, and 63% think the city is well-maintained and attractive. “Sustainability takes a front seat in Chicago. It’s the lens through which a lot of people look at new projects,” says Zurich Esposito, executive vice president, AIA Chicago.


2 New York, New York Population: 8,214,426

From the youthful hipster on the Lower East Side to the babypushing stroller moms of Park Slope, life between the chasms of skyscrapers can have ten different personalities in New York City. With the largest number of public transit systems, LEED registered buildings, creative employees, art and design universities, and buildings on the National Historic Register; it seems logical that New York City is widely considered one of the most designsavvy cities in the country. New York City ranked #2 on our list because of its first place rankings in number of buildings on the National Historic Register, number of public transit systems, and art and design schools, among others. However, with five million more people than the next closest city, some experts felt that the positive effects were not evenly distributed throughout the five boroughs. Sustainable design is both a strength and a weakness in the city; it relies heavily on public transit but has terrible air quality, according to the American Lung Association. However, according to the City’s official planning document, PlaNYC, “the average New Yorker consumes less than half the electricity of someone who lives in San Francisco and nearly one-quarter the electricity consumed by someone who lives in Dallas.” The City has also shown a commitment to the future of sustainable design with 224 buildings under design or construction being LEED registered and the 2005 passing of Local Law 86 which requires projects funded by the city government (either $10 million or more than 50% of the cost of construction or reconstruction) to achieve a LEED Certified or Silver rating. The city fosters an intensely proud creative community (229,000 strong), even with a startlingly high cost of living. “Creative people have a way of being creative despite it all,” says Frederic Bell, FAIA, Executive Director of the AIA New York Chapter. “People have made New York City a point of cultural exchange [with a] pronounced degree of mutual respect.” However, with more than 8 million residents, the effects are partially diluted: Only 47% of residents have a favorable impression of the public transit system or roadways; 59% are unaware of sustainable design initiatives; and 66% think the place could use some work. “Ten adjectives that describe the future of architecture in New York: global, tall, grand, innovative, green, devilish, juxtaposed, solid, restrained, welcoming,” says Frederic Bell, FAIA, Executive Director of the AIA New York Chapter.

3

Boston, Massachusetts

Population: 590,763 Boston’s place in U.S. history is solidified with historic structures like Paul Revere’s House, the New State House and Bunker Hill Monument. However, the city has also proven itself a master of reinvention – to wit, the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (aka The Big Dig) that will reroute the traffic-prone 1950s-designed Central Artery and reconnect the North End and Waterfront districts with downtown Boston. Some of the city’s companies are also forerunners in sustainable design and the city holds an impressive collection of 10 AIA National Honor Awards.

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Boston ranks #3 in the study because its strong showing in the number of art and design schools, National AIA Honor Awards, and public transit systems. It didn’t place in the top two spots, however, because of its lower rankings in the number of creative employees and LEED registered buildings. With three well-known art and design schools within Boston proper, the city is a major hub for educating the next generation. “Boston isn’t generally thought of as a design city but it’s certainly becoming more and more apparent to the outside world in terms of the creative economy,” says Audrey O’Hagan, AIA, principal of Audrey O’Hagan Architects and a member of the Executive Committee of the Boston Society of Architects. “In the past, the city was a fertile ground for discovery. As time has gone on, it was more thought of as traditional and reserved. Now, it’s being recognized as an important place for creativity and discovery, particularly in life sciences.” There’s also a lot of talk about sustainability, integrated practice and new design. And according to the industry, Boston is in the midst of a change. Modern buildings are going up accompanied by a sense of design freedom. While outside architects may have had to come in to crack the door open, local architects are ready to lead the charge and take more risks. The city government is leading sustainable design efforts here. A recently passed green building code mandates projects greater than 50,000 square feet to be LEED certified, with further code additions being considered to address transportation, energy and historic preservation concerns. Plans are also afoot to build the country’s first “zero-energy” multi-unit residential complex in South Boston. And the residents? They’re getting on board with the changes. 57% have a favorable impression of the public transit system, and 65% think the quality of architecture is excellent or good, but 54% still think there’s more the city could do to look good.

4 Los Angeles, California Population: 3,849,378

Beyond Mickey and Minnie, Los Angeles is known for its record number of star-struck wannabes who flock to the city for Hollywood and its proximity to Beverly Hills and its penchant for cars, cars, cars.

adopt such measures as planting drought-resistant landscaping and using recycled materials and energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles residents tend to mirror these opinions. Two thirds (67%) are not aware of any sustainable design initiatives that the city is implementing; more than half (54%) don’t think the city encourages creative or design-oriented activities; and 60% describe their quality of life as fair or poor.

5 Portland, Oregon Population: 537,081

Portland, a historically undiscovered metropolis, thrives off its natural surroundings and proximity to the Willamette and Columbia Rivers as well as its penchant for the outdoors and microbrews. The city ranks #5 in the study because of its favorable “green” rankings, number of buildings on the National Historic Register, and Community and Housing Design Awards. For one of the smaller cities in the study, Portland has an impressive history of urban planning and sustainable design. Often viewing themselves as a “start-up green city,” residents’ mindsets can be traced back to the 1980 Comprehensive Plan created by the city, which guided land use policies and planned for the use of natural resources. As for sustainable design? “It goes clear back to Ed Mazria teaching these things at the University of Oregon,” says David Partridge, AIA, president of AIA Portland and principal at Ahkrom Moisan Architects. Mazria is the creator of the 2030 challenge, which many cities – Portland included – are working towards in order to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create carbon neutral buildings by 2030. Architecturally speaking, architects have always been cognizant of precedent in Portland where buildings are built for their contextual surrounding rather than to serve as a showpiece. The Portland Development Commission has played an active role in this process buying large pieces of land and implementing strong design standards and guidelines. “It goes back to our mindset,” says Partridge. “Architecture fits in more than it stands out. We’ve taken some criticism for that but we sit back and are proud of how well [the buildings] tie together.”

From a design sense, however, the city is much more evolved. Recent efforts at reinventing downtown have led to the Staples Center, the Disney Concert Hall, the LA City Hall renovation, and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels – a $163 million church for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The city is also surrounded by a number of great universities including Lewis & Clark College, Reed College and Portland State University, thereby ramping up the numbers in the city’s creative community.

The city also boasts a strong set of creative employees and a sensitivity to quality housing design, but it has a daunting problem: massive sprawl and unhealthy amounts of pollution.

Residents seem to be right there with city planners: 76% think the quality of architecture is excellent or good, 72% are aware of public art projects in the city, and 84% occasionally visit a nearby city park or public plaza.

Los Angeles posts a fine showing at #4 in the study because of the number of Community and Housing Design Awards, National AIA Honor Awards, and creative employees. To address some of the sustainable design concerns, Mayor Villaraigosa is implementing aggressive environmental policies to cut back on the damage to the environment. “In a unanimous vote, the City Council passed an ordinance [in April 2008] requiring builders of large commercial and residential developments to


“Sustainability and creativity, we see that as our future,” says David Partridge, AIA, president of AIA Portland and principal at Ahkrom Moisan Architects.

6

San Francisco, California

Population: 744,041 Hopping between the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks and Haight-

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Ashbury, it’s obvious that San Francisco is a land of hills and valleys, idealism and practicality – and some of the coldest summers around.

Richmond, executive director of AIA Seattle. “It gives us a sense of responsibility to the environment and to the public that exceeds other cities.”

Long considered a bastion for intellectualism and environmentally-friendly ideas, San Francisco has embraced its own unique design sensibility. The city has a “longstanding tradition of intellectual innovation in all its manifestations,” says Margie O’Driscoll, executive director of the AIA San Francisco. San Francisco, ranked #6, posted nice results in sustainability, Community and Housing Design Awards, and art and design schools.

The city’s current policy efforts are two-fold: increasing sustainable design and creating livable urban cores. The city is working hard to meet the 2030 goal of reducing fossil fuel consumption in buildings while localizing amenities in downtown communities to discourage sprawl.

Wholeheartedly committed to the sustainable design movement, the city has set up a Building Green Task Force that will set standards for all buildings to meet varying levels of LEED certification. There was such support for the plan that the only criticism was that it “wasn’t green enough,” according to Ms. O’Driscoll. San Francisco even went so far as to ban plastic garbage bags from grocery stores – a move now being considered by a number of other cities around the country. The city’s public transit system – BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Muni, most notably – are both a blessing and curse. Originally planned in the 1970s, when most residents were living in the suburbs and commuting to downtown, the systems don’t offer maximum coverage to those that live and work in the city. San Francisco also takes pride in its affordable housing; and when competitions are held to design the next community, the contest is fierce. “There’s a sense of social consciousness to create beautiful places,” says Ms. O’Driscoll. “We build some of the most impressive and beautiful affordable housing in the states.” Overall, residents concur, demonstrating strong support for their design community: 63% of residents have been to a cultural festival in the last year, 67% think the quality of life is excellent or good, and 80% believe the city does a good job encouraging design-oriented activities. “San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has a blueprint to cut his city’s greenhouse gases to 20% below the 1990 level by 2012, creating ‘the greenest large city in the United States of America,’” wrote The Los Angeles Times.

7 Seattle, Washington Population: 582,454

Residents tend to agree with the city’s design prowess: 88% of residents occasionally visit a city park or public plaza, 73% are aware of public art projects in the city, and 95% think the city encourages creative and design-oriented activities.

8 Denver, Colorado Population: 566,974

With the Rocky Mountains as a picturesque backdrop, Denver has reinvented itself from its gold-rush history to a modernday treasure trove of good design, interesting art, and outdoor activities. Denver ranks #8 in the study because of a mid-range showing in the number of museums, public transit systems and LEED Registered buildings. As the only major city within a 600 mile area, Denver acts as an important cultural hub for artists and performers. The Denver Art Museum recently completed a new addition and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science ranks as one of the top family attractions in the city. Denver’s economy has had its fair share of ups-and-downs over the years, after being tied to energy, mining and technology. Now, the city is looking to sustainability to diversify its economy. A geologist-turned-small businessman, Mayor John Hickenlooper launched in 2006 Greenprint Denver, a sustainable design strategy for the city and county. The program aims to reduce greenhouse emissions, increase forest city coverage, and utilize renewable energies (among other agenda items). In 2007, the city also adopted a formal Climate Action Plan and passed Executive Order 123 which establishes the city’s sustainability policy, according to the city website, and requires new construction and major renovation to be LEED Silver and achieve Energy Star status.

From Pike Place Market to the Space Needle, Seattle has an immensely livable core that, not surprisingly given its surroundings in the Pacific Northwest, is often overlooked in favor of outdoor biking, hiking and kayaking. The city has also been ranked as the most literate city in America (2005) and the city with the most educated population (2000). Perhaps serving as a basis for the city’s penchant for all things green?

Residents are generally positive on the future of their city as well. 80% of the residents think the quality of the city’s architecture is excellent or good and 81% rank the quality of life as excellent or good. However, only 52% are aware of some of the newer sustainable design initiatives.

Seattle falls in at #7 in the study because of its high number of LEED Certified buildings, sustainability rankings and number of Community and Housing Design Awards. Conversely, the city ranks lower for the number of buildings on the National Historic Register and museums.

Population: 1,448,304

Culturally, Seattle has a unique make-up: “Because this is a new city and traditionally had a liberal set of values, it tends to be very flat hierarchically, which produces an attention to community and an egalitarian approach to the workplace,” says Lisa


9 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia definitely is the City of Brotherly Love, as well as the city of fierce loyalty and good urban planning. The city’s compactness and accessibility by public transit rank as major benefits with residents. “If someone commutes more than 20 minutes to a half hour, they’re bummed,” says John Claypool, AIA, AICP, executive director of the AIA Philadelphia. Philadelphia ranked # 9 in the study because of a mix of results:

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There are a high number of art and design schools and museums, but a lower ranking on most sustainability efforts. Compared to other major cities, Philadelphia has always had a strong downtown residential population, one that has become even stronger in recent years. And if The New York Times’ prediction is right, Philadelphia may soon be the sixth borough of New York – for better or worse. Philadelphia’s history – the nation’s first capital and great stock of (early) star-architect designed Beaux Arts buildings – is one of its greatest assets, and part of its design evolution. But there’s tension between the past and the present. The current topic of conversation in most design circles is increasing the quality of design. There have been several rounds of good design, followed by the natural waning period. “We live in a city balance of preservation and new building – it makes us rich but there’s always tension there,” says Mr. Claypool. “The underlying story, long term, is that Philadelphia is a location that has a lot of history and tradition to it.”

ordinance roughly a year ago that mandates all public buildings greater than 50,000 square feet must follow green guidelines by 2010. The plan is to offer incentives first; if the guidelines are met on a voluntary basis, permits will be approved faster. Eventually it will be mandatory. “It’s not even government requiring it, so much as it is clients demanding it,” says Ms. Fitch. Residents echo those sentiments. In D.C. there’s a high awareness of public art projects (64%), appreciation for the architecture (84% think it’s excellent or good), and belief that the city is well maintained and attractive (64%). “We’re a maturing market now; we’re not all Williamsburg Colonial,” says Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA, executive director of the Washington Chapter of the AIA.

On the “green” side, there are high hopes for the new mayor to increase awareness of sustainable design in the city. But with only 47 buildings currently LEED registered, there’s still a way to go. Overall, residents are either split or in favor of their city’s design intelligence: 81% of residents think the city encourages designoriented activities and 77% occasionally visit a city park or public plaza within walking or driving distance, but 50% rate the quality of life as fair or poor.

10 Washington, D.C. Population: 581,530

The Washington Mall, a giant stretch of green space in the heart of the city; the Vietnam Memorial; and the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex, are all located here in Washington D.C. And the city has made notable strides in cleaning up the Navy Yard, a neighborhood on the Anacostia River in the Southeast portion of the city, led by the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium. As the nation’s capital and official record-keeper, it’s expected that Washington, D.C. would rank well for the number of museums, national historic buildings and LEED registered buildings. So well in fact that it almost catches New York in some categories – a city with more than 10 times the residents. Washington D.C. ranked #10 in the study because of its struggle to incorporate innovative architecture and low sustainability rankings. However, it does boast an impressive number of National AIA Honor Awards and LEED Registered buildings. The city’s creative community has exploded in the last few years, with current measurements citing 19,976 employees in the creative sector, although it still ranks 10th in the study. And neighborhoods like Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle have experienced a renaissance, becoming cultural hot spots with lots of young, creative people living in or around. Additionally, the city is second only to New York in terms of theater seats available to the public, partially in response to the high number of highly educated people with large disposable incomes. As for sustainable design policy, D.C.’s city council passed an


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WHAT MAKES A DESIGN-SAVVY CITY? “A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one,” Aristotle once wrote. Rather, the best cities work for the residents they have, instilling certain qualities and characteristics to foster an elevated design sensibility. A few of the crucial components:

Boston is one place that has the formula down. Known for such architecture school powerhouses as Harvard and MIT, Boston is also home to three dedicated art and design schools, including well-known Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Imagine a city of more than five million people all scrambling to get to work, to dinner, or to their child’s birthday party without any means of public transportation. What would be the result? One massive traffic jam and inexplicable damage to the environment.

Part of the reason the city thrives as an education hub is the schools’ close relationship with practitioners. “A lot of architects here also teach; and practical experience/internships are an integral part of the architectural curriculum,” said Audrey O’Hagan, AIA, a member of the Executive Committee of the Boston Society of Architects and principal of Audrey O’Hagan Architects. “Practitioners are in the classroom, and students are in the office. When [the students] graduate, they have a sense of how the profession works.”

According to the American Public Transportation Association, “if public transit systems had never existed in American cities and their effects on our urban landscapes were completely erased, American households would drive 102.2 billion more miles per year.”

Not relegated to just architecture, art and design schools graduate thousands of students a year in fields as diverse as illustration and digital media. The cross over between art, design and technology continues to spawn new types of businesses and industries.

Cities like New York and Boston have figured out the logistical and environmental benefits of investing in an extensive public transit system. Between the two cities there are roughly 30 different types of public transit and their subway systems alone carry more than six million people to their destinations every day. The city governments are also planning to invest more than $9 billion into the visible infrastructure of their subway systems. However, demonstrating residents’ reliance on public transit, people are still looking for more. Only 47 percent of New York City residents have a favorable impression of their city’s public transit system.

iv. Innovative Architecture

i. Public transit and urban infrastructure

Some of the more innovative systems being explored and developed around the world include a sky gondola soaring over the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and high-speed trains in Taiwan that run at 300 kilometers per hour.

ii. Sustainable Design In 1993 when the United States Green Building Council, the de facto industry expert on the topic, was formed, talk of sustainable design or “green” design initiatives finally gained traction within the design community. And architects and engineers quickly figured out how to use photovoltaic slates in residential developments; save 94 percent on potable water demand at office complexes; and integrate co-generation plants into hospitals. Now they’re exploring ideas like ‘zero energy buildings,’ where the amount of energy used by the building is offset by on-site renewable energy sources, and “cradle to cradle” production of materials that are essentially waste free. Many cities are also working hard to meet the 2030 Challenge, an ambitious effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by altering the way buildings are designed and built. But it seems that much is still lost on city residents. Overall, fewer than half the people (45%) surveyed were aware of sustainable design initiatives that their city is planning or implementing.

iii. Art and Design Education Creative schools, especially at a university level, spawn creative businesses and endeavors and, in turn, elevate design sensibilities in their local community.


While the Spanish offshoot of the Guggenheim may have popularized the ‘Bilbao Effect,’ in reality the ability of architecture to transform a city began many centuries before with the Greeks. When the Parthenon was built on the Acropolis in Athens in the 5th century BC, it became the focal point and cultural center of the city. And over the years, the building has changed hands and functions from a temple to a Christian church to a mosque. Some 2,500 years after its creation, it still sees roughly 15 million visitors a year. For a modern day example, take Beijing and the 2008 Olympics. (Or the 2004 Olympics in Athens, for that matter.) Dozens of new buildings were commissioned for the Games in Beijing and many will still be in use after the athletes leave town. The Beijing Olympic Green Convention Centre, a 520,000-square-meter hub for international media and home to the fencing competitions, will turn a new leaf as a convention center after the conclusion of the Games. Iconic architecture also serves as a statement of investment in a city, demonstrating a commitment to future and driving up tourism in turn. After all, civilizations are often measured by what they leave behind.

v. The Creative Community Whether it is industrial design, music production or the performing arts, the creative sector’s revenue and cultural impact are some of the least understood and most intangible metrics of a city’s design intelligence. Even though the job cycle is fast-paced and many are self-employed, the sector still manages to boast roughly three million employees, according to the Creative Industries 2008 report, issued by American s for the Arts. In New York, the sector did surprisingly well around the turn of the century: “between 1998 and 2002, employment in New York’s creative core grew by 13.1 percent while the city’s overall job totals increased by 6.5 percent during this period,” according to The Center for an Urban Future. However, with a lack of affordable work and living space, creative clusters find it harder and harder to survive.

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San Francisco, on the other hand, has made its name as one of the most well-known havens for the creative economy. According to Margie O’Driscoll, executive director of the AIA San Francisco, the city boasts a tradition of experimentation. “There’s a priority given to a lifestyle balance – not the same as back east,” says Ms. O’Driscoll. “We take a certain pride in that.”

vi. Art, public and private: galleries, theater spaces, museums Art takes on many forms: public art like the Fort Worth Water Gardens, massive museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, or theater spaces like the outdoor amphitheater at the Millennium Park in Chicago. And chances are art plays a much bigger part in life than many suspect. One of the key criteria for defining public art, according to Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit organization based in New York, is that it is associated with a sense of longevity and should be expected to last between 20 and 50 years. And as art is an appreciating asset, there are economic benefits to be had. In advance of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, Denver’s Mayor John Hickenlooper announced a city-wide public art initiative, Dialog:City, that will feature “ten site-specific art installations catalyzing public discourse in neighborhoods throughout Denver [that] will take place August 21-29,” according to the city’s press release. On the East Coast, New York is soon to launch another public art project following in the success of Christo’s The Gates exhibit in Central Park in 2005. Olafur Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist, is creating four waterfalls – from 90 to 120 feet tall – that will rise out of the city’s East River at a cost of $15 million. There’s also the economic benefit that museums provide: According to a 2006 report issued by the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science, almost 150 million American adults visited a museum that year. And the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City) pulled in $299.5 million in revenue, support and transfers in 2007 alone.

vii. Preserving Historic Buildings: How a city treats the past says a lot about its values for the future. And anecdotal evidence suggests that cities that take care of their old landmarks are likely to embrace new ones. Preservation tax credits have also made this financial advantageous. Exact figures may be hard to come by but economists are beginning to understand the monetary value of historic preservation, especially at a local level. “While the numbers vary from state to state, $1 million in building rehabilitation typically will create four to eight more jobs and add in excess of $100,000 more to local household incomes than will the same amount in new construction,” wrote Donovan Rypkema in an Urban Land article entitled “Preserving for Profit.” Although New York and Portland boast the most buildings on the National Historic Register, Boston is arguably much more prominent in its preservation of historic structures. Currently, an advocacy group named Citizens for City Hall is launching a movement to revitalize the existing City Hall in Government Center as opposed to relocating it to the South Boston waterfront, claiming adaptive reuse would provide more environmental benefits than building a new sustainably designed building.


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CITIES TO WATCH They may not have made the top ten, but these three cities have demonstrated a strong sense of design intelligence and are wellpositioned to become future forces on the national scene.

Baltimore, Maryland Population: 631,366 Long characterized by higher than average crime rates and a history as a working-class port town, Baltimore is going through an exciting metamorphosis. The city’s proximity to Washington, D.C.’s cultural institutions and Johns Hopkins University has placed emphasis on creating a vibrant creative community. The effort first began around 2002 with then-Mayor Martin O’Malley and the creation of the Creative Baltimore initiative. For fiscal year 2008, the Creative Baltimore Fund plans to dole out $1 million to non-profit cultural organizations.

Minneapolis, Minnesota Population: 372,833 Although Minneapolis didn’t meet the population requirement for inclusion in the study, it has established itself as a major design hub in the Midwest. Between 2004 and 2006, “more than $500 million in museum and theater space, arty hotels and buzz-worthy restaurants have been added” in Minneapolis, writes USA Today; a statistic that includes the new addition to the Walker Art Center and the Guthrie Theater. The city also boasts strong art and design education opportunities: The Minneapolis College of Art and Design is in town and The College of Visual Arts is just over in St. Paul. Minneapolis also ranks well for creative employees; it’s 19th out of 50, according to Americans for the Arts.

The city has also been slow to adopt sustainable design techniques. As of May 2008, there were only 4 LEED certified buildings, and only 39 LEED registered buildings. Mayor Sheila Dixon recently upped the ante with the launch of Cleaner Greener Baltimore and TreeBaltimore, an initiative “that seeks to double Baltimore’s tree canopy from 20 percent to 40 percent within 30 years,” according to the city website. With regards to urban design, the decades-long redevelopment of the waterfront is recently being heralded as a success; a new documentary even claims the Baltimore waterfront has influenced the design of waterfront development in almost 100 cities around the world. With just over 600,000 residents, change may come quicker than many think.

Phoenix, Arizona Population: 1,512,986 Phoenix has been criticized for sprawl, but we had to put them on our list of cities to watch because of their potential to serve as a leader in desert sustainability. The country’s fifth largest city is going through a massive period of growth, after an early economy based mainly on agriculture and the potential for long-term growth is huge – only 50 percent of the city land is developed. According to Grist Magazine’s 2008 article, “Hope for a Desert Delinquent”: “The answer to sprawl, of course, is density, and while traditional single-family growth continues to spill out to the very edges of the city limits, high-rise, multi-use buildings have been spiking downtown. The city’s infill program and redeveloped planning vision, created and realized with GIOS [Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability], saw 4,174 infill housing units grow between 1995 and 2005, many of them structures that provide both density and shade.” Phoenix has the potential to head in either direction. The city could become a leader of the desert sustainability movement, if the city’s relationship with GIOS continues to be fruitful. Or it could continue on its path of voluntary recycling programs and massive water consumption.


RMJM HILLIER

POLLING RESULTS: ZOGBY INTERNATIONAL

Lo s

Ph

Po rt la nd

W as hin gt on DC Bo st on

De

47

49

55

53

22

67

79

63

57

63

Unfavorable

31

48

42

28

36

40

25

15

28

18

30

Not Sure

14

5

9

17

11

39

8

7

10

25

7

nv

ila de

lp h

le s ge

ic ag o

An

Ci ty Yo rk w

er

Sa n

55

ia

Ch

Favorable

Fr an ci sc o Se at tle

Overall

Ne

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of your city’s public transit system or roadways?

Se

Lo s

Ph

Po rt


De

38

47

55

59

24

48

64

29

34

52

No

50

59

50

43

40

67

51

27

67

62

38

Not Sure

5

3

4

2

2

9

1

9

4

4

11

nv

la nd

ila de

lp h

le s ge An

le at t

ic ag o

Fr

Ci ty Yo rk w

er

n Sa

45

ia

Ch

Yes

an ci sc o

Overall

Ne

Q2 Are you aware of sustainable or ‘green’ design initiatives your city government is implementing?

n Sa

Se

Lo

Ph

Po r


De

23

10

21

36

25

18

19

25

23

21

29

No

77

90

79

64

75

82

81

75

77

79

71

nd tla

de ila

s

nv

a hi lp

ge An

tle at

ag ic

Fr

o

an

ci

le

s

sc

ty Ci k Yo r w

er

Ch

Yes

o

Overall

Ne

Q3 Have you been to a museum in the last month?

Sa n

Se a

Lo

Ph

Po r


De

50

47

55

63

67

36

38

60

51

33

51

No

50

53

45

37

33

64

62

40

49

67

49

Not Sure

<1

--

--

<1

--

--

--

--

<1

--

<1

nd tla

nv e

ph ia ila

de l

le s

tt

An ge

le

an ci Fr

go ca

s

sc

Ci ty k Yo r

r

Ch i

Yes

o

Overall

Ne w

Q4 Have you been to a cultural festival—art, music, film—in your city in the last year?

n Sa

Se

s Lo

Ph

Po r


De

78

75

89

83

88

56

77

84

64

81

87

No

21

25

11

17

12

44

20

16

36

19

12

Not Sure

<1

--

--

--

--

--

3

--

1

--

1

nd tla

nv

a ph i ila

de l

ge l An

at

tle

an ci Fr

o ag


es

sc

Ci ty k w

Yo r 10

er

Ch ic

Yes

o

Overall

Ne

Q5 Is there a city park or public plaza within walking or driving distance that you occasionally visit?

RMJM HILLIER

Lo s

Ph

Po rt la nd


De n

58

66

67

73

32

64

72

64

47

56

No

39

40

32

33

27

67

36

28

36

52

37

Not Sure

1

2

2

--

--

2

--

--

--

1

7

ila de

ve

lp h

le s ge

ic ag o

An

Ci ty Yo rk w

r

Sa n

60

ia

Ch

Yes


Overall

Ne

Q6 Are you aware of public art projects in your city?

Lo s

Ph

Po rt la nd


De

53

83

80

95

32

81

81

84

64

87

No

18

31

10

7

3

54

13

14

11

26

7

Not Sure

8

16

7

13

2

14

7

5

5

10

6

ila de

nv

lp h

le s ge

ic ag o

An

Ci ty Yo rk w

er

Sa n

74

ia

Ch

Yes


Overall

Ne

Q7 Do you think your city encourages creative or design-oriented activities?

er

W as

Bo

De

hi

st on

ng

nd tla Po r

nv

hi lp de Ph

ila

Lo

Excellent

24

23

40

28

13

6

17

21

39

21

29

Good

48

40

46

50

51

46

55

54

47

44

51

POSITIVE

72

63

87

77

64

52

72

76

86

64

80

Fair

20

30

8

16

28

30

24

20

11

20

18

Poor

5

6

4

0

7

16

2

4

1

7

2

NEGATIVE

25

36

12

17

35

45

26

24

13

26

20

Not Sure

3

1

2

6

2

3

2

<1

1

9

0

11


s

Se

An

to n

s le tle

n Sa

at

Ch

Fr

ge

ci an

o ag ic

a

o sc

ty Ci k Yo r Overall

Ne

w

DC

Q8 Generally speaking, when you think of the quality of the architecture in your city would you describe it as excellent, good fair or poor?

RMJM HILLIER

DC

De n

15

32

5

4

39

20

19

28

Good

42

38

45

52

42

35

45

45

33

35

54

POSITIVE

62

53

61

67

74

40

49

84

53

54

81

Fair

29

32

28

31

24

42

19

13

42

42

18

Poor

9

13

9

2

1

18

31

3

3

3

1

NEGATIVE

38

45

37

33

25

60

51

16

45

45

19

Not Sure

1

2

2

--

1

--

1

<1

2

1

--

ve

w

r

Bo st on

16

in g W as h

to n

ia Po rt la nd

15

ila de Ph

lp h

le s Lo s

ge

Sa n

19

An

Ch

Excellent

ic ag o

Overall

Ne

Yo rk

Ci ty


Q9 Generally speaking when you think of the quality of life in your city, would you describe it as excellent, good, fair or poor?

Q10 Generally speaking, when you walk or drive around your city, which statement comes closest to how the buildings and architecture look to you? Statement A: When it comes to how my city looks, it is well maintained and attractive

n Sa

Se

s Lo

Ph

Po r


De

50

31

63

44

52

23

36

78

64

44

69

Statement B

45

66

33

48

42

74

62

18

29

54

23

Neither

2

3

2

6

5

--

--

1

2

1

3

Not Sure

2

<1

2

2

1

3

1

3

6

1

4

nd tla

nv

a hi de ila

An

lp

ge

tle

Fr

ag ic

w


at

o

an

ci

le

s

sc

ty Ci k Yo r 12

er

Ch

Statement A

o

Overall

Ne

Statement B: When it comes to how my city looks, I think this place could really use some work

RMJM HILLIER

0

10

14

1

14,337

0

Baltimore, MD

631,366

9

4

4

39

1

17

11

3

8,281

0

Boston, MA

590,763

249

10

16

62

3

13

7

10

19,299

0

Charlotte, NC

630,478

65

2

5

27

0

6

34

0

10,320

1

Chicago, IL

2,833,321

296

6

37

173

1

29

4

17

51,330

0

Columbus, OH

733,203

138

2

2

24

1

6

50

1

9,499

0

Dallas, TX

1,232,940

98

3

5

57

1

9

24

2

27,883

0

Denver, CO

566,974

287

3

16

72

1

14

9

0

13,547

1

Detroit, MI

871,121

227

3

2

11

1

4

43

2

7,901

0

El Paso, TX

609,415

45

2

0

21

0

4

31

0

3,547

0

Fort Worth, TX

653,320

62

1

1

9

0

7

46

0

6,747

0

Houston, TX

2,144,491

245

5

11

112

1

16

39

1

25,433

0

Indianapolis, IN

785,597

209

2

1

17

0

11

45

0

13,650

0

Jacksonville, FL

794,555

81

1

3

27

0

6

0

8,128

0

Las Vegas, NV

552,539

30

4

3

48

0

6

27

2

5,697

0

Los Angeles, CA

3,849,378

155

8

12

106

3

21

25

17

120,794

3

13


AIA/HUD Secretary’s Housing and Community Design Awards

65

Number of Employees in a Creative Industry

16

Source: American Institute of Architects (AIA)

2

National AIA Honor Awards since 2000

167

SustainLane

709,893

SustainLane: US City Sustainability Rankings

Austin, TX

Source: American Association of Museums

1

Museums

6,762

source: University of Texas, Austin

0

Art & Design Schools

19

Source: United States Green Building Council

5

LEED Registered Buildings

0


42

LEED Certified Buildings

7

Source: American Public Transportation Association

7

Number of Public Transit Systems

135

Source: National Historic Register

504,949

Buildings—National Historic Register

Albuquerque, NM

Populations (est. 2006)

Community and Housing Design Awards since 2000

(as of may 8. 2008)

2008 Creative Industries Report, Americans for the Arts

STATISTICS: CITY BY CITY

RMJM HILLIER

Community and Housing Design Awards since 2000

7

43

0

7,661

0

Milwaukee, WI

573,358

162

4

4

18

0

5

16

1

8,781

0

Nashville, TN

552,120

141

3

2

26

0

7

42

0

14,527

0

New York, NY

8,214,426

730

20

17

224

6

51

6

34

229,579

2

Oklahoma City, OK

537,734

91

1

1

6

0

8

49

4

5,941

0

Philadelphia, PA

1,448,394

517

5

8

47

2

29

8

5

39,721

1

Phoenix, AZ

1,512,986

171

3

9

45

0

10

22

2

15,107

0

Portland, OR

537,081

521

4

15

128

2

8

1

2

14,783

1

San Antonio, TX

1,296,682

118

1

3

24

0

9

21

0

11,778

1

San Diego, CA

1,256,951

70

6

15

83

0

16

17

0

24,324

0

San Francisco, CA

744,041

155

7

23

102

1

18

2

7

29,561

1

San Jose, CA

929,936

29

2

6

33

0

3

23

1

6,512

1

Seattle, WA

582,454

156

7

38

139

1

11

3

5

21,025

1

Tucson, AZ

518,956

109

5

3

22

0

12

20

1

6,379

0

Washington D.C.

581,530

433

5

27

185

1

44

12

8

19,976

0

AIA/HUD Secretary’s Housing and Community Design Awards

2008 Creative Industries Report, Americans for the Arts

1

Number of Employees in a Creative Industry

5

Source: American Institute of Architects (AIA)

0

National AIA Honor Awards since 2000

1

SustainLane

164

SustainLane: US City Sustainability Rankings

670,902

Source: American Association of Museums

Memphis, TN

Museums

0

source: University of Texas, Austin

4,370

Art & Design Schools

1


35

LEED Registered Buildings

10


0

LEED Certified Buildings

9

Source: American Public Transportation Association

4

Number of Public Transit Systems

3

Source: National Historic Register

341

Buildings—National Historic Register

554,496

Populations (est. 2006) Louisville, KY

All data accurate as of May 8, 2008 14


RMJM HILLIER

ABOUT RMJM & CLIENTS RMJM Hillier is one of the world’s largest architectural practices. Our designs connect people and places, context and culture to create dynamic modern architecture that enhances everyday life.

CIGNA Corporation Citibank Citicorp City of Edinburgh Council

Our range of specialist disciplines encompasses sustainable design, master-planning, urban design, arts consultancy, landscape design, historic preservation, computer visualisation and interior design as well as civil and structural and MeP building services engineering. RMJM Hillier is uniquely positioned to offer an integrated, collaborative team of professionals with considerable experience.

Clydeside Properties

The RMJM Hillier design community across the world is passionate about architecture and believes in excellence throughout the design process. This belief is reinforced through the firm’s culture, which actively encourages personal expression and creative thought. Our in-depth knowledge of local markets, skills as designers and client-focused mindset contribute to the creation of unique, innovative buildings which respond not only to client’s needs but also to the surrounding context, culture and climate, wherever we are in the world.

Cushman & Wakefield

Clients

Dubai International Financial Center

Accenture

Dubai International Properties

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Co.

Dubai Municipality

ACE USA, Inc.

Dubai World Trade Center

Al Ghurair Group, Dubai

Duke University

American Cyanamid

Dumbarton Oaks

And 1

DuPont Pharmaceuticals

Arlington

Easa Saleh Al Gurg Real Estate

AT&T

Eastman Kodak

Bank One

Educational Testing Center

Barnes and Noble

Emaar Properties Ltd.

BASF Corporation

Ernst & Young

Beijing North Star Industrial Group

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Bell Atlantic Corporation

Federal Express Corporation

Bloomberg LP

Firmenich, Inc

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Ford Motor Company

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc

Foreign & Commonwealth Offices

British Waterways

Forth Ports

Bristol-Myers Squibb

General Foods Corporation

Brown University

General Civil Aviation Authority, UAE

Campbell Soup Company

George Wimpey Homes

Capital One

Genway Housing Development Co., Inc.

Capital Investment & Development

General Services Administration

Cayan Investment, Abu Dhabi

Georgetown University

Chase Manhattan Bank

Glasgow City Council

China Merchants Bank

GlaxoSmithKline

China Merchants Real Estate Co. Ltd.

Goldman Sachs

China Resources Land

Gulf Oil Corporation

Chinese Overseas

Harrah’s

Chongqing Longhu Real Estate Dev. Inc.

Herman Miller

15


Columbia University Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Cornell University CR Bard, Inc Deloitte & Touche Department of the Army Department of Veterans Affairs Diethelm Group Dow Jones & Company, Inc Dubai Civil Aviation

RMJM HILLIER

Hewlett Packard

New York University Medical Center

Hilton International

North Glasgow College

Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc

Northumberland County Council/Wansbeck District Council

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation

HSBC (ME)

Okidata

Huawei Technologies Co.

Palm District Cooling LLC, Dubai

IBM Corporation

Park Lane Developments

IKEA

Peninsula Hotel Group

Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Management Investment & Development

Persimmon Homes plc

Institute for Advanced Study

Pfizer, Inc

International Monetary Fund

PNC bank

Isis Waterside Regeneration

Princeton Theological Seminary

Janssen Pharmaceutica

Princeton University

JC Penney Company, Inc

Prudential Insurance Company

Johns Hopkins University

Radisson SAS

Johnson & Johnson

Ritz-Carlton

Jumeirah International, Dubai

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Keppel Land

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Lang Fang Aomei Real Estate Dev. Co. Ltd.

Rohm and Haas

LG Electronics

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Liberty Science Center

Saba Real Estate, Dubai

Lockheed Martin

Saks Fifth Avenue

London Docklands Development Corporation

Salomon Smith Barney

Lucent Technologies

Sama Dubai

LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton

Samsung Corporation

Macy’s

Sanofi~Aventis

Majid Al Futtaim Investments, Dubai

Schering Plough Corp

Mandarin Oriental Hotels

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Marriott Hotels

Showboat Casino Hotel

Matrix Development Group, Inc

Shanghai Coa He Jing Hi-tech Park New Development Co. Limited

Medical Research Council

Shieldspeare Limited

Meridien Hotels

Shimao Group

Mersey Properties Co.

Siemens

Mercedes Benz

Singapore Land Transport Authority

Merck & Co, Inc

SmithKline Beecham

Merrill Lynch

Sony

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Sovereign Reality Group

Motorola

Sprint

Mount Holyoke College

ST Group

Nakheel, Dubai

Standard Life Investments

National University of Ireland, Galway

State University of New York

National University of Singapore

Steelcase, Inc

Newcastle College New Jersey Aquarium

Suzhou Industrial Park Commercial & Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd.

New Jersey Devils

Swiss Bank Corporation

New York Presbyterian Hospital

The Architect of the Capitol

New York University

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey

16


RMJM HILLIER

The Erawan Group The Salvation Army The United States Supreme Court The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ The University of Pennsylvania The University of Puerto Rico The University of Virginia The Vanguard Group The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Tiffany & Co. Towers Perrin Trident International Holdings FZCO

SPECIAL THANKS Special thanks to those who provided valuable anecdotal data. Frederic Bell, FAIA, Executive Director, AIA New York Chapter, Center for Architecture John Claypool, AIA, AICP, Executive Director, AIA Philadelphia Audrey O’Hagan, AIA, Principal, Audrey O’Hagan Architects and Member of the Executive Committee for the Boston Society of Architects Margie O’Driscoll, Executive Director, AIA San Francisco Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA, Executive Director, Washington Chapter, American Institute of Architects

Trump Marina Hotel & Casino

Zurich Esposito, Executive Vice President, AIA Chicago

Trump Taj Mahal

Lisa Richmond, Executive Director, AIA Seattle

Turkiye Is Bankasi AS

David Partridge, AIA, ARDA, AH&LA, President, AIA Portland and Principal, Ahkrom Moisan Architects

Unitech Limited United Parcel Service United Nations University of Cambridge University of East Anglia University of Hertfordshire University of Kent University of Oxford Upjohn Company Washington & Lee University World Bank Wyeth (formerly American Home Products) Xerox Xuhui District Urban Planning Bureau Shanghai International Tendering Co. Ltd. Yale University Youxindongfang Property Management Limited Company of Beijing Zeneca Pharmaceuticals

17


RMJM HILLIER

America’s Best Cities for Design - Chicago Tribune

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