The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has selected OMA and KOO to plan its US$95m (€85.1m, £75m) Center for the Arts. The 88,000 sq ft (8,175.4 sq m) complex will have a translucent roof with embedded photovoltaics that will reflect light from the performance halls. The facility – to be located on the school's north-west campus – will comprise a 500-seat concert hall and a 270-seat auditorium, as well

A new attraction has opened up high on the Rock of Gibraltar, with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill on-hand to launch the aptly-named Skywalk to the public. Sitting 340m (103m) above sea level, the new attraction offers 360-degree views of the British overseas territory, with views spanning three countries and two continents. The new attraction links up with the existing Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Windsor Suspension Bridge and the Apes’

Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta have today (1 March) been selected as the winners of the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize. The award – widely regarded as architecture's highest accolade – honours a living architect or architects “whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment, and who has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.” The three architects, originating from Olot, in

The government of Saint Lucia has launched a public consultation on its plans to green light a sport and leisure resort dubbed “the Pearl of the Caribbean”. The proposed project on the south of the island comprises a marina, a racecourse, a shopping mall, a casino, a Free Trade Zone, entertainment and leisure facilities, and a series of holiday villas and residential apartments. Government officials have joined with the Invest

Residents of Scottish capital city Edinburgh are being asked to have their say on an ambitious rebuild of the existing Meadowbank Stadium and Sport Centre. The City of Edinburgh Council will submit a planning application early next year for the redevelopment, which is expected to cost in the region of £40m (US$50.5m, €46.4m) and is being designed by Glasgow architects Holmes Miller. Among the proposals for the complex are: an

Design and technology consultancy Hirsch & Mann are set to transform everyday pedestrian crossings into playful multi-sensory experiences after winning the 2016 Playable City Award. Artists, designers, architects, technologists and creative practitioners from all over the world were invited to propose distinctive ideas to reuse city infrastructure and utilise smart city technologies “to put people and play at the heart of the future city.” Eight projects out of 81 applications

Malta’s first science centre, a €26m (US$28.7m, £23.5m) investment named Esplora, is fast approaching its official opening date of 28 October. The interactive science centre is located in a former naval hospital in Kalkara. Located in town's Grand Harbour, the new attraction overlooks the historic capital city of Valletta. Esplora, which is supported by the Malta Council for Science and Technology and received €12m (US$13.2m, £10.8m) in funding from the

A huge carnival float has been built in Malta as a rather unorthodox tribute to one of the world's most famous architects. Renzo Piano – the designer of The Shard, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the nearly-completed Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre – was honoured at last week’s Maltese Carnival for his architectural contribution to country’s capital, Valletta. A gigantic smiling depiction of Piano appeared on a special float,

France’s National Commission for Public Debate will host a series of open discussions about the development of Bjarke Ingels’ Europa City masterplan; one of the largest ongoing leisure developments on the continent. From 15 March to 30 June, Europa City’s developers and the commission will conduct a “real-time exchange and reflection” with residents of the Parisian suburbs close to the development site. Professionals from the world of culture, tourism and

The Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) have unveiled an alternate proposal to the territory of Gibraltar’s Europa Stadium plan, revealing designs that would allow the team’s existing stadium to be upgraded. The alternate plan by John Linares Architects would feature Victoria Stadium at the heart of a wider sports village, with four UEFA/FIFA compliant football pitches, as well as a multi-purpose sports facility. The GSD’s plan would also create an educational

Chelsea Football Club (CFC) plans to replace its current stadium in south London with a 60,000-capacity landmark venue celebrating the heritage of sport in and around Stamford Bridge. The club has launched a three-day public consultation on the stadium plans, during which local residents will be able to view and offer their views on the proposals. The conceptual designs, which have been put on display at Stamford Bridge, pay homage

US design firm Lunar is aiming to launch its design expertise into new spheres following its acquisition by global management consultancy McKinsey & Company. The California-based firm, which offers full-service product development and has created designs for Apple, Cisco Systems, Nike, Tera, and BodyMedia to name a few, says the move to join giant consultancy McKinsey will ‘turbocharge’ its mission. Lunar president John Edson says its clients will benefit from

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, has begun a consultation process with GT Architects over the proposed plans for a sports centre at Crystal Palace, south London. Launched on 6 October, the mayor, CSM Strategic, with FMG Consulting and GT Architects have proposed several development concepts for the sports centre. These are being pitched to the public through a series of talks and exhibitions, as well as a survey, running throughout

Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) is to launch a consultation on its plans to build a new 40,000-seat stadium on land at Old Oak in West London. As well as a new stadium, the plans include the regeneration hundreds of acres of brownfield land, opening the way for thousands of new homes and jobs to be delivered with easy access to the planned Crossrail/HS2 interchange. The English Premier League

The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) has been ordered by the Development and Planning Commission (DPC) to cease unauthorised work being carried out on the proposed Europa Point stadium. The order came last month when it was discovered works including drilling had been undertaken without the correct permissions to do so, against a backdrop of strong local opposition. The DPC also asked the GFA to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Gibraltar has unveiled plans for a new national football stadium, aiming to officially open the venue in 2016. The British territory's football team currently uses the Victoria Stadium - which does not meet FIFA’s regulations to host international football matches, although some friendlies will be played there. Gibraltar, which is also aiming for FIFA membership in time to play in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, is looking to

Image: How the new Afan Lido complex could look Residents in Port Talbot and Aberavon have been given more time to comment on the local authority's plans for a new £13.6m leisure complex to replace the former Afan Lido. Neath Port Talbot Council has extended its consultation period until 18 July, with the project to provide a "focal point" for the area's ongoing regeneration. The Holder Mathias Architects -designed facility

Image: The museum will be located at LACMA West The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen architects Renzo Piano and Zoltan Pali to design the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in California, US. Los Angeles-based Pali is the design principal and co-founder of Studio Pali Fekete, which worked on the renovation and expansion of the Getty Villa museum among others. Meanwhile, Piano founded the Renzo Piano

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop has launched a consultation into a new architecture and placemaking policy, which provides "an opportunity to build a better world". Speaking at an International Design Summit at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Hyslop said that "well-designed buildings and places have a vital role to play in Scottish society". "Our historic build environment enhances our understanding and appreciation of our surroundings and contributes to our sense of national

David Wilmore of North Yorkshire-based historic theatre consulting firm Theatresearch has been appointed to work on a £4m restoration of the Globe Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees. Jomast Developments is working alongside Stockton Borough Council on plans to overhaul the venue, which is a Grade II-listed Art Deco building first opened in 1935. Once the restoration project is complete, the Globe Theatre will offer a main auditorium with a capacity of around

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Western Isles Council (CNES) is to hold a consultation event on 28 June to exhibit plans for a new heritage attraction at Lews Castle, Stornoway. CNES, together with its partners, is proposing to develop a new museum and archive at the historic property, which will also involve the restoration of the castle for hospitality use. Edinburgh-based Malcolm Fraser Architects has been appointed to lead a

Outline plans for a new £8.5m swimming pool at Blackbird Leys, Oxford, have been put to residents as part of a new council-led public consultation. Members of the public will be able to comment on the proposals at a number of OCC-run leisure venues until 17 December. Facilities mooted as part of the FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed complex include an eight-lane, 25m swimming pool with moveable floor and a teaching pool. 'Fun

Lancaster City Council (LCC) has launched a major public consultation into plans for the Lancaster Square Routes scheme, which would result in an extensive refurbishment of the city centre. Designs for the project, which have been drawn up by Gillespies LLP in partnership with artists Amenity Space, aim to build on the city's history and heritage while also creating a modern centre. The council wants to gather feedback from local

A public consultation on two redevelopment options for the Forest Hill Pools has begun in Lewisham, London, to help determine the future of the facility, which was closed in 2006. It is the second round of consultations to be held on the development, after the council was forced to re-think designs last year following the adjacent Victorian Louise House receiving a Grade II listing by English Heritage. The listing meant

A £150m scheme designed to transform the centre of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, is back on track after property firm Nikal acquired the remaining shares in the joint venture for an undisclosed sum. The future of the mixed-use development had been thrown into doubt following the collapse of the David McLean Group, the North Wales-based developer which entered administration in late 2008. Plans for the Altair scheme includes a 3,000-seat ice

Local residents are being invited for another round of public consultation into Bristol City Football Club's (BCFC) proposals for a new 30,000-seat stadium at Ashton Vale. Plans for the new stadium, which will be built on a 42-acre (17-hectare) site near the David Lloyd fitness centre and the Long Ashton park and ride facility, are due to be submitted to the local authority later this year. The club first asked