Articles by Reyyan Dogan

Each year, International Women’s Day brings renewed attention to questions of gender within many professional fields, architecture among them. Public conversations often center on celebrating prominent figures or highlighting notable projects, moments that briefly illuminate the contributions of women within the discipline. Yet the visibility produced by these occasions sits within a longer and more complex trajectory. Over the past several decades, the architectural profession has undergone gradual shifts that have expanded opportunities and broadened participation, even as longstanding structures continue to shape how careers develop and how architectural work becomes visible.

The public observation deck at the top of the Tour Montparnasse, long considered one of the most debated additions to the Parisian skyline, is set to close on March 31, 2026, ahead of a major redevelopment of the tower and its surrounding complex. Completed in 1973, the 210-meter structure has remained the only skyscraper within central Paris for decades, frequently criticized for its scale and contrast with the historic cityscape. The closure of the Paris Montparnasse Observatory marks the beginning of a multi-year transformation aimed at modernizing the tower while rethinking its relationship with the surrounding Montparnasse district.

Architecture this week reflects the intersections of legacy, authorship, and social responsibility, as practices navigate questions of identity, recognition, and public engagement. Legal rulings, major competition shortlists, and large-scale urban proposals illustrate how architecture continues to operate across cultural, institutional, and environmental arenas. From sustainability-driven landmarks and transformative waterfront developments to iconic commercial towers, projects demonstrate approaches to ecological strategies and public programming. At the same time, global observances such as World Hearing Day highlight how spatial design shapes inclusion and accessibility, reminding the profession that the built environment can influence participation, learning, and well-being for diverse communities.

Hariri Pontarini Architects and Snøhetta have been selected to design the new Ontario Science Centre in Toronto. Announced in February 2026, the 400,000-square-foot facility will anchor the site’s ongoing transformation through a 220,000-square-foot building defined by a series of scalloped, modular volumes. A central component of the proposal is the physical integration of the existing Pods and the historic Cinesphere via elevated connections and a continuous public promenade. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2026, with completion anticipated in 2029 as part of a broader waterfront redevelopment strategy.

Every year on March 3, World Hearing Day highlights the importance of preventing hearing loss and ensuring equitable access to ear and hearing care worldwide. Led by the World Health Organization, the 2026 theme, “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children,” emphasizes early identification, inclusive education, and supportive environments as fundamental components of children’s development. As global estimates continue to indicate a rising number of children experiencing preventable or untreated hearing conditions, the conversation increasingly expands beyond healthcare systems and into the spaces where daily life unfolds.

Every year on March 3, World Hearing Day highlights the importance of preventing hearing loss and ensuring equitable access to ear and hearing care worldwide. Led by the World Health Organization, the 2026 theme, “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children,” emphasizes early identification, inclusive education, and supportive environments as fundamental components of children’s development. As global estimates continue to indicate a rising number of children experiencing preventable or untreated hearing conditions, the conversation increasingly expands beyond healthcare systems and into the spaces where daily life unfolds.

Updated renderings for Two World Trade Center, the final commercial tower planned for the World Trade Center campus in Lower Manhattan, have been unveiled by Foster + Partners in collaboration with developer Silverstein Properties. Rising 373 meters at 200 Greenwich Street, the 55-story skyscraper will occupy a central position within the site, directly across from Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus transportation hub and adjacent to the Perelman Performing Arts Center, completing the commercial edge of the master plan. The tower is set to become the new global headquarters of American Express, which will serve as the building’s sole owner and occupant. Completion is currently anticipated in 2031, with construction scheduled to begin in spring 2026.

Manresa Island Corp. has unveiled the final vision for Manresa Wilds, a 125-acre waterfront park planned on a former power plant peninsula along Long Island Sound in Norwalk, United States. Developed in collaboration with landscape architecture firm SCAPE and architecture studio BIG, the proposal outlines the transformation of a polluted and long-inaccessible industrial shoreline into a publicly accessible coastal landscape. Following the receipt of a stewardship permit from Connecticut‘s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in December 2025, the project will move forward in phases, beginning with the opening of the 28-acre Northern Forest in spring 2027. Subsequent phases, extending into the early 2030s, will deliver the majority of the restored landscape and the adaptive reuse of the 1960s-era power plant as a year-round civic and educational hub, opening nearly two miles of coastline that have been closed to the public for decades.

BDP, Cox Architecture, and Collage Design have unveiled the master plan for the 350-acre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad, India. Positioned on the Sabarmati Riverfront and structured around the 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest stadium by capacity, the project proposes a large-scale sports district integrating international competition venues with public landscapes and community facilities. Conceived as both an events precinct and an urban park, the development is intended to accommodate the 2030 Commonwealth Games centenary event, following Ahmedabad‘s selection as host city.

As the architecture community looks ahead to the announcement of the 2026 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, anticipation once again gathers around what is widely regarded as the profession’s highest honor. Founded in 1979 by Jay Pritzker and administered by the Hyatt Foundation, the prize recognizes a living architect whose body of work demonstrates a consistent and significant contribution to humanity and the built environment.