The next decade will reshape the places where we live and work in the Pittsburgh region. Rapid growth in data and artificial intelligence, rising energy demand, aging infrastructure, new technologies, and changing patterns of development are creating challenges, and opportunities that will require new thinking across sectors. The “New Horizons: Infrastructure, Energy, and Data in the Coming Decade” conference on Oct. 20 will bring together leaders from government, industry, h

Almost half of U.S. public school buildings are 46 years old or older, and billions in investment is needed to address the looming crisis, an expert explained during the Center for Energy and the Built Environment’s recent webinar. "Built to Last? Understanding America's School Building Crisis" brought together three presenters who are studying the issue of deteriorating school buildings and developing suggestions for possible solutions. Mary Filardo, Executive Director of th

The region’s transportation infrastructure will see billions in upgrades over the coming years as part of a 25-year SmartMoves long-term investment plan. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) recently announced the transportation improvement plan (TIP) for years 2027-2030 which identifies the projects in a 10-county region that will receive federal, state, and municipal funding that is prioritized based on their condition, safety, and economic development considerati

Walkable neighborhoods are often seen as desirable places to live, offering the convenience of strolling to a nearby grocery store, restaurant, or park while keeping auto traffic to a minimum. Not only do walkable neighborhoods help reduce carbon emissions, they also offer health benefits for residents. One concept for walkable neighborhoods is the “15-minute city.” This is an urban planning model where everything residents need in their daily life can be accessed within a 15

Almost 50 years after ground was broken for the Mon-Fayette Expressway project, construction of several more segments of the still uncompleted highway between the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs is continuing. The expressway project has been talked about since the 1970s as a way to improve the fortunes of struggling Mon Valley communities by making it easier and quicker to get to Pittsburgh. However, it has seen a number of delays as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Com