Architectural Cases

Forging New Futures: Collaborative Design for Post-Pandemic Urbanity

Exploring the Evolution of Urban Cores

The "Coming Together" exhibition, a key initiative within the Museum's Future Cities project, offers a comprehensive look at the changes occurring in American downtowns. Curated by Georgetown University Professor Uwe S. Brandes and designed by Reddymade and MGMT., it examines how various communities are actively molding new urban environments. The exhibition draws upon insights from over sixty American cities, both large and small, revealing how they have adapted to profound shifts in living, working, and leisure since the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be on display until Fall 2026.

Visions for an Inclusive Urban Future

Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum, emphasizes that the exhibition encourages visitors to contemplate urban evolution and envision innovative approaches for a more equitable, sustainable, and enjoyable future. Curator Uwe S. Brandes notes that this period is transformative for American cities, where the pandemic, while exposing vulnerabilities, also sparked immense creativity and resilience. The exhibition demonstrates partnerships between civic leaders, businesses, institutions, and local residents in developing strategies for enhancing urban areas for everyone. Its core message is that through unity, cities can redefine fundamental aspects of daily life—from residency and employment to recreation and spiritual engagement.

Innovative Urban Revitalization Strategies

The exhibition employs a range of multimedia elements, including detailed case studies, informative data visualizations, extensive video presentations, interactive digital displays, and participatory voting exercises. These components offer a dynamic exploration of potential urban futures driven by community engagement and cooperative efforts. The exhibition is structured into three distinct sections, each examining a different facet of downtown evolution. The initial gallery, "Social Distancing," provides historical context, tracing the origins of the term "downtown" and analyzing how public health crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated pre-existing urban transformations. The second gallery, "Cities Take Charge," showcases contemporary strategies and policies for repositioning downtown districts in the post-pandemic era. This section highlights collaborative innovation, such as the conversion of office buildings into residential units, the repurposing of sidewalks into communal gathering spaces, and the transformation of vacant retail fronts into cultural hubs.

Showcasing Diverse Community Initiatives

Featured examples within the exhibition include Salt Lake City's focus on residential development, which led to a population increase in its downtown area post-pandemic. Washington D.C.'s strategic investments in sports and entertainment aim to mitigate economic shifts. Nashville, Tennessee, demonstrates remarkable adaptability in its tourism-dependent economy. Visitors can also see the adaptive reuse of Alexandria, Virginia's Park + Ford office building, which was converted into 435 residential units while preserving its original structure. The introduction of portable "parklets" in Norfolk, designed as temporary social spaces in former parking spots, is another highlight. Furthermore, the exhibition features the transformation of a vacant Google office in New York City into a coding academy by Black Girls Code. Beyond architectural interventions, the exhibition celebrates community-driven initiatives, such as the collaboration between Southwest BID and DC Central Kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington D.C., and the designation of Fifth Avenue in downtown San Diego as a "slow street," prioritizing pedestrian activity.

Fostering Collaborative Urban Dialogues

With "Coming Together," the National Building Museum extends an invitation to audiences to explore how collective action can lead to more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic urban environments. To support this objective, the exhibition includes a dedicated "City Action Hall." This versatile space is designed for meetings, strategic planning sessions, workshops, and public events. Configured with modular elements, it can accommodate various group sizes and is equipped with audiovisual technology and display boards for sharing ideas. Organizations are encouraged to present posters detailing their contributions to downtown revitalization, fostering a nationwide dialogue throughout the exhibition's duration. Interested groups and individuals can apply to utilize the City Action Hall through the Museum's official application portal.

Historically significant structures, such as castles and fortresses, once commanded strategic positions and served as symbols of military and political authority. Today, these imposing edifices, imbued with centuries of history, are being reimagined and reintegrated into contemporary society through innovative architectural interventions.

These modern projects encompass a spectrum from sensitive restorations that honor original forms to bold designs that introduce new functional, technological, and structural components. The overarching goal is to breathe new life into these ancient monuments, ensuring their continued relevance while adapting them to meet current demands. This necessitates a careful negotiation between the reverence for historical integrity, stringent heritage protection guidelines, and the creative vision of architects.

By thoughtfully blending the old with the new, these interventions allow these venerable landmarks to transcend their original purposes, becoming vibrant spaces that engage with present-day urban and rural life. This process not only safeguards their architectural and historical value but also transforms them into accessible and dynamic assets for future generations.

The adaptive reuse of historical structures exemplifies a progressive approach to heritage preservation, recognizing that the past can inform and enrich the future without being confined to it. It fosters a connection between different eras, encouraging appreciation for both historical craftsmanship and modern innovation. Such endeavors underscore a commitment to sustainable development, promoting the longevity and cultural significance of our built heritage while embracing contemporary needs and aspirations. These projects serve as powerful reminders that history is not merely to be observed but to be lived within, continuously evolving through thoughtful and creative engagement.