Latest News

An article in Scientific American by Korydon Smith, professor of architecture in the School of Architecture and Planning and associate director of Global Health Equity, looks at the relationship between health care reform and the nation’s aging infrastructure. “What if a solution to bridging both the political and sectoral divides between health care and infrastructure was, literally, a bridge? Sure, bridges are core elements of infrastructure, but what do bridges have to do with health care? As it turns out, a lot,” he writes. The article also appeared on Salon, Longitudes, Truthout, the Princeton Times, Terre Haute Tribune Star, Arizona Daily Star, WHNS-TV in North Carolina, Arizona Family, the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, WTOP-AM in Washington, D.C., WGCL-TV in Atlanta, WSMV-TV in Nashville, KVVU-TV in Las Vegas and KCTV-TV in Kansas City.

An opinion piece by Ernest Sternberg, professor and chair of urban and regional planning in the School of Architecture and Planning, about demonstrators who chanted and shouted down Robert Spencer, a controversial speaker about radical Islam, last week notes that the UB Faculty Senate has taken an unambiguous stance on disruption of speech on campus. “In general, the university needs to promulgate clear definitions to the campus community on civil discourse on campus and on protections for controversial speech,” he writes. In addition, a letter to the editor criticizes how Spencer was treated. Articles on Spencer’s speech also appeared on Real Clear Education and Accuracy in Academia. 

An article in Tampa’s Weekly Challenger about the decline in the number of black-owned businesses and what it means to American democracy reports on research by Robert Silverman, professor of urban planning in the School of Architecture and Planning, that showed that many beauty and hair care businesses were acquired by white-owned businesses, and funds that once were channeled into research and development for black-owned businesses now were accrued as profits by the larger firms.

An article in Cleveland’s Scene Magazine about things to do and see in Buffalo includes a visit to Assembly House 150, founded by Dennis Maher, clinical assistant professor of architecture, to provide a home for student projects and for the Society for the Advancement of Construction-Related Arts. “We’re looking at unique opportunities and needs, and trying to draw relationships between those things,” he said.

An article on Architecture Design about the future of the Fair Housing ruling that requires municipalities that receive HUD funding to report in detail how their housing policies are not promoting segregation interviews Robert Silverman, professor of urban and regional planning, who said the ruling could actually be more helpful to small local governments. “In the past, there was always a report municipalities and counties had to do for fair housing, but HUD didn’t give them clear distinction of what to measure and a deadline for doing so,” he said. “HUD has provided them with a template, and I haven’t heard from any cities that don’t think doing these data studies of how housing is used in their communities is not important for them.”

An article in Business First about the selection of downtown as the preferred site for the new Buffalo train station quotes Robert Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, who served as chair of the selection committee. “Consensus doesn’t equate to unanimity,” he said. “But, think of this as a starting point.” An article also appeared on Buffalo Rising. 
An opinion piece about infusing Buffalo with a lifelong learning culture notes that in 1983, a conference called “Imagining Buffalo: Reflections on Our City” was organized in part by Robert Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, and Lynda Schneekloth, professor emeritus of architecture. 

An article about a six-story apartment building being proposed for Gates Circle reports the developers, who began planning last summer, worked with Robert Shibley, dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, and Bradshaw Hovey, senior fellow in the UB Regional Institute, to develop a process for reviewing the design with the community, including a values statement.A letter to the editor about proposed locations for the new Buffalo train station suggests that the community wait for the analysis of the 17-member nonpartisan committee exploring the major options, and notes that the committee is chaired by Robert Shibley, dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, who, the author says, “has quite a track record in chairing such planning committees over the past 20 years.”

A letter to the editor about proposed locations for the new Buffalo train station suggests that the community wait for the analysis of the 17-member nonpartisan committee exploring the major options, and notes that the committee is chaired by Robert Shibley, dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, who, the author says, “has quite a track record in chairing such planning committees over the past 20 years.”An article about a six-story apartment building being proposed for Gates Circle reports the developers, who began planning last summer, worked with Robert Shibley, dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, and Bradshaw Hovey, senior fellow in the UB Regional Institute, to develop a process for reviewing the design with the community, including a values statement.