The May/June issue of The Architect’s Newspaper is out now

No one reads anymore (!) and our digital scrolling is mediated by algorithms, which means events are the last remaining bastion of social cohesion. Gathered in a room, people encounter each other in real time and in meatspace. All scales of happenings structure architecture and design culture, from office visits to private dinners, panels, showroom talks, opening and closing parties, issue releases, awards celebrations, pop-ups, symposia, fairs, conferences, conventions, design weeks, biennales, and more.

Those in the biz regularly trade notes about RSVP counts, attendance ratios, and the who’s-who in attendance. People tell me things in person they wouldn’t allow me to publish in print. It’s easier to gossip IRL, but it’s harder to be mean directly, with the subject of your frustration standing at arm’s length, a living, breathing human being. At its worst, an event devolves into a fashionista feeding frenzy to make content for online display. At its best, an event is a place for meaningful connection and conversation—it is where a community coalesces.

The latter is the ambition for the activations produced by The Architect’s Newspaper, AN Interior, and Facades+. In particular, Facades+, our conference for the specialists who deliver high-performance building envelopes, is a regional rallying point where presenters share case studies and discuss the ever-evolving pressures of business, technology, and supply chains. With Techne as our cochair, we recently held a two-day event in Monterrey, our first in Mexico, to great success. See our annual facades Focus section, replete with trends, case studies, and products.

This spring has been a busy run of activity that will continue through June. As I write these words to you, I’m looking forward to the bustle of NYCxDESIGN, anchored by ICFF, which will host so many of these get-togethers. Later, I’ll be at NeoCon in Chicago and then at the AIA convention in San Diego, ready to catch up with architects about their work. And at the end of June, the World Congress of Architects will land in Barcelona. Sadly, I currently don’t have plans to attend.

One recent event stands out above the others. In March, I attended the Congreso Internacional de Arquitectura in Querétaro, Mexico. The three-day gathering brings architects from around the world to present their work on stage at the city’s Teatro de la Ciudad. Its organizer, Casa de Arquitectura, is led by Juan Alfonso “Poncho” Garduño Jardón and his sister Maria de Los Angeles Garduño, who together lead G3 Arquitectos, along with Alfonso Jiménez (also Poncho) of Anonimous.

This was an inspiring moment of public excitement about architecture. It is rare to witness a thousand people packed into an auditorium—plus about two hundred in an overflow annex—sit still for hours of lectures by architects. The invited speakers were practitioners focused on designing buildings. But through this window, a whole enchanted world of Marcovaldian observation emerged, which allows topics like ecosystems, labor, history, and immigration to be investigated through architecture. During the breaks, some presenters were mobbed for book signings or selfies. Social events outside of the official programming also served to bring people together. Most nights, a jug of mezcal was lugged around like the nuclear football and dutifully siphoned off. I had a blast.

The congreso historically has been an important convening tool for architects, like the Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM), which was hugely influential in the creation of the modern movement. Moments like these allow architects, who often toil alone in their offices and whose work is built slowly, if at all, to surface for air and reconnect with their peers. That propinquity is so valuable. It is clear to me that architecture, beyond any AI turbulence, remains a deeply humanistic endeavor.

Across this issue, we address the always-timely topic of practice. In our features, read about how leading firms are dealing with succession, how architects collaborate with lighting designers, and how large firms might better communicate the value of architecture. Up front, among news, learn about Pivot, an architecture cooperative in Canada, and read an opinion piece by OMA’s Reinier de Graaf. Plus, the drumbeat of housing continues with reviews by Anjulie Rao and Shane Reiner-Roth. In the rear, check out Michael Allen’s review of C. G. Beck’s The Labor of Architecture, in addition to other great contributions.

Beyond architecture, we tackle the World Cup, which is reshaping cities across North America. We share what cities across the continent have done to prepare for the crush of soccer fans. This in-depth piece was written by Mariana Martinez-Pazzi, one of our spring 2026 editorial interns, and illustrated by Amy Bass.

And, despite the ongoing federal enshittification, we’re speeding ahead toward our country’s 250th birthday—but that is a matter for a future issue. Stay tuned.