Daily digest: A scooter takes a damaging tumble down the Spanish Steps, Penn Station and LaGuardia Airport renovation updates, and more

Welcome to the top of another week! Here are just a few of the latest happenings and headlines in the world of architecture:

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to open a New York studio

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) has announced it will open a New York office this fall. The London-headquartered firm already has a number of projects in the United States, including a recently completed residential tower in Manhattan and an in-progress bourbon distillery in Kentucky.

The New York office will be led by RSHP associate partner Georgina Robleddo. In its latest financial report the firm said the New York studio would “consolidate and expand our North American work.” Robledo joined the firm in 2003; one of her first projects involved working on conceptual designs for 3 World Trade Center and she is currently overseeing the design of a 60-story office building in Toronto.

“The practice has been planning to have a presence in the Americas to expand our design services for some time due to the increase of work in the region. I plan to be in New York in the autumn 2022.” Robledo said.

H/t to Architect’s Journal

American tourist pushes electric scooter down Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps

Oops. Two American tourists were caught on tape dragging electric scooters down Rome’s fabled Spanish Steps. A passerby filmed the moment when one of the tourists, a 28-year-old woman, let go of her ride, catapulting it down the monumental marble stairway. The pair was located by the Italian police and each fined €400 ($430). The woman could face additional charges for intentionally defacing historical property, which according to Italian law is subject to up to one year behind bars and a fine of no less than €2,000.

This isn’t the first time the 18th century Roman landmark have made headlines. Just last month, also in the wee hours of the morning, a Saudi Arabian man drove his Maserati down the steps, resulting in considerable damage. And in 2019, the public was banned from sitting on the steps because it detracts from the “historic and artistic decorum” of Rome’s city center, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

H/t to New York Times

Penn Station overhaul continues with Request for Proposals released for the next renovation phase

Work at New York City’s Pennsylvania Station is far from over. On June 9, Governor Kathy Hochul joined New York City, New Jersey, NJTransit, Amtrak, and Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) officials at the aging transit hub to discuss plans for its next renovation phase. The $6 billion project has put out a Request for Proposals for architecture and engineering firms to execute the design work. The winning firm will be chosen in the fall and will be responsible for realizing the design scheme outlined in the site’s reconstruction plan. The new design will include skylights and wide corridors–similar to the recently completed Moynihan Train Hall–8 acres of public space, and an underground connection linking Herald Square and 34th Street with the station.

“The transformation of Penn Station into a world-class, commuter-focused transportation facility befitting the central hub of the greatest city in the world cannot come soon enough,” Governor Hochul said in a press release. “We have shared a vision of a single-level unified station with soaring ceilings that welcome natural light, clear, intuitive sightlines, more circulation space and more connectivity to streets and platforms.”

Delta Air Lines upgrades its LaGuardia Airport terminal to first class

In other transportation news, LaGuardia Airport’s (LGA) dingy reputation is one step closer to being a thing of the past: On June 4, 2022, Delta Air Lines debuted its new Terminal C at LGA, a $4 billion project spanning 1.3 million square feet, the largest-ever airport investment for the Atlanta-headquartered airlines. The project–designed by a roster of architects and engineers including Gensler and Corgan–enhances efficiency and provides a state-of-the-art experience for travelers.

The new terminal includes 37 gates, 36 full-service check-in counters, 49 self-service kiosks, modernized passenger lounges, among other facilities. The opening of Terminal C comes as a major milestone in the $8 billion dollar redevelopment of LGA, which also included a remodel of Terminal B, completed in 2020.

Architectural Record Announces Top 300 U.S. Architecture Firms of 2022

Architectural Record has published the 2022 edition of its annual, revenue-based Top 300 U.S. Architecture Firms rankings. Gensler, Perkins&Will, and HRD are respectively ranked first, second, and third and have retained their position from last year (and the year before that). Firms that experienced notable increases in revenue include AECOM, which rose from eighth place in 2021 to fourth place in 2022, and IBI Group Inc., which leapt up the rankings from the 20th spot in 2021 to its current position at 13th place. On the other hand, Kohn Penderson Fox Associates (KPF) dropped five spots over the past year from 13th place to 18th.

H/t to Architectural Record