Arup and Designing Libraries collaboration press release. New partnership to map the future investment needs of England's libraries. 27 Oct 2026 Designing Libraries (DL) has joined forces with global sustainable development consultancy Arup to deliver a landmark research project. The project will identify the capital investment needed to ensure England's public library estate is fit for the future. Working in partnership with sector bodies including Libraries Connected, Libraries Rising, CILIP, CLOA and with a grant from Arts Council England, the project will establish the first comprehensive assessment of library capital investment requirements in almost two decades. The six-month study, due to begin in November 2026, will examine the scale of maintenance backlogs, refurbishment needs and future infrastructure requirements across England's public libraries. Arup, which recently undertook a similar national study for arts centres, will develop the methodology and lead the analysis. The research aims to answer a question that has become increasingly urgent for the sector: how much investment is needed to ensure library buildings remain safe, sustainable and fit for the communities they serve? The last national assessment, commissioned by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in 2006, identified a funding requirement of around £760 million to address maintenance, statutory compliance and modernisation works. Twenty years on, rising costs, ageing buildings and changing service demands mean the true figure is likely to be significantly higher, but no comprehensive national evidence currently exists. By providing an up-to-date evidence base, the project will help inform future conversations with government, funders, local authorities and sector stakeholders about sustaining and improving library infrastructure. The findings are also expected to support wider advocacy efforts to secure long-term investment in the public library network. DL will coordinate engagement across the sector, establishing a steering group, facilitating data collection, and supporting surveys and focus groups with library services. Arup will lead the analytical phase of the project, drawing on its global expertise in asset management, infrastructure planning, lifecycle assessment and capital investment strategy. Angela Crowther, Director at Arup, said: "Through this partnership, we will create a report that highlights the critical role libraries play in supporting communities and helps build the case for their long-term success." Luke Burton, Director Libraries, Arts Council England said, "We are pleased to support this project which will harness Arup and Designing Libraries' experience to help us get a clear understanding of the maintenance backlogs, refurbishment needs and future infrastructure requirements across England's public libraries. Using proven methodologies and robust outputs, we hope that this work will provide a sound evidence base for us and partners to use when it comes to make the case for future investment in library infrastructure." Ayub Khan MBE, Lead for Designing Libraries, said: "This project represents a significant opportunity for the library sector. For too long, conversations about capital investment have taken place without a clear picture of the overall need. By working with Arup and our sector partners, we will create a robust evidence base that can help libraries make the case for investment, ensuring buildings remain vibrant, welcoming and sustainable community assets for generations to come." About Designing Libraries. Designing Libraries was formed as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company formed in 2011 (having been in existence since 2004) to act as a gateway to the world of libraries and a source of information and training on all aspects of the design and use of library spaces - the ultimate resource for Library Design and Innovation. It offers a wealth of freely accessible information on new buildings, refurbishments or extensions for all types and sizes of libraries, acting as a one-stop-shop resource for everyone interested in design and innovation in libraries. About Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Between 2023 and 2026 Designing Libraries International will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to support individual practitioners, arts organisations, museums and libraries, and to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live. Visit its website to learn more about its work. About Arup. Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of 18,000 designers, advisors and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to strive for humanity and excellence in everything that Designing Libraries International do, Designing Libraries International collaborate with its clients and partners, using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world. Renowned for its collaborative approach and technical excellence, Arup has contributed to some of the world's most iconic and award-winning projects while helping clients create resilient, inclusive and future-ready communities.

CEPT and Arup Partner to Advance Urban Development and Professional Capacity Building. 21 Oct 2026 CEPT University, through CEPT Professional Programs (CPP), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd (Arup), a global consultancy specialising in the built environment, to establish a knowledge and capacity-building partnership focused on upskilling urban sector professionals. CEPT University and Arup Partner to Advance Urban Development and Professional Capacity Building CEPT University and Arup have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen knowledge exchange, technical expertise, and professional capacity in India's urban development sector. The partnership brings together CEPT's expertise in urban planning, design, and management with Arup's global experience in climate resilience, building physics, energy and environmental modelling, and infrastructure integration. Through this collaboration, the two organizations will explore professional training needs, jointly curate and deliver high-quality certified programs, and pursue collaborative research in urban planning and development. CEPT Professional Programs (CPP), the University's executive education vertical, bridges academia, professional practice, policymaking, and implementation through specialised training and certificate programmes. Arup brings extensive international experience in the built environment. The MoU was signed by Barjor Mehta, President, CEPT University, and Sowmya Parthasarathy, Director and Arup Fellow, Arup. The signing brought together Dr. Subhrangsu Goswami, Dean, CPP; A. Srivathsan, Head, Centre for Research on Architecture and Urbanism, CRDF; Dr. Saswat Bandyopadhyay, Professor and Principal Advisor, CPP Public Sector Capacity Building; and Jignesh Mehta, Urban Planning & Design Lead, Arup. The partnership marks an important step towards advancing professional capabilities, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and promoting informed, innovative, and climate-responsive approaches to urban planning and development in India.

New York City removes 1,200 sidewalk sheds as city unveils improved designs. Published on October 19, 2026, 8:42 pm Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Ahmed Tigani announced New York City has reduced the number of sidewalk sheds by approximately 1,200 since January, a decrease of more than 15% in 10 months. The administration is also advancing new rules to bring better-designed sidewalk sheds to streets across the five boroughs. The new designs will let more light reach sidewalks and storefronts, improve visibility and create a more welcoming pedestrian experience while maintaining essential safety protections. Two new designs by the architecture firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) are now on display outside DOB headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Earlier this summer, DOB showcased two additional designs by architecture firm Arup. On Thursday, TIME magazine named Arup's design one of its Best Inventions of 2026. "In the greatest city in the world, New Yorkers shouldn't have to accept dark, obstructed sidewalks as a fact of life. We're taking down sheds that don't need to be there and building a better alternative for the ones that do. That means brighter sidewalks, clearer storefronts and better public spaces that work for the people who use them every day," said Mayor Mamdani. "With fewer sheds on our streets and new, more attractive sheds going up soon, we're making significant progress toward safer and more welcoming sidewalks and open spaces. The teams at DOB, Arup, PAU and public servants across the city are dedicated to creating more vibrant streetscapes, and New Yorkers are already seeing results," said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. "Thanks to the leadership of the Mamdani Administration, significant progress is being made to return valuable sidewalk space back to New Yorkers," said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. "Enhanced oversight by DOB is helping to compel owners to start long-delayed building repairs, leading to the safe removal of hundreds of long-standing sidewalk sheds in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. At the same time, the city's six new improved shed prototypes, created by our partners at PAU and Arup, are being recognized as a significant step forward in pedestrian-focused design. I encourage everyone to take a trip to our headquarters building in Lower Manhattan over the next several weeks to get a better understanding of how much better these new designs are compared to the old pipe-and-plywood sheds currently seen throughout the city." The PAU and Arup designs are the result of a multiyear effort to rethink sidewalk sheds, improve the look and feel of city streets and prioritize pedestrians without compromising public safety. The designs are owned by the City of New York and may be freely copied to encourage adoption across the five boroughs. DOB expects to finalize agency rules making the new designs available for citywide use before the end of the year. New sidewalk shed designs by PAU. The two sheds now installed in Lower Manhattan are the "Baseline Shed" and the "Speed Shed," both developed by a design team led by PAU. This marks the first time either design has been installed on a New York City sidewalk. * Baseline Shed: Available in heavy-duty and light-duty versions, the design features transparent polycarbonate decking and an innovative angled roof that lets in natural light, improves sightlines to ground-floor businesses and creates a more open sidewalk. * Speed Shed: Designed for lighter-duty use, this shed features an angled roof made with rockfall netting roof to catch debris while allowing light to reach the sidewalk. Detachable wheels allow the structure to be moved quickly between locations as needed. Stronger oversight and enforcement Following the passage of Local Laws 48 and 51 of 2025, DOB has strengthened oversight and enforcement requirements for sidewalk sheds, including more frequent permit renewals and stronger penalties for sheds left in place when no active work is taking place. DOB has also established new regulations to reduce the footprint of sheds on large "campuses," including NYCHA properties and university campuses, limiting unnecessary coverage of open space far from buildings. "PAU was founded on the belief that design can elevate civic life. Reimagining Gotham's sidewalks, which frame our shared urbanity, gives all New Yorkers the opportunity for a safer, luminous and more inviting public realm," said Vishaan Chakrabarti, founder of PAU. "New Yorkers got a first glimpse into how a new class of sidewalk sheds can create brighter, more open feeling sidewalks with the installation of Arup's designs earlier this year. Now, our Flex and Rigid designs have been named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2026. It is encouraging to see the momentum continue," said Seth Wolfe, Principal at Arup.