James S. Russell

James S. Russell is a Seattle native who is an independent journalist based in New York City, where he writes about architecture and cities. This essay was first published in his Substack, James560@substack.com

Design Review: What’s Wrong with Expanding the White House on a Whim

Trump has embarked on the most significant alteration to the White House since its original completion early in the 19th century. He proposes to add a 90,000 square foot addition to replace the East Wing which was conceived by Thomas Jefferson but largely completed in 1902 for Teddy Roosevelt.

The Real Cost of Ordering Troops Into Cities like Portland

The country needs to do better than return to a past that wasted too many billions and ruined too many lives to too little effect.

Why Can’t America Build “Great” Again?

With widespread unhappiness with government institutions, voters are listening to candidate promises to blow up business as usual.

The Art of Food Kitchens

These are charities that formed to engage the scandalous scale of today’s hunger problem. Working with insightful architects, both organizations have been able to build transformative facilities.

Renewing Trump’s Tax Cuts Won’t Just Be Expensive, It Will Make Housing Even Less Affordable

Before the election Donald Trump promised to fix inflation, which included big voter concern about the cost of housing. For all the shock and awe, the chaos and the...

Bold Choice: Seattle’s new Portal to Puget Sound

In its combination of quiet boldness, reticence when called for, and lack of self-consciousness, the term “masterpiece” does not seem to apply. It’s pretty satisfying though, and worth celebrating.

Lessons for Industry from Boeing’s Wanton Self-Immolation

Management was fully responsible for Boeing’s near-death experience, but reviving a diverse, healthy, and innovative industrial sector, while worthy, will not succeed until the profits-only zeitgeist is addressed.

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