City attractiveness as a new measure of urban success

As cities compete in an increasingly mobile talent economy, Professor José Antonio Ondiviela, director, Citizen-Centric Intelligent Cities Research Institute, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, explains why urban success factors must now consider how magnetism, liveability and affordability shape where people choose to live and work.

Building water-smart cities

Cat Moncrieff, policy manager, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, explains how housing planners can tackle the UK’s growing water crisis.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sydney

In 2020, the City of Sydney released a Smart City Strategic Framework to harness the opportunities brought about by digital disruption, to plan for uncertainty and to sustain a global reputation as a leading place to live, work, learn and visit.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Atlanta

Find out more about Atlanta’s smart city strategy, focused around equitability and inclusion.

Podcasts

Podcast: The central role of cities in the sharing economy, with Chelsea Rustrum

There’s a big opportunity for cities to better harness the sharing economy to achieve municipal goals and give power back to the people, Rustrum says.

Opinions

Why the UK needs a nationwide retrofit to tackle the energy crisis

Fiona Duggan, policy lead at climate solutions charity Ashden, explains why the UK has just two years to flood the grid with renewables and insulate millions of homes if it is to confront the climate and energy crisis.

Think Tank: Building Circular Cities

In the latest of our opinion pieces from members of our Advisory Board, we explore how we break away from the linear city model.

22-26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Sunderland is repositioning itself as a leading smart city – using digital infrastructure and low-carbon innovation to build a resilient, future-focused economy in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

Trend Report Panel Discussion (21 May): Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Webinars

Discover how AI-powered digital twins are transforming urban infrastructure and how these innovations can improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

Latest Podcast

Cities Thriving on Lighting, Episode 2 – Simplicity by design in smart lighting

Podcasts

Discover the technology and considerations behind how cities can turn existing streetlight networks into secure, interoperable, and future‑proof infrastructure in the second episode of Cities Thriving on Lighting.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Latest Special Report

Bridging the data gap in urban climate design

AI CityXchange

Oana Taut, co-founder and CPO of infrared.city, explains how AI, data and simulation are helping cities move beyond long-term climate ambitions towards immediate, measurable action.

BECOME A MEMBER

Build your own Industry Resource Library
Gain access to all SmartCitiesWorld content
Make the most of Industry Webinar Events

Register Login

Most Popular

San José introduces new AI skills training for residents

Octopus Energy helps reduce energy bills for social housing

CityLab 2026 in Madrid announces new speakers

Washington State pledges $25m to scale clean energy financing

CityLab Madrid summit to address shared urgent challenges

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Home | Urban Space | Commercial buildings

Commercial buildings

The latest news on commercial buildings in smart city projects across the world.

Bentley invites entries for 2026 Year in Infrastructure awards

Bentley invites entries for 2026 Year in Infrastructure awards

News19 Mar 2026

The annual global awards programme recognises digital innovation in how infrastructure is designed, built, and operated using Bentley Systems software.

Boston continues to build climate-ready workforce

Boston continues to build climate-ready workforce

People and skills20 Feb 2026

PowerCorps connects residents with hands-on jobs training and expands career pathways, strengthening neighbourhoods and building a climate-ready workforce.

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Planning and redevelopment22 Jan 2026

Europe must take advantage of brownfield development’s potential to address affordable housing needs and reduce carbon emissions, a new report reveals.

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Climate action19 Jan 2026

One of five projects to be approved under the initiative, the building will improve the public realm with landscaping, street trees and pedestrian connections.

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Climate action12 Jan 2026

It requires developers to explore all reasonable options for retrofitting and adapting buildings before seeking permission for demolition and redevelopment.

Innovation incubator announces scalable tech cohort

Innovation incubator announces scalable tech cohort

News11 Dec 2025

Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator is a $55m energy tech programme and the cohort represents those from housing, utilities, infrastructure, and real estate.

UK launches marketplace for biodiversity net gain units

UK launches marketplace for biodiversity net gain units

Climate action03 Dec 2025

Greenshank Environmental’s platform enables developers to browse credits, view pricing and unit types, and purchase verified BNG and nutrient credits online.

City of Sydney ushers in all-electric buildings future

City of Sydney ushers in all-electric buildings future

Climate action04 Nov 2025

The new planning controls were approved by council at its October 2025 meeting, after they were met with wide-ranging support during the consultation period.

Industry leadership and policy action key to decarbonise buildings

Industry leadership and policy action key to decarbonise buildings

Climate action03 Nov 2025

Report spotlights where business and policymakers are making progress on key interventions to cut carbon in buildings, providing a playbook ahead of Cop30 to inform policy.

Boston launches city energy saver programme

Boston launches city energy saver programme

Climate action31 Oct 2025

Boston Energy Saver programme is a resource to connect Boston residents with discounts and building upgrades that work best for their home or small business.

Most Popular

London borough cuts maintenance costs with digital twin

Harrow is using Site Scan drone software from Esri UK to create detailed 3D models of key sites, including leisure centres, parks and other council buildings.

Cardiff installs smart bike lockers in city centre

Throughout project planning, the council worked closely with South Wales Police and security experts to ensure the lockers are safe and cannot be misused.

San José introduces new AI skills training for residents

Classes offered through San José’s first-in-the-nation AI for All initiative, delivering free artificial intelligence tools and education to all residents.

Octopus Energy helps reduce energy bills for social housing

Its Tenant Power tariff, being rolled out in Aberdeenshire, sees both social housing landlords and tenants share the financial rewards of smart energy tech.

Seoul uses AI to speed up missing persons search

Once fully implemented across the South Korean capital, the system will integrate approximately 123,000 security cameras into a single searchable network.

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Guest Opinions

Think Tank: Building Circular Cities

In the latest of our opinion pieces from members of our Advisory Board, we explore how we break away from the linear ...

The art of the city: how creators may save urban business districts

Artists could reinvigorate cities whose commercial districts have been left moribund by Covid-19, writes WhereiPark’s ...

Resilient cities are being redefined by the coronavirus

Covid-19 is showing us what resilience in cities actually is, writes Stephen Zoegall, director of global cities and ...

Connected Cities: Has the future changed in light of Covid-19?

The Covid-19 pandemic should force us to change how we use buildings, argues Meagan Crawford, Executive Director of ...

Could FWA be the answer to keeping people connected during the global pandemic?

Fixed Wireless Access’s speed and flexibility could have it serve a crucial role in helping businesses and public ...

The 14 pillars of a smart city

Strategies must take a holistic approach encompassing people, institutions, structures and operations, say Clint Vince, ...

Why smart cities need smart buildings

As the two ecosystems evolve, they will have ample opportunity to feed off each other, says Thomas Seiler, CEO at u-...

‘Mini cities’: The rise of tall buildings

As cities continue to grow, the way we construct and manage buildings has never been more critical to global economic ...

Smart cities can change the world – if we radically rethink the approach

Tom Goodwin has high hopes for how smart cities could improve our lives. To get there, though, he says we need to think ...

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Sunderland is repositioning itself as a leading smart city – using digital infrastructure and low-carbon innovation to build a resilient, future-focused economy in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

Trend Report Panel Discussion (21 May): Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Webinars

Discover how AI-powered digital twins are transforming urban infrastructure and how these innovations can improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

Latest Podcast

Cities Thriving on Lighting, Episode 2 – Simplicity by design in smart lighting

Podcasts

Discover the technology and considerations behind how cities can turn existing streetlight networks into secure, interoperable, and future‑proof infrastructure in the second episode of Cities Thriving on Lighting.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Latest Special Report

Bridging the data gap in urban climate design

AI CityXchange

Oana Taut, co-founder and CPO of infrared.city, explains how AI, data and simulation are helping cities move beyond long-term climate ambitions towards immediate, measurable action.

BECOME A MEMBER

Build your own Industry Resource Library
Gain access to all SmartCitiesWorld content
Make the most of Industry Webinar Events

Register Login

Most Popular

San José introduces new AI skills training for residents

Octopus Energy helps reduce energy bills for social housing

CityLab 2026 in Madrid announces new speakers

Washington State pledges $25m to scale clean energy financing

CityLab Madrid summit to address shared urgent challenges

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Special Reports

Building water-smart cities

Getting practical to achieve zero-carbon buildings

Getting practical to achieve zero-carbon buildings

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: going green in the built environment

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: going green in the built environment

City Profiles

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sydney

In 2020, the City of Sydney released a Smart City Strategic Framework to harness the opportunities brought about by digital disruption, to plan for uncertainty and to sustain a global reputation as a leading place to live, work, learn and visit.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Atlanta

Find out more about Atlanta’s smart city strategy, focused around equitability and inclusion.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Bristol

In this edition, we focus on Bristol, a city that gave the likes of explorer John Cabot, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and movie star Cary Grant, their big breaks

Research

Policy Paper: Planning for the growth of the technology and advanced manufacturing sectors

Policy Paper: Planning for the growth of the technology and advanced manufacturing sectors

Given the pressures that a fresh bout of economic growth will put on cities’ infrastructure, the structure of the new economy will require the alignment of metropolitan priorities. This means that economic growth can not be isolated from the growth of public infrastructure. .

This paper argues that planning has a key role to play in ensuring not only that the conditions are in place for the flourishing of tech and AM, but also that the benefits of the accompanying growth are spread across the