by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 11, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Historical, Newport Spotlight, Sustainable Design
West Facade (Courtesy of The Chanler) Perched above Newport’s first beach at the entry to famous Cliff Walk, The Chanler at Cliff Walk is more than just a luxury hotel; it is a model for the adaptive reuse of a historic structure. Originally known as Cliff Lawn, this...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Feb 4, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Historical, Newport Spotlight, Sustainable Design
There are two types of mansions in Newport, Rhode Island: those prominent buildings located along Bellevue Avenue, which seek to showcase their grandeur to the public, and those along the winding Ocean Avenue that are located on large secluded lots and largely hidden...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Jan 28, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Historical
Sainte Chapelle (Paris, France, Built 1248) People often think of architecture as the “background” of our lives, but to architects, buildings are complex systems and artistic creations. Just as a novelist uses syntax to convey plot or a composer...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Jan 21, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Sustainable Design
If you’ve ever been the last person in your household to shower and found yourself shivering under a stream of lukewarm water, you have experienced the primary limitation of the traditional hot water storage tank. For decades, the insulated tank was the standard, but...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Jan 14, 2026 | Architectural Design, Architectural Historian Spotlight, Articles, Historical, Newport Spotlight
During the Gilded Age, Newport, Rhode Island, transformed from a quiet summer retreat into a glittering stage for America’s “industrial royalty.” At the center of this transformation was the Vanderbilt family and the houses they built and owned. While...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Jan 7, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Technology
As the effects of global climate change are accelerating, the need to convert away from the fuels that scientists have identified as the cause of these changes becomes ever more essential. The conversion of energy production from hydrocarbon-based fuels to more...