As Architectural Record’s new editor in chief, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the June issue. I couldn’t have timed a better entrance: The May issue was the biggest in three years, and the number of loyal readers make the magazine the leader in the field. I welcome the chance to take record forward as an independent journal, as it has been for most of its 120-year history; independence is essential to editorial integrity.

I come from the world of mainstream journalism, with 30 years’ experience as a cultural reporter, editor, and architecture critic, primarily at Newsweek magazine. That background has helped set my agenda for RECORD: I plan to cover the vital news and ideas in architecture and practice today and to bring those stories to you quickly. With information moving faster than ever, we’re continuing to integrate record’s print edition with archrecord.com. Against the barrage of digital verbiage and visuals coming at you every day, we’re committed to curating our pages to bring you the most essential reporting, analysis, and design criticism.