Leopoldo Villardi

Leopoldo Villardi is managing editor at Architectural Record. He joined RECORD in 2022 after nine years working as an editor, writer, and researcher. Trained as an architect, Leo holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Design Vanguard 2026: Santiago Valdivieso

Santiago, Chile

Leopoldo Villardi

June 5, 2026

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In Chile, Santiago Valdivieso tinkers with form, technique, and landscape.

Practice Matters 2026

In Too Deep: Debt Burdens

Leopoldo Villardi

June 3, 2026

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With many recent graduates in the U.S. struggling to make ends meet, some firms are helping them overcome student-loan debt.

Tall Buildings 2026

KPF’s Mixed-Use Supertall at 520 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Spirals Toward the Sky

New York City

Leopoldo Villardi

May 6, 2026

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The firm, celebrating its 50th anniversary, devised an arched curtain wall to create depth and shadow.

As Apple Celebrates 50 Years, RECORD Reflects on the Evolution of its Stores

Leopoldo Villardi

March 31, 2026

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A retrospective of the design-minded company's retail spaces reveals an apt history of innovation, particularly with glass.

RECORD Interviews

Priya Jain Talks Preservation Priorities Following the East Wing Demolition

Leopoldo Villardi

March 16, 2026

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The associate professor at Texas A&M University discusses civic buildings that have been earmarked for sale or for the wrecking ball.

Civic Architecture 2026

A Museum in Chile Celebrates a Desert Region’s History

Leopoldo Villardi

March 2, 2026

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Max Núñez Arquitectos’ Museo Regional de Atacama serves as both cultural anchor and oasis, offering shelter from the harsh sun.

RECORD Interviews

Monumental Labs Turns to Automation and Robots to Revive the Art of Stone Carving

Leopoldo Villardi

February 9, 2026

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RECORD talks with Micah Springut, founder of the New York–based start-up, about his goals for the centuries-old art form and his new workspace in Brooklyn.

Continuing Education: The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Italy

Leopoldo Villardi

February 5, 2026

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Athletes and spectators will see little ground-up construction, but planners have carefully considered the afterlife of the Winter Games and its venues.

Mario Nanni leads a workshop about light.

RECORD Interviews

Viabizzuno Founder Mario Nanni Is Building an Academy for Lighting Design

Leopoldo Villardi

January 28, 2026

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The Italian visionary talks to RECORD about his oeuvre and plans for the school—named the Marionannischolé—which is set to open later this year in the Italian town of Bentivoglio.

RECORD Interviews

New York’s Jewish Museum Opens Transformed Galleries for its Permanent Collection

New York

Leopoldo Villardi

December 12, 2025

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RECORD talks to New Affiliates cofounders Jaffer Kolb and Ivi Diamantopoulou about their transformation of the museum’s third- and fourth–floor galleries.

Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 AIBD P-CE; 0.1 ICC CEU

Explore how propane-powered systems and whole-home generators can improve energy resilience, reduce electrical loads, and lower long-term residential costs.

Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 AIBD P-CE; 0.1 ICC CEU

Explore how hospitality-driven campus design can strengthen belonging, wellbeing, and community connection in higher education environments.