LEED

A sizable area of Beverly Hills is set to turn green – literally – with a new plant and tree-filled development by Foster + Partners. It will include residential areas and a hotel, and will feature sustainable design like greywater recycling.

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been commissioned to design a new headquarters for Chinese smartphone maker Oppo that consists of four towers that are joined together. The project is due to begin construction this year.

The LOHA-designed MLK1101 Supportive Housing in Los Angeles provides a safe and affordable home to homeless people and other vulnerable groups. It incorporates several energy-efficient elements, including a focus on natural lighting and ventilation.

Designed by Zaha Hadid before her death, the much-anticipated Leeza Soho has finally opened. The skyscraper rises to a height of 207 m (679 ft) and boasts a stunning atrium that's the tallest in the world, as well as significant green design.

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture recently unveiled its design for a new supertall skyscraper for Nanjing, China. It will feature an eye-catching sculpted form that will mitigate the effects of the wind.

NYC's Central Park will receive a $150 million restoration. The project will improve its layout and involve the construction of a new green building.

The International Olympic Committee recently received a new headquarters in Switzerland, courtesy of 3XN. Featuring an eye-catching glazed facade, the building boasts significant sustainable design, including rainwater collection, solar panels, and the use of recycled materials.

Construction has begun on a large new extension for New York City's American Museum of Natural History. The building, designed by Studio Gang, will boast a degree of sustainable technology and provide additional exhibition spaces, a theater, library, and more.

Lotte World Tower, by Kohn Pedersen Fox, has been declared the world's best new skyscraper by Emporis during its annual Skyscraper Awards. The stunning supertall is defined by its unusual silver appearance and boasts the world's fastest elevator and the highest glass-bottomed observation deck.

This new R&D facility by Morphosis was designed for South Korean textile specialist Kolon Group. It sports a distinctive shading system made from fiber-reinforced plastic, the same stuff used for bullet-proof vests, in construction, and elsewhere. It also boasts significant sustainable design.

Apple is paired with Foster + Partners, Google with BIG and Thomas Heatherwick, and Facebook's architect is Frank Gehry. The social media giant recently commissioned him to expand its HQ in California. The new building was completed in 18 months and has several sustainable features.

Though some firms are content to design a typical rectangular skyscraper, that's really not BIG's style. Its latest project, named the Shenzhen Energy Mansion, consists of two towers that reduce solar glare and energy requirements with their undulating form and stunning pleated facades.