David Chipperfield Architects’ Arena Milano prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Lego and Crocs join forces on a quirky collaboration, and a Minneapolis designer shares her perspective. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
When we design under siege
Minneapolis, Minnesota; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
There is no sugarcoating it: There is a fascist regime in control of the U.S. and Minneapolis has become a theater for its violent and cruel agenda. Civilians are being murdered. American citizens are being disappeared. Resources and resistance efforts are being mobilized as fast as possible as well, but some days it seems the horrors simply move at too fast a clip. Perhaps worst of all, we’re all expected to show up for work and contribute to a society unraveling.
Many projects in Greater Minneapolis are affected by this turmoil, with many workers afraid to leave their homes even for groceries. One of many industries impacted by illegal imprisonment and harassment of immigrants is design, a field in which immigrant labor is elemental. One native Minneapolian, designer Anne McDonald, penned an editorial for AD Pro this week reflecting on the illegal siege of her beloved city. She also meditates on the power of design to put pervasive chaos in perspective. While it’s obvious that so much design work depends on the dignity of workers, it’s become undeniable how breakable these systems are once fear cripples them.
“I don’t know if I’m doing enough. I don’t know what the consequences of speaking out might be. But I know that looking away isn’t an option,” McDonald writes. “That’s the duality. The work and the witness. The beauty and the resistance.”
Lego x Crocs: A match made in heaven
Photo courtesy of Lego
On a lighter note, two brands we all love have partnered on a very fun collab. Lego has lent its signature brick shape to a pair of oversized, rectangular shoes by Crocs. The fire-engine-red Lego Brick Clogs are made to scale proportions of the two-by-four bricks, complete with four branded studs. The design even features an angular version of Crocs’ standard heel strap—in case you need to go into sport mode. Due for rollout later this year, the clogs will be the first of several new product launches from the brand partnership, which will include toys and wearables for adults and kids, Dezeen reports.
Everything you missed at ALIS
Moderators Rosanna Maietta, AHLA and Jeff Weinstein, Hotel Investment Today with panelists Anthony Capuano, Marriott; Elie Maalouf, IHG; and Mit Shah, Noble Investment Group at ALIS 2026
The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) took place this week in Los Angeles, bringing together hospitality industry players to discuss the good and the bad of the hotel and travel sectors. Despite a positive outlook for the industry entering 2025, the year yielded not so stellar results for the hotel market and the economy at large. Kicking off 2026 with caution, experts pointed to major events like the World Cup games and America’s sestercentennial celebration as potential catalysts for driving demand this year. IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Elie Maalouf even urged the U.S. government to prioritize tourism for its economic potential. Forecasts for 2026 and 2027 were also released by CoStar and Tourism Economics, reflecting an expected growth of 0.6 percent this year for revenue per available room (RevPAR), with average daily rate (ADR) growing 1 percent.
David Chipperfield-designed Olympic ice rink readies for debut
Photo courtesy of CURIOS/Adobe Stock
A Milan ice hockey rink designed by David Chipperfield Architects is set for its inauguration next month at the Winter Olympics. New photos seen on ArchDaily offer an intimate glimpse of the elliptical amphitheater, which was poised for completion at the end of last year. While speculators, including the head of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), question just how complete the project is, the venue is currently hosting test events that have yielded positive response from the public. The design accommodates 16,000 spectators—12,000 seated and 4,000 standing—and serves as the centerpiece of the Milano Santa Giulia district originally slated for broad redevelopment by Foster + Partners. The arena is also equipped to host outdoor events with its 108,000-square-foot piazza—it is Italy, after all.
Register today for HD Expo!
Josh Perlman, DiamondRock Hospitality and Diane Hang Nguyen, LUCID / Highgate speak on a panel at HD Expo 2025; photo by PWP Studio
Registration for HD Expo is officially open! Join us May 5-7th at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, where the annual tradeshow will host three days of dynamic conference sessions, networking opportunities, show floor activations, and product showcases. Signature events like Owners’ Roundtable and the Women in Design Awards Breakfast (presented in partnership with NEWH) will fête industry innovation, leadership, and achievement. The 22nd HD Awards will also take place on May 5th at the Encore Resort at Wynn Las Vegas—so don’t forget to submit your projects or products by February 5th! Learn more about HD Expo + Conference here.
