Mark Byrnes, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

The Buffalo Architect Fighting for Women in Design

3 weeks ago | bloomberg.com | Mark Byrnes

Kelly Hayes McAlonie entertains kids at a puppet theater event in Ohio. (Bloomberg) -- A name necklace typically refers to somebody close to the wearer: a child, significant other or even oneself. Kelly Hayes McAlonie wears a necklace that spells out the last name of Louise Blanchard Bethune, who became the first professional woman architect in the US when she opened her own practice in 1881. That’s how devoted she is to the cause of supporting women in design.
The Battle Over the Fate of Detroit’s Renaissance Center

1 month ago | bloomberg.com | Mark Byrnes

With General Motors leaving its longtime headquarters at the Renaissance Center, the fate of Detroit’s largest structure is not yet set. (Bloomberg) -- When General Motors Co. announced last April that it would be vacating the Renaissance Center, concern over the fate of downtown Detroit’s most recognizable structure turned into speculation that the distinctive skyscraper complex would be demolished.
MTSU honors 4 employees with annual awards for exemplary service

1 month ago | mtsunews.com | Mark Byrnes |Nancy DeGennaro

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Four Middle Tennessee State University non-faculty employees — all from Rutherford County — were recognized for their top-tier job performance at the 2025 Employee Recognition Awards. Emceed by employee awards committee representative Chelsea Floyd, the annual ceremony was held Thursday, April 24, in the James Union Building on campus followed by a reception that welcomed their families along with fellow staff members, faculty and students.
Neuroaesthetics Has Been Around for 25 Years. Are Architects Paying Attention Yet?

2 months ago | untappedjournal.com | Mark Byrnes |Diana Budds |Anjulie Rao |Peter Shire

When Susan Magsamen’s two-year-old granddaughter needs a nap, she brings her to a quiet room, pulls down the blackout curtains, and turns on a white-noise machine, creating the just-right setting to comfortably lull her to sleep. This type of ritual will sound familiar to caregivers of young children, but Magsamen wonders why, for the most part, we neglect how our environment makes us feel as we get older.
MTSU Media Arts professor receives CUSA Faculty Achievement Award

2 months ago | mtsunews.com | Mark Byrnes |DeAnn Hays

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — College of Media and Entertainment associate professor and interim chair Bob Gordon recently received Middle Tennessee State University’s second Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award. Since 2014, MTSU has been a member of CUSA, one of the nation’s best athletic conferences for student-athlete academic performance.
Furniture That Supports Us, When and Where We Need It

2 months ago | untappedjournal.com | Mark Byrnes |Anjulie Rao |LinYee Yuan |Peter Shire

I’ve never had an “eye for design.” It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I first truly noticed a piece of furniture: Walking into a friend’s apartment, I observed a skeleton of what might have been a love seat. There were no cushions; cross-hatched wood slats were laid bare, and the grain, illuminated by the sunlight, was dulled from use but still striking. It was not large, but simple, streamlined. I asked if it was meant to be a couch.
MTSU's ROTC Celebrates 75th Anniversary

2 months ago | wgnsradio.com | Mark Byrnes

Murfreesboro, TN - At 92, retired U.S. Army Col. Charles Loyd “Charlie” Pigg of Murfreesboro was the oldest living Middle Tennessee State University Army ROTC alumnus attending the 75th anniversary of the storied program. Pigg joined about 150 people this past Thursday (4/10/2025) at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building on the west side of campus to celebrate the historic occasion.
MTSU’s top notch Army ROTC marks 75 years of ‘regimentation … discipline … something different’

2 months ago | mtsunews.com | Mark Byrnes |Randy Weiler

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — At 92, retired U.S. Army Col. Charles Loyd “Charlie” Pigg of Murfreesboro was the oldest living Middle Tennessee State University Army ROTC alumnus attending the 75th anniversary of the storied program. Pigg joined about 150 people Thursday, April 10, at the Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building on the west side of campus to celebrate the historic occasion.
Peter Shire and Ryan Preciado Talk Cups, Memphis, and Making Things That Last

2 months ago | untappedjournal.com | Mark Byrnes |Jonathan Griffin |Peter Shire |Edwin Heathcote

Echo Park, Los Angeles, where the artist and designer Peter Shire was born, in 1947, is a quiet enclave which, around the time of his childhood, was colloquially known as “Red Hill” for its reputation as a haven for left-wingers.
New York’s Subway Map Embraces a Minimalist 1970s Throwback Vibe

2 months ago | bloomberg.com | Kriston Capps |Mark Byrnes

The new design restores a short-lived map made by Massimo Vignelli that has earned diehard admirers over the decades. Hello and welcome to Bloomberg’s weekly design digest. I’m Kriston Capps, staff writer for Bloomberg CityLab and your guide to the world of architecture and the people who build things.