The School of Architecture has launched the first issue of its new publication, Common Ground, a peer-reviewed journal that showcases student work, faculty and industry leader commentary, book reviews, essays, and more. The project was spearheaded by Master of Architecture student Cyrus Dahmubed, who saw the journal as an opportunity to share the impressive and innovative thought leadership happening on campus and in Boston, and connect it to a global perspective.

“The journal is designed to be a well balanced mix of written content and strong visuals, and serve as a snapshot of what is happening at the School and within its sphere of influence at this moment,” explained Cyrus. “It then takes these local lessons and challenges readers to view them through a global lens.”

The theme for the publication’s first volume is Discourse, and its first issue’s topic is “Outreach” and highlights work by master’s and bachelor’s students Sara Schwartz, Madison Rogers, Alya Abourezk and Cyrus himself on a range of topics from the communicative power of sketching while travelling to a design for a school building recently completed in Kenya. Featured pieces in the issue include a round-up of social media channels readers may want to follow, a curated calendar of Boston’s upcoming art and design events, and a photo essay of the Barcelona Pavilion by London-based artist and photographer Diego Ferrari produced with Northeastern University students through this past summer’s Dialogue of Civilizations in Spain led by Professor Xavier Costa.

The journal also contains contributed content that is relevant and engaging from experts in the field. For this issue, Nina Chase, Landscape Architect and Urban Designer, shares her tips on harnessing social media’s role in the design process, while Mark Pasnik, co-author of HEROIC: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston, sits down with Cyrus for an interview, and Dan Adams and Marie Law Adams of Landing Studio consider the changing socio-cultural landscape of Boston’s coastline. Needless to say, there is something for everyone in Common Ground.

The journal is intended for a broad audience – students, architects, and anyone who is interested in design and its impact on people and their communities. Please view the current issue of the publication online here and stay tuned for future issues.