🌉 The 2,000-foot bridge was constructed without a single drawing

If you live in a city, your pre-pandemic life likely revolved around work: commuting to and from the office the majority of the week, which was likely in a business district full of other offices. The pandemic changed all that, with office spaces still largely sitting empty. And with remote and hybrid work now popular, downtown business districts will never be the same. But that’s okay, writes Brooks Rainwater, a senior executive of the National League of Cities and director of the Center for City Solutions, because the future of urban life lies in vibrant, civic spaces all throughout a city. “Vibrancy” doesn’t come from offices, he adds, but from people going to cafes, stores, parks, museums, and more. To meet this moment, Rainwater advises, cities need to invest in those kinds of civic spaces, the ones that make a city worth not just visiting, but living in. Read more here. —Kristin Toussaint    impact Forget returning to the office. The future of cities lies in vibrant civic spaces For so long, modern city life has been centered around work. Now, cities should invest in public spaces like parks, libraries, community centers, and better transportation options that drive people to places other than offices. READ MORE   co.design The 2,000-foot bridge was constructed without a single drawing A Norwegian bridge was engineered using entirely 3D models, an emerging approach that saves both time and money. READ MORE   leadership now The high-functioning leader’s new favorite four-letter word Researchers emphasize hope as an emerging leadership competency that drives employee engagement, resilience, and higher levels of productivity. READ MORE

How a tech startup is using AI to find better treatments for autism SpectrumAi, founded by a mother of four children with autism, aims to use technology to improve therapies for children with the neurological disorder. READ MORE

reproductive rights Post-Roe, the morning after pill will be crucial. Startups are racing to increase access Stix will start selling emergency contraception today, and it’s also launching billboards near crisis pregnancy centers to help combat misinformation. READ MORE   workplace evolution Job descriptions for managers need to change. Science tells us how Former Googler and cofounder of Humu explains the disconnect between what employees say they need and what managers are trained to provide. READ MORE   news Celsius ‘pauses’ social media communications and warns liquidity stabilization ‘will take time’ Celsius is pausing its Twitter Spaces and Reddit AMAs, angering users who are seeking more communication from the company. READ MORE   virtual reality How excited should anyone get over Meta’s VR headset prototypes? ‘Half Dome,’ ‘Butterscotch,’ ‘Starburst, and ‘Holocake 2’ all reflect progress in making VR feel real. Just don’t read too much into them. READ MORE   design history The sneaky way that corsets have reemerged in modern life Celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Kylie Jenner, and Victoria Beckham have heavily promoted shapewear—which is really just an updated version of the restrictive corset. READ MORE   ukraine crisis This new platform matches Ukrainian refugees with American sponsors Americans can sponsor Ukrainians resettlement in the U.S., but typically, they have to know who to help. A new tool connects potential sponsors with Ukrainians they’ve never met. READ MORE   NEWS Nasdaq goes meta: What you need to know Virtual currencies may be taking a beating as of late, but virtual worlds are alive and well—and even the stock markets are starting to take part. On Friday, the Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony occurred both physically in Times Square (as usual) and, for the first time, in the metaverse. The team at Journey, a design consultancy that works in both the physical and virtual world, partnered with Nasdaq and metaverse platform Core to coordinate the dual bell-ringing ceremonies in celebration of the launch of its Metaverse Studio. Metaverses are expected to grow into a $500 billion market by 2028, and businesses would be wise to prepare for that and take advantage, says Cathy Hackl, Journey’s cofounder. “A lot of the brands we’re working with are first-movers, and want to remain culturally relevant,” she adds. Check out the latest news stories here.   Video: passion project Tom Sachs launches his rockets into the NFT space. Literally Contemporary artist Tom Sachs believes it’s very easy to hate on NFTs until you look at it through an artists lens. The art world is leading NFTs and smart contracts to dismantle discriminatory banking structures. WATCH NOW     FREE SPONSORED E-BOOK OF THE DAY 10 Time Management Tips Click here to download your free e-book.     Thanks for reading! Have questions or comments? Email us at newsletters@fastcompany.com.  SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER   Help Support Our Journalism Join Fast Company Premium   If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here View this newsletter online 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195

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