Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Boxy mid-rise apartments are popping up in cities across the country, and not everyone is pleased. The “podium” style apartments — which typically include retail stores or parking on the first floor — have been called bland or downright ugly by architecture critics and the news media.
Why do so many apartment complexes look the same? And does that even matter during a housing crisis when more units are needed?
To answer these questions, we spoke with Liz Falletta, an Architect and Urban Design Professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Boxy mid-rise apartments are popping up in cities across the country, and not everyone is pleased. The “podium” style apartments — which typically include retail stores or parking on the first floor — have been called bland or downright ugly by architecture critics and the news media.
Why do so many apartment complexes look the same? And does that even matter during a housing crisis when more units are needed?
To answer these questions, we spoke with Liz Falletta, an Architect and Urban Design Professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
