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How they built it
The article introduces a series examining how communities have delivered major projects that address needs such as housing, transport, childcare, clean energy and internet access. It argues that these examples offer practical lessons for places, including across the US, where similar projects have been difficult to build.
The cases include Sweden’s factory-made modular homes, Bogotá’s cycling network, Uruguay’s universal childcare system, a large US renewable energy project and Chattanooga’s locally operated high-speed internet. The series investigates how these projects succeeded and what others might learn from them; its reporting was supported by a grant from Arnold Ventures, with Vox retaining editorial discretion.
In short
- A new series explores how communities delivered ambitious public projects.
- Examples span housing, cycling, childcare, clean energy and internet.
- The reporting looks for lessons others can apply.
Explained simply
Large public projects can meet everyday needs such as homes, transport, childcare, energy and internet access. But getting them built often depends on local choices about funding, planning and who runs the service.
Examples in this series include factory-made homes in Sweden, cycling routes in Bogotá, universal childcare in Uruguay, renewable energy in the US and a city-run high-speed internet network in Chattanooga. Their experiences may offer practical lessons for other communities considering similar projects.
The reporting looks at how these efforts took shape and what conditions helped them succeed. It was supported by a grant from Arnold Ventures, while Vox retained editorial control.