Started in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1892 as The Brickbuilder, it absorbed the magazine Architect's World in October 1938.

After the purchase of the Forum by Billboard, Peter Blake, its chief editor, and much of the staff left to form the magazine Architecture Plus in 1973.

The issue focused on post-war urban and city planning, with the 'X' standing for the assumed end date of the war.

The issue contained plans for shopping centers, housing, and schools based on the needs and size of a population.

This was part of a larger shift in American culture, as many thought the end of the war would usher in a new era of architecture and urbanization that slowed down due to the war.