We believe that good design has the power to uplift, to inspire, to make right.
News + Ideas
Transformation of Vacant Land in Crotona Park East into 149 Affordable Homes Begins
We are so grateful to be part of this incredible women-led team, optimizing the capacity of this vacant site to meet the diverse needs of the Crotona Park East community! Thank you HPD for the designation and for leading the way in setting new standards for affordable and sustainable housing in NYC.
“This next step will redefine an empty lot doing little to serve Crotona Park East, into something this community truly deserves — deeply affordable homes, a world-class recreational center, and a forward-thinking sustainable design worthy of The Bronx” said HPD Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “The Stemma is what innovative, community-driven investments can look like, delivering not just accessible housing but also bolstering opportunities for social resiliency, cultural diversity, and common space that spurs greater community connection.”
The inaugural Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Fellowship has been an incredible, transformative experience! So grateful for the support, encouragement, and sense of community from 48 inspiring leaders in NYC housing. Through collaboration and thoughtful discussions, we gained valuable insights and had the opportunity to connect with designers and planners from Levitt Bernstein in London to the Centre for Livable Cities and WOHA in Singapore to explore innovative strategies and policies for combating climate change. Check out our research below:
From Mission to Mechanism: A Whole Systems Approach to Sustainable Housing
It’s official! The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has selected our Hillside Grove proposal to transform the former sanitation garage in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, into a dynamic mixed-use community: New Year, New Homes for Staten Island: Plan to Transform Sanitation Garage Into 232 Affordable Homes | City of New York
HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrion Jr. elaborated on the meaning of this project, “Hillside Grove is a promise of hope, renewal and community building for Staten Island’s North Shore.”
“This project will set the bar for the type of innovative and sustainable projects that could be realized on former city agency owned land,” said Leila Bozorg, New York City Executive Director for Housing.
We presented our public bathroom research alongside Council Member Sandy Nurse at the Urban Design Forum in October to support her impressive legislation. Intro 0694 would require that the city plans for public bathrooms, paving the way for a high-quality, well-maintained bathroom system that fosters inclusivity and serves everyone with dignity and care. Thank you to Vocal-NY and Coalition for the Homeless for showing up and sharing your stories!
This year’s Open House New York Weekend was an amazing experience! As part of Urban Omnibus 15, we led two public bathroom walking tours, sparking lively conversations with community members who shared their own stories and insights on public space. A special highlight was hearing the legendary subway voice, Charlie Pellett, give us a shout-out as one of the weekend’s most exciting programs!
We are thrilled to be part of the inaugural Global Exchange Fellows cohort led by the Urban Design Forum! The Global Exchange 'Big Swings' program is all about fostering solidarity between leaders in New York and other cities tackling the housing crises with bold, innovative solutions. We're honored to collaborate with such a diverse and insightful group of housing leaders to advance green solutions and help shape a more inclusive and resilient NYC! Learn more about the fellowship here!
St. Elizabeth Manor has been chosen to participate in Round Three of the Empire Building Challenge and has secured a grant to support the team in the developing of a decarbonization roadmap as part of its renovation! The aim is to study and implement strategies for a tenant in place renovation that can be replicated across the rest of the Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation's existing buildings portfolio. It's truly an honor to be part of this esteemed team dedicated to providing healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient affordable housing to New York City! Check out the press release from SCHDC:
SCHDC Announces Ambitious Decarbonization Initiatives and $100,000 Award Under the NYSERDA Empire Building Challenge
We're so excited for construction to start on Joseph House! Renovations will include accessibility and energy efficiency upgrades for a more comfortable and healthy home for the senior residents of this 75-unit building in Staten Island. Thank you to Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation and Rockabill Consulting & Rockabill Development for this wonderful opportunity!
Thank you to the passionate New Yorkers who came out on a Saturday afternoon for Jane’s Walk 2024! Erin Dunkin from Hell Gate was there to cover our public bathroom walking tour:
”Lincoln Center's redesigned David Geffen Hall has gotten raves for its architecture and acoustics. But forget all that—let’s talk about the bathrooms.” - Lincoln Center Has a Great Public Bathroom—Why Aren’t There More Like It?
Thank you to the Urban Design Forum for selecting us as part of the inaugural cohort of the Forefront Residency. With their support, we will continue our work to advance public bathrooms and contribute to shaping a city that's inclusive and equitable for all.
Thank you to The Architectural League of New York and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for funding our study: Revitalizing New York City’s Public Bathroom System: A Vision for the Future. Read our recent article in Urban Omnibus, Where can the Public Bathrooms Go in New York City.
“They bring their deep expertise to bear and map out a path for the City to meet the moment. A citywide network will require a pragmatic approach, ensuring that private entities give back some of what they have taken from the public realm. But it can ultimately build a bathroom infrastructure that serves well beyond basic needs.”
PXD is WBE Certified in NYS!
We are pleased to share that the New York State Department of Economic Development, Division of Minority and Women's Business Development (DMWBD) has officially certified Purpose by Design Architects as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)! This complements our previous city WBE recognition.
Thank you Urban Design Forum for the Fellow Spotlight! Check out the interview with Julie Chou here.
“An architect and civic leader, Julie is passionate about making New York City's built environment more equitable and inclusive. Since first taking on the topic as a 2018 Forefront Fellow, Julie has become a leading advocate in the movement for public bathroom access.
Whether at Community Board meeting or in a serendipitous sidewalk conversation with a stranger, Julie believes in the power of hearing other New Yorkers’ experiences of their city as she works to improve it through urban design and democratic advocacy.”
We are excited to have Rachel Simpson guiding the next generation of designers to tackle environmental challenges that will help improve people's lives and safeguard our planet. She is currently teaching Ecological Design at Parsons School of Design.
“The course merges high-performance design in building and material systems with ecological analysis: passive heating and cooling; zero waste; regenerative, closed-looped systems; and design for health and well-being. Students will apply knowledge and skills learned to the selection of appropriate strategies and products that evidence the complexity in designing for multiple project performance goals.”
PXD is WBE Certifed in NYC!
We are thrilled to announce that the NYC Department of Small Business Affairs has officially certified Purpose by Design Architects as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)! Together we will continue our passion for work that inspires, transforms, and reflects the unique stories of our clients and community partners.
We’re thrilled to have contributed to Urban Design Forum’s "Good Form: 73 Ideas for a Healthier New York City", a menu of ideas and case studies for addressing health disparities through neighborhood planning. We had a great time hearing some big ideas at the capstone celebration last week, and we’re excited to share them more widely now!
Over the last year, PXD principals Julie Chou and Rachel Simpson worked with a group of 30 Urban Design Forum Fellows to envision how the built environment can improve physical and mental health outcomes through the Spaces for Healing Working Group. We hope for a healthier, more compassionate NYC for everyone.
Check out our working group’s ideas and download the report on Urban Design Forum’s website here!
As part of Jane’s Walk NYC 2023, Julie led a walking tour called "Where Are The Public Bathrooms in New York City?" She was joined by over a dozen local residents who shared their own experiences and ideas on how to improve NYC's public bathroom system while touring a handful of the existing public bathroom locations. We're excited to help bring awareness to this pressing issue and to continue advocating for more comprehensive and equitable solutions!
Congratulations to Kamila Altman, AIA CPHD on her appointment to Co-Chair of AIANY’s Design for Aging Committee! Kami brings a passion for designing spaces that encourage inclusivity and that make aging in place more comfortable and safe.
What do YOU think New York can do to better accommodate inclusive design? Let us know!
In October, Julie, Rachel, and the rest of the Good Form Working Groups wrapped up their brainstorming and visioning process as part of the Urban Design Forum’s “Good Form” series, exploring the intersection of public health and the urban realm. Next up: policy and action recommendations to help make New York City a healthier, safer, and stronger community.
What does a healthier, more caring NYC look like to you?
In May 2022, Julie and Rachel were selected as two of thirty fellows to take part in the Urban Design Forum’s “Good Form” working groups, as part of the organization’s call for action. From May to October, the working groups will study the question: How can we mobilize design and public health advocates to visualize new and transformative ways to shape a healthier city?
Meet the other fellows here!
“Will New York City Finally Get More Public Bathrooms” - Bloomberg, July 24, 2022
“The history of public restrooms parallels fights for social justice, from racially segregated bathrooms in the Jim-Crow era US South to the ongoing debate over transgender access to toilets today.”
“We need retail bathrooms open to the public as well as a variety of government-operated public bathrooms,” Chou says. “Public bathrooms are not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
Check out the March 2022 issue of the New York Real Estate Journal, profiling Kamila as one of their 2022 Women in Construction.
On December 1, 2021, Kamila, Julie, and Rachel joined New York Passive House (NYPH), along with Sara Bayer and Joe Moyer, to present “ARCHITECTS FOCUS | Mainstreaming High Performance”, using MAP’s seven NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence winning projects as case studies on adopting healthy, efficient, and low carbon strategies and the ways in which the affordable housing industry is pushing the boundary in sustainable design.
See the presentation here!
“No Place to Go When You Need to Go? These New Yorkers Have Ideas” - New York Times, July 3, 2021
The pandemic ignited a conversation about the use of public space, but the city’s lack of public restrooms has led to long lines and some uncomfortable situations.
“Public open space is a big conversation right now because of COVID, but the public bathroom has to be part of that conversation if you’re going to expand our public space.”
- Julie Chou
On January 28, 2021, Build Out Alliance hosted 'Love Overflowing', a virtual exhibition of residential projects that serve the LGBTQ community in New York City; Kamila Altman and Julie Chou, along with Sara Bayer, joined the panel to share several supportive housing projects in MAP’s portfolio developed specifically for this community.
See the full presentation here!