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BUILD: The Place Game empowers youth to transform underutilized spaces in their communities by giving them ownership over the planning, design and implementation process.
Youth are often left out of the community engagement process entirely. When they are included, the tools used by designers are often adult-centric and require facilitation. As a result, young voices are left out and community spaces do not reflect their needs or interests.
BUILD can be played multiple times with different outcomes and players. BUILD encourages youth to create a design for a physical space in their own neighborhood or a dream space they want to see in the future. Youth can then advocate for the spaces they design as part of a digital design community.
By playing BUILD, youth will:
- Collaborate as a team to create a cohesive design
- Demonstrate creativity by building accessible spaces for all youth
- Understand and build for environmental challenges
- Learn about the various roles needed to design spaces
- Establish a dialogue for community collaboration
- Advocate for their designs to be realized in their community
- Use their voices to give back to their community
- Have fun!
Pilot with CHAH
This spring, our team met with stakeholders from the Community Health Academy of the Heights (CHAH), a 6-12 school that is looking to work with students to envision new uses for some of the school’s underutilized spaces. We piloted an early version of BUILD, where students designed and built proposals on a board using basic materials like blocks and modeling clay.
→ View “CHAH Lively Play Place”
→ View “CHAH’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”
→ View “CHAH’s Bright Clubhouse”
Next Steps
→We are creating an updated prototype reflective of the feedback received during our youth and cohort workshops.
→ Our team will play the updated BUILD prototype with young people throughout NYC at workshops, open streets, libraries, schools, etc. to further test and reframe our game model to best suit the needs of young people.
→ We are working on building a digital design community where youth will share and advocate for their projects.
→ We are in search of funding and partnerships to further in seeing BUILD realized and reach its full potential.
For more info or to collaborate, please reach out to us at buildtheplacegame@gmail.com or follow us for updates on instagram at @buildtheplacegame
Meet the Project Team
Jenna Carrens
Events Manager, Cinereach
Jenna has over a decade of experience as a creative producer and arts administrator working with communities to discover their creative potential and showcase their work. Her work centers around building spaces of inclusivity with unexpected collaborators to create unique experiences through play, storytelling and conversation. She is currently the Events Manager at Cinereach, a non-profit story incubator weaving narrative change and popular entertainment.
Johnson Durosier
Civil Engineer, Stantec
Johnson is a civil engineer at Stantec within the Transportation and Infrastructure group in the NYC office. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL, Johnson is a Registered Professional Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He also holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Management.
Gopinath Gnanakumar Malathi
Senior Analyst, Karp Strategies
Gopi’s professional and research work focuses on data-driven participatory action research. At Karp Strategies, he advises cross-sectoral clients in the implementation of urban analytics and civic engagement. He is originally from Chennai, India, and holds an MS in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.
Matthew Mbamelu
Senior Urban Designer, NYC Department of City Planning
Matthew is an urban designer and social scientist, passionate about creating spaces that improve physical, mental, and social wellness. He has a background in architecture, social welfare, and urban design. Matthew holds a degree in architecture from The City College of New York and a Master of Social Work from Stony Brook University.
Rita Musello Kelliher
Community Initiatives Associate, The New York Climate Exchange
Rita’s work in youth programming focuses on collaborating with young people and community organizations throughout the country to design services and school systems that are responsive to their needs. Having recently received her master’s in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute, she is interested in exploring the intersection of public space, sustainability, and community-building.
Danielle Steele
Architectural Designer and Associate at DLR Group
Danielle is an Architectural Designer and Associate at DLR Group with 5 years of K12 project experience. She has previously worked with NYC SCA, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education, a Neighborhoods Now project highlighting community design dedication, and taught English in Japan. She is also a LEED Green Associate and led an ASHRAE competition winning team.
Mallory Thatch
Senior Program Manager of Placekeeping and Community Initiatives, Brownsville Community Justice Center
Mallory is a Senior Program Manager focusing on Placekeeping and Community Initiatives at the Brownsville Community Justice Center. She focuses on youth programming and creating equitable public spaces. Her interests involve community-centered urban design, fostering collaboration, and public art. Mallory’s goals include contributing to a more inclusive and thriving city.
Vonn Weisenberger, AIA
Architect, Marvel
Vonn is an architect and social justice advocate working across the fields of planning, architecture, and design to drive social impact and shape a more equitable and sustainable world. His focus is on civic and cultural projects, affordable housing, and the public realm.