Rewire
Overview
Despite momentum in the green building movement, climate action in New York City’s built environment has focused too heavily on new construction rather than existing buildings. More than 90 percent of the one million buildings that exist today will still exist in 2050, with nearly all needing to transition from gas to electric. Playgrounds, sidewalks, and other public spaces make up 30 percent of the city’s impervious surfaces, which heavily contribute to neighborhood heat and flooding.
For our 2024 Next New York series, Rewire will invite urban design, development, ecologists, community stewards, small business and labor to advance ideas on transforming our existing buildings and public spaces to meet the climate emergency.
How can we rewire the existing city to shape climate positive neighborhoods?
Call for Action
Lend your knowledge, skills, or resources to imagine climate positive New York City neighborhoods.
Join a Working Group
Help write the blueprint for climate positive New York City neighborhoods with a group of leading thinkers.
From February to June 2024, working groups will collect research, tour neighborhoods, and interview stakeholders to create new visions and advance policy recommendations. Apply by December 7.
Other Ways to Get Involved
- Share a Project: Send us local or international research, digital tools, visualizations, and/or case studies on innovative energy retrofits, biodiversity in the public realm, or strategies for implementation.
- Nominate a Speaker: Introduce us to leading thinkers, historians, and changemakers who are rethinking the way we design and empower neighborhoods for climate action.
- Lead a Tour: Share a built project or space that retains and transforms existing infrastructure to support energy transition or climate adaptation.
- Host Us: Open your outdoor or indoor space to host a conversation with our Fellows.
Support
Our Next New York program series is made possible through the continued support of our Board of Directors, Director’s Circle, Company Members as well as our individual members through membership dues.
Support us in promoting visionary thinking for climate positive neighborhoods.
Advisory Committee
Michael Haggerty is a Principal and Director of Urban Planning and Design at Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners.
Gloria Lau is a designer and visual artist based in Brooklyn with roots in Hong Kong and California.
Pallavi Mantha is a Senior Sustainability Consultant in the Arup New York office.
Tom Scarangello is Executive Chairman of Thornton Tomasetti.
Byron Stigge is the founding director of Level Infrastructure.
Georgeen Theodore is principal and co-founder of Interboro.
Get in Touch
For general questions on Rewire, please reach out to Guillermo Gomez, Director of Programs, at guillermo@urbandesignforum.org.
If you have questions on ways to support our work, please reach out to Miranda Bellizia, Director of Member Engagement, at miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
Image Credits:
Program Identity by Partner & Partners
1. U.S. Department of Energy via Wikimedia Commons
2. Samuel Lahoz
3. Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons