WXY

Excited to see the WXY team including David Vega-Barachowitz and Rob Daurio in Downtown Brooklyn connecting with the Boston Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Boston Streets Cabinet. Thanks to our partners Mike Lydon, Kaarin Patterson, and Amritha Mahesh for joining the conversation on strengthening public space, and to Shin-pei Tsay and the City of Boston team for the opportunity to share WXY’s work. Big thanks to David for leading the way.

New York City maintains a dataset of over 440,000 parking signs, but knowing the signage isn't the same as understanding the rules. Because the data points aren’t spatially precise, the only way to determine parking regulations on a specific stretch of curb is to go there and read the signs yourself. To solve this, our WXY Labs team created a custom mapping tool that translates these scattered data points into a usable curb regulation map. The result is a comprehensive, spatially accurate picture of how New Yorkers interact with the curb, essential for planning everything from deliveries to EV charging. This tool exemplifies the kind of systems thinking that helped earn WXY a Green GOOD DESIGN? Award for our work on NYC’s Curbside EV Charging Expansion Program. Want to dig into the data or learn more? Explore the tool here: https://lnkd.in/gh6zdaps For access or questions, reach out at [email protected]

We loved having the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation students at WXY! It was a pleasure to host your visit and share more about our practice, our space, and the work that drives us. Big thanks to GSAPP alum Govardan Umashankar for hosting and leading the presentation. We're glad you all enjoyed learning more about the projects, ideas, and perspectives that shape our work. Come back anytime!

What happens when mayors and design leaders sit down together to reimagine the future of American cities? WXY’s founding principal, Claire Weisz, FAIA, joined the 80th National Session of the Mayors' Institute on City Design (MICD), hosted by Mayor Rex Richardson in Long Beach, CA. The session brought together seven U.S. mayors and seven interdisciplinary design experts for a collaborative workshop exploring the role of design in addressing local challenges, from mixed-use redevelopment to public health. Events like this reaffirm the value of design as a tool for civic leadership. As part of the resource team, Claire joined John Arroyo, PhD, AICP, Christian Gabriel, FASLA, Matthew Kwatinetz, Seleta Reynolds, Siqi Zhu, and Antoine Bryant, NOMA, Assoc. AIA in offering strategies that center equity, place, and innovation. The mayors, including Kelly Girtz (Athens, GA), Joshua Sweeney (Laguna Hills, CA), Honorable Richard T. Bissen, Jr. (Maui, HI), Dominick Pangallo (Salem, MA), Lisa Brown (Spokane, WA), Freddie O'Connell (Nashville, TN), and Quentin Hart (Waterloo, IA), shared ambitious visions for their communities. These kinds of cross-sector conversations are a reminder that design, when paired with civic leadership, can reshape our cities and expand the possibilities for a better future. #Design #Architecture #UrbanDesign

Liberty State Park is evolving, and WXY is proud to collaborate with the NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, Arup, and WRT to help shape its future. Our work focuses on designing new amenity nodes that enhance the visitor experience while respecting the park’s natural and historic landscape. The WXY team, led by Rob Daurio, our director of urban sustainability, is designing concessions, seating, and shuttle bus shelters with resiliency and sustainability in mind, using low-impact materials that blend seamlessly with the surroundings. Thoughtfully placed throughout the park, these structures will create accessible, comfortable, and functional spaces for everyone. As part of this effort, we also completed the concept design for the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal train shed, once a vital transit hub connecting millions of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island to destinations across the country. WRT is now advancing the design. We’re excited to be part of developing the infrastructure that helps the park meet today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges. Watch the video to discover more about the project: https://lnkd.in/eBunr5w9

We’re proud to share that WXY has been recognized with a Green GOOD DESIGN? Award for our work on NYC’s Curbside EV Charging Expansion Program! Led by principal Adam Lubinsky and developed in collaboration with Parsons Transportation Group, the New York City Department of Transportation, and it's electric, this initiative expands NYC’s curbside EV charging network, prioritizing accessibility, environmental justice, and seamless urban integration. Our GIS-based methodology identified 500+ viable locations across all five boroughs, ensuring equitable access to EV infrastructure. A huge thank you to The Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies for this recognition! Explore our submission: https://lnkd.in/eskvmCbJ #GOODDesignAward #EVcharging #UrbanPlanning

We're proud to announce that WXY has been awarded three grants through NYSERDA’s Clean Mobility Program to explore zero-emission transportation solutions that improve access and reduce emissions in New York communities. WXY’s team, including Adam Lubinsky, Chris Rice, AICP, Bahij Chancey, Mallory Thatch, and Sarah Lohmar, will collaborate with local partners to assess new models for shared electric transportation. In Kingston, WXY will work with the City of Kingston, NY to design a citywide clean mobility program for residents and visitors. The study will explore options like bike and scooter sharing, electric ridesharing, micromobility charging hubs, and programs to support bike and scooter ownership. WXY will support The Fullerton in developing a regional bike-share program connecting Newburgh and Beacon. The study will assess station locations, technical requirements, and operations partnerships to strengthen sustainable transportation options between communities. In Hunts Point, WXY will collaborate with The Point to expand an electric shuttle service that builds on an existing EPA-funded pilot. The project will engage local residents to refine shuttle routes, service hours, and outreach strategies, ensuring the program meets community needs. These efforts are part of a larger statewide investment in zero-emission transportation, ensuring that communities have access to cleaner, more efficient ways to get around. We’re excited to be part of it!

Design and perception shape subway safety. The way stations look and feel influences rider behavior and confidence. The latest report from Vital City makes a compelling case for integrating smart design with behavioral strategies to make New York’s subway safer. WXY’s founding principal, Claire Weisz, was among the advisors on this study, providing key insights into how station layouts, lighting, and material choices can deter crime and create a more secure environment. Many of these principles echo the vision outlined in a previous article she collaborated on with WXY's Bahij Chancey and David Vega-Barachowitz called "The Platforms We Deserve" (read it here: https://lnkd.in/eVHA8RfP) where the team explored how the subway could function as an extension of the public realm. The most recent study reinforces that design influences safety. Open sightlines, clear wayfinding, and well-lit spaces can help make stations feel more secure. Behavioral interventions encourage compliance through environmental cues, improving the experience for riders. A clean and well-managed station signals order and deters disorder. New York’s subway can be better, and design is crucial to that transformation. Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/eYGBNg2Z

How can architects lead the movement toward ethical, transparent, and equitable material sourcing? The 2025 Design for Freedom Competition challenges architecture students to confront eradicating forced labor from supply chains. WXY’s Farida Abu-Bakare, our Director of Global Practice, will be part of an esteemed jury evaluating student proposals that integrate ethical and equitable materiality into design solutions. Students, the deadline to register is April 9, so sign up and don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this important conversation.

Across the U.S., cities are transforming aging highways from barriers that once divided neighborhoods into spaces that reconnect them. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is no exception. Built at the height of American motordom, it now presents a critical opportunity to create safer, greener, and more connected communities. Led by associate principal David Vega-Barachowitz, our director of urban design, WXY’s vision for the BQE, developed with the New York City Department of Transportation, WSP, 3x3, and local stakeholders, explores strategies to reclaim underutilized land, prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, and integrate green infrastructure under, over, and around the highway. But this is about more than New York City. It’s part of a national movement. San Francisco replaced the Embarcadero Freeway with a pedestrian-friendly boulevard and waterfront promenade. Dallas transformed a highway trench into Klyde Warren Park, bridging downtown and uptown with a vibrant public space. In Rochester, the removal of Inner Loop East made way for new housing and businesses, restoring neighborhood connections. Hundreds of cities around the country are revisiting the legacy of highway-building as an opportunity for restorative justice and building places that reveal stories about communities that were lost. What other opportunities exist to rethink infrastructure as a tool for urban renewal? Explore our full report: https://lnkd.in/eC_2QKWt