Since 2006, the American Institute of Architects New York and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have partnered to produce FitCity, an annual conference that champions the role of design in building strong and sustainable communities. Convening stakeholders across disciplines and sectors, FitCity has served as a platform for exchanging ideas, informing strategies, and advancing place-based practices to promote health through the built environment.
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This year, FitCity lands in Queens, New York’s largest and most diverse borough, a fitting backdrop for exploring how designers, policymakers, public health professionals, community advocates, and funders are working hand-in-hand with local residents to reimagine civic assets and foster community engagement.
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Through a full day of engaging presentations, dynamic speakers and interactive training, participants will learn how health is impacted by:
- • The role of race and place in driving health disparities
- • Designing and activating civic assets that promote social cohesion and attract diverse users and uses
- • Arts-based practices that empower citizens to shape the physical design of their communities
• Evidence-based design strategies that support mental and physical health outcomes, based on NYC Department of Design and Construction’s recently-released Design Excellence Guiding Principles for Healthy Living
Chief Architect, New York City Department of Design and Construction
Director, Healthy Living by Design, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Executive Director, Center for Architecture and American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY)
PANEL
Civic Life: Exploring Community Anchors in Queens
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Queens is touted as one of the most diverse places on the planet. Here, public space can be the connective tissue, providing opportunities for people with different experiences and backgrounds to participate in the life of the city. How can the design and activation of civic assets like parks, libraries, gardens, and plazas contribute to healthy neighborhoods?
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PANEL
Community-Driven Art: Empowering Citizens to Shape their Spaces
From murals in public housing to dance performances in plazas, community-based arts not only transform the physical environment but also shape the lived experience of citizens by creating new opportunities for social cohesion, civic participation and community pride. This panel will explore how integrating collaborative arts-based strategies into project designs and program delivery can increase access to health promotion opportunities.
Tamara Greenfield, Director, Building Health Communities, NYC Office of the Mayor (Moderator)
Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Beatriz Gil, Co-Founder, Hibridos Collective
Aaron Schraeter, Creative Outreach Coordinator, New York City Housing Authority
Vanessa Smith, Project Manager, NYC Mural Arts Project, NYC Health
TRAINING
Design for Healthy LivingÂ
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Based on NYC Department of Design and Construction’s recently-released Design Excellence Guiding Principles for Healthy Living and a comprehensive literature review of the latest research conducted by the Center for Active Design, this training will highlight the latest research on the connection between place-based design and holistic health, and identify design and policy interventions that can be applied to development projects at all scales.Â
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[Design for Healthy Living Handout]
AIA New York  Founded in 1857, AIA New York (AIANY) is the oldest and largest chapter of the American Institute of Architects. AIANY's members include more than 5,000 practicing architects, allied professionals, students, and public members interested in architecture and design. AIA New York is dedicated to three goals: design excellence, public outreach, and professional development.
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NYC Health  With an annual budget of $1.6 billion and more than 6,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. With over 200 years of leadership in the field, the NYC DOHMH is also one of our nation's oldest public health agencies