The Design Trust for Public Space has appointed Eric Rothman, president of the consulting firm HR&A Advisors, as the Chair of its Board of Directors. Eric succeeds our dearest Andrea Woodner, Founder and Board President of the Design Trust for its entire 20-year history.

After twenty years of visionary leadership, Andrea steps down from the Board to concentrate on the Design Trust Founder’s Circle, our major donor group deeply committed to supporting the future of NYC, and her new Hercules Art/ Studio program, providing affordable studio space and community for emerging artists in Lower Manhattan. Her dedicated efforts have helped transform the both Design Trust into a nationally-recognized incubator for urban innovation, as well as the City itself. Andrea will become Chair of the Design Trust Founder's Circle and continue to serve as a senior advisor to the Design Trust.

Eric, an expert in transportation planning and public-private development, was the Economic Policy Fellow for our Taxi 07: Envisioning New York City’s Taxi System 10-Years Out project from 2006-2010, and an economic advisor for the Made in Midtown and Making Midtown projects, from 2010 to 2012. Joining the Design Trust Board in 2013, he has served on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee and as Design Trust Council co-chair. As Board Chair, Eric will lead and guide the activities of the Board of Directors, including strengthening the Design Trust’s capacity to have continued impact on public space and public life in NYC.

When Andrea co-founded the Design Trust for Public Space with Claire Weisz twenty years ago, no other public or private sector organizations existed to bring creative minds together to effectively solve challenges of public space – where culture, connectivity and democracy thrive. This remains true today. It’s been a great privilege to work closely with Andrea. Eric will take up the baton and guide the Design Trust into our next twenty years.

Learn more in the press release.