Project Overview
Many NYCHA developments are set back from the sidewalk, surrounded by grassy areas that are fenced off from residents and the neighboring community.
Opening the Edge will work with residents to develop a new design for a green space at Wald Houses, prioritizing connectivity between the development and streetscape, while encouraging social interaction and promoting the physical and mental health of residents and the broader community. The Design Trust plans to construct a prototype of the design, coordinating with NYCHA, in a second phase of work.
Project Background
In 2014, the Design Trust conducted an open Request for Proposals, The Energetic City: Connectivity in the Public Realm, to give life to the city by connecting people through innovative design informed by the needs and aspirations of community users. An independent jury selected the Opening the Edge proposal by public artist Jane Greengold to partner with the Design Trust in creating a public space prototype in an underutilized grassy area of a NYCHA development. Since then, Design Trust and Jane Greengold have developed the scope of the project, conducted a site selection process, and engaged with residents of Wald Houses, community organizations, and NYCHA staff. Jane Greengold will lead the Fellows team as the Participatory Art Fellow.
Key Project Activities & Deliverables
- Engage residents, the local community, and NYCHA:
The Design Trust and its Fellows will plan and implement a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy, i.e., interviews, workshops, and informal and formal meetings to assess public space needs and desires, identify a green space on Wald’s grounds for the prototype, and develop shared goals for its design.
- Develop the Opening the Edge design:
The Design Trust and its Fellows will analyze the physical and social conditions of the site and its context, and working with residents, the local community, and NYCHA, develop a design for the selected site that meets the stakeholders’ shared goals. The team will work with the stakeholders through many iterations of the design, eliciting ideas from residents, as well as providing opportunities for learning about the potential of lighting design, active design, and landscape design.
- Promote the Opening the Edge design, and define an assessment strategy:
The Design Trust and its Fellows will share the design with the broader resident population, NYCHA staff, and potential partners/funders to build support for its realization and maintenance, and consensus on how to monitor and evaluate its use/performance.
Deliverables will include the following:
- Plans and detailed drawings of the Opening the Edge design;
- Renderings, models, animations or videos of spatial and temporal experience of the design.
Process deliverables may include documentation drawings, memoranda from meetings, visual presentations, draft plans, drawings and other forms of representation.
Fellowship Overview
Design Trust Fellows are leading professionals in their field, and are chosen for their talent, expertise, experience, and strong qualifications. Fellows must have a demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as well as direct experience producing deliverables similar to those stated in the Fellow Description.
The Design Trust process is open and collaborative. Fellows must work effectively with one another, the project partners, Design Trust staff, and community stakeholders. Fellows bring their skills and expertise to bear on the project, uncovering innovative responses to the city’s most vexing challenges and pushing for creative thinking. Together with the Design Trust, project partner, and community stakeholders, Fellows create unique design solutions that generate systemic or policy change for New York City’s public space.
Design Trust projects require significant time commitments from Fellows to work with multiple stakeholders, develop implementable design strategies, and produce final deliverables. Fellows are expected to devote approximately 1-2 days per week to the project. Stipends are awarded to the Fellow commensurate with prior experience.
Firm principals and sole proprietors are encouraged to apply, understanding that the fellowship is time consuming and the compensation is modest. Professionals with full-time positions may apply if they have the support of their employers; recognition of firms can be arranged. Students are eligible to apply for the Community Organizing Fellowship only.
All applicants must, at the time of their application, have the legal ability to work in the United States and must be located in the New York City area for participation in meetings and events.
Design Trust encourages people of all abilities, ethnicities, genders, national origins or ancestries, races, religions and sexualities to apply. Design Trust is also committed to accessibility and to working together with you to develop an accessibility plan.
Fellowship Benefits
Design Trust Fellows receive benefits that advance their immediate and long-term career growth. Participation in a Design Trust project gives Fellows the opportunity to explore an urban issue in-depth and make a tangible effect on New York City’s public realm. Additional benefits include:
- Introductions to and opportunities for significant engagement with policymakers, community leaders, and professionals from other disciplines;
- An honorarium of $10,000;
- Participation in local and national speaking engagements associated with the project or related topic (both Design Trust events and programs organized by peer organizations);
- Opportunities for recognition in local and national media coverage of the project;
- Credit as a Design Trust Fellow for life, including:
- Recognition on the Design Trust website with biographic information and the opportunity to highlight awards and latest news;
- Inclusion of professional milestones in the Design Trust newsletter;
- Invitation to Fellows Forum, an alumni network, events;
- Honorary Membership in Design Trust Council, the leadership circle of the Design Trust for Public Space, for a year, including invitations to Design Trust Council events.
Fellowship Descriptions, Responsibilities, and Qualifications
Community Organizing Fellow (Wald Houses residents only. Youth, 18 years of age or older are strongly encouraged to apply)
The Community Organizing Fellow, working closely with Participatory Art Fellow Jane Greengold, will be responsible for community organizing and co-designing the resident engagement process, and will play a significant role in building consensus among stakeholders on shared goals and metrics for success.
Working with staff from the Design Trust and NYCHA, and the Participatory Art (Lead Fellow), Landscape Architecture, Active Design and Lighting Design Fellows, the Community Organizing Fellow will:
- Devise and implement an inclusive strategy to bring together a working group of residents at Wald Houses with a range of backgrounds, interests, and expertise;
- Plan and facilitate workshops and other types of engagement (tbd) with the Participatory Art Fellow; co-lead presentations, and interface with a broad range of stakeholders, including public agencies and community groups;
- Develop and maintain relationships with members of the working group and devise strategies for retaining their participation;
- Co-develop an assessment strategy for the design to monitor and evaluate its use/performance;
- Share the Opening the Edge design with the broader residential community at Wald Houses, and other stakeholders.
Candidates must reside at Wald Houses and demonstrate familiarity with their residential community. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated leadership skills with a proven ability to engage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and those who have led community-based projects at Wald Houses or elsewhere. Fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is a plus.
The ideal candidate will be an inspiring and dedicated individual who is passionate about effecting change in their community and committed to equity, diversity, tolerance, and collegiality; an approachable and gracious person, with the ability to relate to a broad spectrum of people.
Landscape Architecture Fellow
The Landscape Architecture Fellow will be responsible for the physical and environmental analysis of the site and its context, related documentation, the development of a design that is ecologically productive, and synthesis of the overall design.
Working with staff from the Design Trust and NYCHA, and the Participatory Art (Lead Fellow), Community Organizing, Active Design and Lighting Design Fellows, the Landscape Architecture Fellow will:
- Analyze the site and its context, creating comprehensive documentation of the site and its context, including a site plan of the overall development, plan of the selected area, sections, and perspective views;
- Consider how the site can meet the shared goals of residents, participating community organizations, and NYCHA;
- Consider how climate change will affect the site, and coordinate with other resiliency plans for Wald Houses and the surrounding area;
- Propose landscape design solutions that reinforce shared goals and support the ecological functions of the site and context;
- Develop and lead an educational session with the resident working group on the opportunities of landscape design, tailored to the site;
- Co-facilitate workshops and other types of engagement (tbd) with the Fellows team and incorporate resident feedback into the design;
- Coordinate and synthesize the overall design through a set of detailed design drawings, renderings, and other forms of representation (tbd);
- Lead working presentations, and interface with a broad range of stakeholders, including NYCHA residents, community groups and public agencies;
- Co-develop an assessment strategy for the design to monitor and evaluate its use/performance;
- Share the Opening the Edge plan with key stakeholders, including the broader residential community, NYCHA staff, and potential partners/funders.
Candidates should have at least five years of relevant work experience and a degree in landscape architecture. Preference will be given to candidates who have realized multidisciplinary projects related to parks and open space, streetscapes, or public housing. Knowledge of the field of public art and active design is a plus. Candidates should have significant experience in graphically communicating and writing about complex issues for a broad public audience; fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is a plus. Proficiency in CAD software and Adobe Creative Suite is required.
Active Design Fellow
The Active Design Fellow will be responsible for the social documentation and analysis of the site and its context, and the design of active design solutions that advance social interaction, physical activity, and the overall health of residents and the community.
Working with staff from the Design Trust and NYCHA, and the Participatory Art (Lead Fellow), Community Organizing, Landscape Architecture and Lighting Design Fellows, the Active Design Fellow will:
- Document and analyze how people interact with each other, and the grounds and built environment at Wald Houses;
- Consider how the site can meet the shared goals of residents, participating community organizations, and NYCHA;
- Consider the potential range of uses and users of the site, including day and nighttime hours;
- Propose active design solutions that reinforce shared goals, support social interaction and intergenerational activity, and respond to the range of physical and mental health needs in the community;
- Develop and lead an educational session with the resident working group on the opportunities of active design, tailored to the site;
- Co-facilitate workshops and other types of engagement (tbd) with the Fellows team and incorporate resident feedback into the design;
- Contribute to the overall design through a set of detailed design drawings, renderings, and other forms of representation (tbd);
- Lead working presentations, and interface with a broad range of stakeholders, including NYCHA residents, community groups and public agencies;
- Co-develop an assessment strategy for the design to monitor and evaluate its use/performance;
- Share the Opening the Edge plan with key stakeholders, including the broader residential community, NYCHA staff, and potential partners/funders.
Candidates should have at least three years of relevant work experience and a Masters in urban design, architecture, industrial design or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates who have realized multidisciplinary projects related to parks and open space, streetscapes, or public housing. Knowledge of the field of public art and furniture design is a plus. Candidates should have significant experience in graphically communicating and writing about complex issues for a broad public audience; fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is a plus. Proficiency in CAD software and Adobe Creative Suite is required.
Lighting Design Fellow
The Lighting Design Fellow will be responsible for documentation and analysis of the lighting conditions of the site and its context, and the design of human-focused lighting solutions for the health and safety of residents and the surrounding community.
Working with staff from the Design Trust and NYCHA, and the Participatory Art (Lead Fellow), Community Organizing, Landscape Architecture, and Active Design Fellows, the Lighting Design Fellow will:
- Document and analyze day- and artificial lighting on the grounds and built environment at Wald Houses, including any temporary security lighting;
- Consider how the site can meet the shared goals of residents, participating community organizations, and NYCHA;
- Propose lighting design solutions that reinforce shared goals and support social interaction, and the physical and mental health of residents and the community;
- Develop and lead an educational session with the resident working group on the opportunities of lighting design, tailored to the site;
- Co-facilitate workshops and other types of engagement (tbd) with the Fellows team and incorporate resident feedback into the design;
- Contribute to the overall design through a set of detailed design drawings, renderings, and other forms of representation (tbd);
- Lead working presentations, and interface with a broad range of stakeholders, including NYCHA residents, community groups and public agencies;
- Co-develop an assessment strategy for the design to monitor and evaluate its use/performance;
- Share the Opening the Edge plan with key stakeholders, including the broader residential community, NYCHA staff, and potential partners/funders.
Candidates should have at least five years of relevant work experience and a degree in lighting design or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates who have realized exterior lighting installations as well as multidisciplinary projects related to parks and open space, streetscapes, or public housing. Knowledge of the field of landscape architecture, public art, and furniture design is a plus. Candidates should have significant experience in graphically communicating and writing about complex issues for a broad public audience; fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is a plus. Proficiency in CAD software and Adobe Creative Suite is required.
How to Apply
Candidates applying for the Community Organizing Fellowship should submit a cover letter, a resume, and a letter of recommendation. Work samples, such as photos of a community-based project or a writing sample, are optional.
Candidates for the
Landscape Architecture,
Active Design, or
Lighting Design Fellowships should send a single PDF (maximum of 10 pages and 5 MB), including a cover letter specifying the Fellowship category they are applying for, a resume, including references, and a sample of relevant work (drawings, photos, and written) as appropriate to
fellowship@designtrust.org.
The deadline to apply is August 8, 2016, at 5 PM.
Interviews will be scheduled August 11 – 12, 2016. Please note: candidates under consideration will be contacted by e-mail. No phone calls to Design Trust, please.
Selected applicants should be available to begin work the week of August 22, 2016 and work part-time through May 2017.
Opening the Edge is made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NYC Council, and with support from the
Design Trust Founder’s Circle, including Agnes Gund, Kitty Hawks, Sophia W. Healy, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Camila Pastor & Stephen Maharam, Claire Weisz, and Andrea Woodner.