AIA New York Chapter Community-Centered Design Grant

Advancing Community Engagement in the Built Environment

The concept of community engagement, as it relates to the design of the built environment, is a critical process in which design professionals collaborate with stakeholders—those who live, work, or spend time in or near a space—to shape urban environments that are inclusive and responsive to community needs. In New York City, certain aspects of the design process require engagement, particularly through mandated reviews with the Public Design Commission and local Community Boards at specific project phases.

The effectiveness of these mandated engagements remains a topic of debate. Critics argue that these mandated processes often occur too late in the design process, pressuring community stakeholders to approve designs without sufficient influence, while supporters maintain that these processes allow for necessary community input without disrupting project timelines.

Beyond these required stages, community engagement can and should be integrated throughout the design process—from pre-design to post-occupancy evaluation. While mandated methods follow strict regulations, there exists a wide array of alternative engagement strategies that can be adapted and innovated upon to ensure meaningful participation. Additionally, the definition of stakeholder continues to evolve, with some advocating for a broader, more inclusive approach that considers past, present, and future users of a space in the decision-making process.

AIA New York’s Community-Centered Design Grant will award $35,000 to one project that demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding community engagement beyond traditional requirements. The selected project must integrate comprehensive engagement strategies from pre-design through one year post-construction, ensuring:

• Thorough and continuous engagement with community stakeholders
• Empowerment of stakeholders in decision-making wherever possible
• Inclusive outreach to a broad and diverse range of community members

Project Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, projects must meet all of the following:

• Be located within the boundaries of one of New York City’s five boroughs or located within the United States and the submitter's firm must have a primary office in New York City.
• Either in part or in full, encompass publicly accessible space. 
• Have design and construction services already funded.
• Be completed by December 2026*

*Note: The project itself does not need to be fully completed by this date—only the portion funded by the grant must be completed by December 2026.

Funding Distribution & Requirements

Grant funding will be disbursed in three phases, contingent on the completion of required documentation, reporting, and receipt of a W-9:

Distribution 1 of 3 (50%)

Issued upon receipt of:

• Attestation of Funds Use Agreement to ensure accountability and integrity of the Grant program

Distribution 2 of 3 (25%)

Issued upon receipt of:

• Interim Evaluation Report
  • A structured, mid-project assessment of the project’s community engagement progress

Distribution 3 of 3 (25%)

Issued upon receipt of:

• Final Report
  • Comprehensive summary of project outcomes

Post-Project Reporting Requirement

The grant recipient must submit a One-Year Post-Occupancy Report, which includes:

• Analysis of how early, deep, and sustained engagement influenced project outcomes
• Documentation of lessons learned and best practices
• A summary of approach, methodologies, and community impact
• Reflections to support future replication and advocacy within the design community

Publication & Promotion Rights

• AIANY reserves the right to publish and archive the Final Report and One-Year Post-Occupancy Report as a Case Study on the Belonging & Beyond webpage
• AIANY retains rights to promote the project’s findings, reinforcing its leadership in advancing community-centered design practices
• Reports should be as complete as possible. AIANY will collaborate with recipient to redact any confidential information prior to publication

Schedule

July 7, 2025
Submission Portal Opens

September 8, 2025
Submission Deadline

November 2025
Recipient Announced

Please ensure that your project meets all eligibility criteria before submission. Refunds will not be issued for projects that fail to meet the stated qualifications. For questions regarding submission requirements, contact Evelyn Serrano at eserrano@aiany.org.