Center for Active Design Joanna Frank, Executive Director

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)

The Center for Active Design

About UsThe Center for ActiveDesign is an independent,not-for-profit organizationcommitted to transformingdesign practice to prioritizehealth Centerforactivedesign.org @active_design

The Center for Active Design

Our Approach:Thought Leaders

• Policy & Advocacy Research & Publications

• Communication / Translation• Celebrating Success - Excellence

Direct Implementation• Trainings & Workshops• Technical Assistance to real estate

developers and municipalities !

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By 1910, the average densityin lower Manhattan was114,000 people/ sq. mi;Two wards reached densities> 400,000. (Today’s density: 67,000/ sq. mi.)

Air/droplet-bornediseases:TB Water-bornediseases:Cholera Vector-bornediseases:Yellow-fever

History of Health and the Built Environment

100+ years ago, urban conditions in NYC (and many other cities) created abreeding ground for infectious disease epidemics

OVERCROWDING

for garbage, water, and sewer,leading to pervasive filth andpolluted water supplies.

INADEQUATE SYSTEMS

MAJOR EPIDEMICS

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The Design Response

New York’s water system established – anaqueduct brings fresh water from Westchester

NYC creates Central Park, hailed as “ventilationfor the working man’s lungs”, continuingconstruction through the height of the Civil War

Dept. of Street-sweeping created, which eventuallybecomes the Department of Sanitation

New York State Tenement House Act banned theconstruction of dark, airless tenement buildings

First section of Subway opens, allowing populationto expand into Northern Manhattan and the Bronx

Zoning Ordinance requires stepped buildingsetbacks to allow light and air into the streets

1842

1857

1881

1901

1904

1916

People haven’t changed- our environment has

ULI - Building Healthy Places

ULI - Building Healthy Places

PhysicalActivity

Healthy Food andDrinking Water

Environment andSocial Well-Being

CertificationPrograms

Palau de la Música Catalana renovationOscar Tusquets and Carles Diaz

Photo: Emily Young Photo: NYC DOT Photo: NYC DOT

Translating health evidence into practical design strategies tailored to real estatedevelopment

Design and physical activity

Encouraging stair use & activetransportation

• Just 2 minutes (about 6 floors) ofstair climbing a day burns enoughcalories to prevent average U.S. adultannual weight gain.

• Men climbing 20-34 flights of stairs perweek have a 29% lower risk ofstroke.

• Just 15 minutes of cycling (2.5 miles)twice a day burns the equivalent of 10lbs per year.

• Each hour spent in a carcontributes a 6% risk in obesity andchronic disease while each km walkedcontributes a 5% decrease in risk

A YEAR-ROUND CONEY ISLANDSite%+%Building

DesignHealthy Food and Water Access

• Supermarkets, farmers markets, healthy foodretail

• Stores participating in Philadelphia’s ‘FreshCorner’ store pilot saw a 60% increase inproduce sales, and a $100 per weekincrease in profits.

• Community supported agriculture,

community gardens• The number of U.S. high school students

who ate vegetables three or more times aday increased by 6% between 1999-2013.

• Drinking water

• The number of U.S. high school studentswho did not drink soda within a 7 day timeperiod increased by 3% from 2007-2013

ssBlueShieldofTennesseeHeadquarters|Duda/PaineArchitects

Healthy Environment and Social Well-Being

• Research in the Netherlands and Japan indicated that people were more likelyto walk or cycle to work if the streets were lined with trees and live longer andfeel better as a result.

Van den Berg, A.E., Koole S.L., and Van der Wulp N.Y. (2003). ’Environmental preferences andrestoration: (how) are they related?’ Journal of Environmental Psychology 23, 135-146.