From Principles to Policy: How Urban Designers Shape the Public Realm

What does it look like when architects and urban designers work not for clients, but for cities — and for the people who live in them? This session draws on the work of New York City’s urban design practice to explore how public-sector design can be a powerful force for health, equity, and resilience. Through real-world case studies from one of the most complex urban environments in the world, participants will examine the principles and tools that NYC planners use to shape livable neighborhoods, equitable public spaces, and streets that serve all users. Architects working in Austin and across Texas will leave with frameworks they can apply to their own civic contexts, whether engaging with local planning agencies, advocating for design quality, or contributing to neighborhood and corridor studies.

Speaker: Sagi Golan, Associate AIA
Deputy Director of Urban Design, NYC DCP
Sagi Golan is an architect and urban designer serving as the Deputy Director of Urban Design at the New York City Department of City Planning, where he leads the design vision and public
realm frameworks for major neighborhood plans across the five boroughs. His work operates at the intersection of architecture, city form, and public policy, focusing on translating core urban design principles into zoning tools, design guidelines, and strategies that shape how buildings meet the street, how public spaces function, and how large-scale development contributes to a cohesive and equitable urban fabric.

In addition to his public-sector leadership, Golan teaches graduate urban design at Columbia University’s GSAPP, coordinating studios that explore urban systems, climate resiliency, environmental justice, and narrative methods. Through his combined practice, teaching, and public engagement, he advances design as both a regulatory framework and a creative instrument for shaping dynamic and accessible environments.

Location: Austin Community College Rio Grande Campus (Multipurpose Room)

1 LU/HSW (pending)
Register Here

Reception after event generously sponsored by Texans for Housing