In November 2010, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn released FoodWorks, a comprehensive report outlining policy recommendations for New York City’s food systems. Urban Design Lab (UDL) Assistant Director Michael Conard, who sits on the City Council’s Food Policy Advisory Board, and UDL Project Manager Kubi Ackerman were significantly involved in shaping the report, which reflects many… read more

The Urban Design Lab, in partnership with the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture , has received support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to further research on the New York City Regional Foodshed Project. The study will evaluate the potential capacity of agricultural production and distribution infrastructure in the New York City region toward the development of strategies… read more

Of the various initiatives geared to develop a deeper understanding of the underlying implications food has on human life, few could be more pertinent than a discussion around a table. In this spirit, the Urban Design Lab in December 2009 contributed to the climate change discussion, joining an event in Copenhagen sharing experience in food… read more

The panel “The Foodshed: Promoting Sustainable Local Agriculture” at the Food and Climate Change Summit at New York University (NYU) in December 2009 saw a crowded gathering for a description of a potential New York City’s Foodshed. The urban Deisign Lab’s Michael Conard led the panel in partnership with the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. The… read more

Engineering and architecture students presented the first results of a highly integrated effort between Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and Graduation School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) and many different partners inside and outside the university in December 2009. The Ultra-Ex studio was taught by professors Patricia Culligan… read more

Design Research Coordinator Kubi Ackerman presented Urban Design Lab (UDL) work on urban agriculture and food systems at the November 2009 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Innovations in Agriculture Conference in Albany, New York. The presentation, titled “Sustainable Urban Agriculture: Confirming viable scenarios for production”, was part of a panel on… read more

In November 2009, Urban Design Lab (UDL) Assistant Director Michael Conard spoke at the Aspen Design Summit, a participatory event where 70 leaders from the design field, nongovernmental organizations, business, social institutions, and foundations gather to share innovative solutions for large scale national and international problems.  Conard provided the design-based research perspective to the “Sustainable… read more

Urban Design Lab (UDL) Project Manager Richard Gonzalez participated in 2009 in a conference sponsored by the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies Program at Barnard College on urbanism in relation to public space in New York City titled “Rights of Way”. The panel presentation was followed by a question and answer session with architects,… read more