Center for Active Design

02/09/2026

Join the Center for Active Design for a timely conversation exploring new research from the University of Cambridge that strengthens the link between building design, health outcomes, and real estate value.

In this session, we’ll hear directly from Franz Fuerst, Professor of Real Estate & Urban Economics, who will share emerging findings on how walkability, building characteristics, and building certifications influence both human health and financial performance.

This discussion is designed for real estate professionals, planners, sustainability leaders, and consultants looking to better understand:

- How research is quantifying the value of healthier places
- How to communicate this evidence clearly to investors, communities, and stakeholders

🎧 Register here:
https://ow.ly/NSrM50Y4Kw6

02/05/2026

This isn’t just a design guide—it’s a call to action.

New York City's Active Design Guidelines 2.0 translate over 400 peer-reviewed studies into real-world strategies that highlight how design can drive health, equity, and resilience. From community-centered planning to evidence-informed design practices, ADG 2.0 redefines what it means to build for well-being—bridging public health and urban design to create stronger, more connected communities.

Let’s build a healthier future—together.
https://ow.ly/2CTg50XWayE

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

02/02/2026

How do we turn research into real-world impact?

Evidence to Action is the Center for Active Design’s newsletter—sharing insights, tools, and examples that help translate research into healthier, more equitable places.

Subscribe to receive the latest research, programs, and ideas driving change in the built environment: https://ow.ly/NG7550Y0tHL

01/30/2026

Around the world, parks, plazas, and streets are more than just infrastructure—they’re anchors for equity, connection, and resilience.

From NYC’s Open Streets to community-driven spaces like the Bronx Night Market, we see how thoughtful design, accessibility, and programming with food and art bring people together to foster healthier, more inclusive neighborhoods.

At CfAD, we champion design strategies that put people first—turning the built environment into a driver of health and well-being for all.

👉 How is your city reimagining public spaces to support health and equity?
https://ow.ly/SvyV50XWavK

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

01/26/2026

The recently released Active Design Guidelines 2.0 marks the next era of health-centered design.

Fifteen years after the original guidelines helped redefine how cities design for health, ADG 2.0 reflects an expanded evidence base and a broader understanding of how design shapes mental health, social connection, safety, and civic life, in addition to physical well-being. Grounded in collaboration and lived experience, it’s a practical playbook for translating research into real-world impact.

Read more about this new edition:
https://ow.ly/VFY550XNwp6

15 years after NYC's groundbreaking Active Design Guidelines transformed how cities think about health, NYC and CFAD today launched Active Design Guidelines 2.0: Designing for Health and Equity —an updated and expanded toolkit that creates a more holistic set of design strategies that promote phys...

01/23/2026

A Milestone for Healthy, Equitable Design

“The new release of the Active Design Guidelines represents a milestone for both the city of New York and for the field. The Original Active Design Guidelines helped kick-start a movement that recognizes that every design and development decision is also a choice about health. Today’s release builds on evidence that has evolved over the past 15 years and provides an even more holistic set of recommendations and principles for ensuring that infrastructure, buildings, and places are all driving toward a common goal of creating environments where everyone can thrive. Congrats to the Center for Active Design and to New York City for this tremendous contribution.”

— Rachel MacCleery, Senior Fellow for Thriving Places, Urban Land Institute Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate

A huge thank you to NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene leading this essential work toward healthier, more equitable communities. To learn more, download ADG 2.0 here: https://ow.ly/X6MJ50XN2ts

01/22/2026

Stay ahead of the curve in healthy building and place-based design.

Evidence to Action shares the latest insights, research, and practical applications from the Center for Active Design—supporting healthier, more equitable communities worldwide.

Sign up for the newsletter to be the first to receive updates: https://ow.ly/pQza50Y0tIa

01/14/2026

As we enter 2026, I’m reflecting on last year's momentum toward healthier, more resilient communities - culminating in the release of New York City's Active Design Guidelines 2.0: Designing for Health and Equity.

Fifteen years after the original guidelines reshaped how cities design for health, ADG 2.0 expands the lens of the built environment to include mental health, social cohesion, safety, and civic life—reflecting how far the evidence and the field have evolved.

We are grateful to our partners and community for advancing people-centered, future-ready design. Onward to 2026.

— Sara Karerat, Managing Director, Center for Active Design

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

01/12/2026

Indoor air quality isn’t just about comfort, it’s a core determinant of health, productivity, and long-term value in real estate. As tenants and communities demand healthier spaces, ensuring buildings are designed to optimize air quality is essential.

This Center for Active Design Insights blog breaks down some of the challenges faced when working to optimize Indoor Air Quality and offers up solutions to ultimately strengthen health and value outcomes.

👉 Explore insights here: https://ow.ly/HWhA50XVqZN

Explore insights from over 250 survey responses on indoor air quality (IAQ) management in real estate. Learn how Fitwel’s updated policies and strategies address challenges like balancing IAQ and energy efficiency, improving stakeholder communication, and implementing cost-effective solutions. Dis...

01/08/2026

Celebrating a New Era of Active Design

The wait is over — Active Design Guidelines 2.0 (ADG 2.0) is here!

Fifteen years after the original publication transformed global design practice, ADG 2.0 delivers a bold new vision for creating healthier, more equitable, and resilient communities.

Developed through a collaboration between the Center for Active Design and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, this new edition expands the definition of active design — addressing mental health, social cohesion, and civic life alongside physical activity, and introducing new strategies for community collaboration and climate resilience.

Be among the first to explore how ADG 2.0 is shaping the future of healthy, connected cities.

👉 https://ow.ly/Maph50XNwvL