New York City Department of Design and Construction; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York City Department of Transportation; New York City Department of City Planning Books
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) leads public building projects and infrastructure design. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) focuses on public health initiatives.
Known for: Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Books by New York City Department of Design and Construction; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York City Department of Transportation; New York City Department of City Planning
Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Most health policies focus on treatment after problems appear. Active Design Guidelines starts earlier, asking a more powerful question: what if buildings, streets, schools, parks, and neighborhoods were designed to make healthy behavior the easy, natural choice? Developed jointly by four major New York City agencies, this concise but influential guide shows how the built environment shapes everyday movement, from whether people take the stairs to whether they feel safe walking to transit, shopping, or recreation. Its central claim is simple but far-reaching: design is a public health tool. What makes the guide especially important is its authority and practicality. It does not come from a single designer or theorist, but from collaboration among experts in construction, public health, transportation, and city planning. That interdisciplinary foundation gives the recommendations unusual credibility. The document links research to concrete design strategies that can be applied at multiple scales, from stair visibility inside a building to street networks, open space systems, and neighborhood connectivity. For architects, planners, developers, public officials, and institutional leaders, it offers a framework for creating places that support physical activity, social interaction, safety, and long-term well-being. In a time of rising chronic disease and sedentary lifestyles, its message is both urgent and remarkably actionable.
Read SummaryKey Insights from New York City Department of Design and Construction; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York City Department of Transportation; New York City Department of City Planning
Health Begins With Built Environments
A city can quietly train people into inactivity or gently invite them into movement. That is the foundational insight of Active Design Guidelines. The built environment is not a neutral backdrop to daily life; it influences how often people walk, climb stairs, bike, play, socialize, and access healt...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Accessibility, Connectivity, And Inclusion Drive Design
Good active design does not simply add exercise features; it organizes places so that movement feels natural, dignified, and available to everyone. The guidelines emphasize three core principles: accessibility, connectivity, and inclusivity. These are not abstract values. They are practical filters ...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Buildings Can Invite Daily Movement
We often think of exercise as something scheduled at a gym, but the guidelines argue that the more powerful opportunity lies in routine movement woven into everyday buildings. Offices, schools, housing, hospitals, and civic facilities all shape how people circulate dozens of times a day. A building ...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Site Planning Shapes Active Daily Routines
Long before someone reaches a lobby or a staircase, site planning has already influenced whether movement will happen at all. Active Design Guidelines shows that land use patterns, building placement, open space relationships, and neighborhood structure all determine how practical walking and other ...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Street Design Determines Urban Vitality
If buildings frame daily life, streets animate it. The guidelines treat street design as one of the most powerful levers for public health because streets influence safety, travel behavior, social contact, and access to opportunity at the scale of the city. A street that prioritizes speed above all ...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
Public Spaces Enable Movement And Belonging
People are more active when public life has somewhere to happen. Parks, plazas, playgrounds, waterfronts, schoolyards, and community open spaces do more than provide recreation; they create settings where movement and social connection reinforce each other. Active Design Guidelines makes clear that ...
From Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design
About New York City Department of Design and Construction; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York City Department of Transportation; New York City Department of City Planning
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) leads public building projects and infrastructure design. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) focuses on public health initiatives. The Department of Transportation (DOT) manages city transportation systems, and the Depart...
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The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) leads public building projects and infrastructure design. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) focuses on public health initiatives. The Department of Transportation (DOT) manages city transportation systems, and the Depart...
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) leads public building projects and infrastructure design. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) focuses on public health initiatives. The Department of Transportation (DOT) manages city transportation systems, and the Department of City Planning (DCP) oversees urban development and zoning.
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The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) leads public building projects and infrastructure design. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) focuses on public health initiatives.
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