'Opening the Edge' Project: Apply for Fellowship
The Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), will award four fellowships in community organizing, landscape architecture, active design, and lighting design for Opening the Edge: Reimagining Green Space at Wald Houses.
Opening the Edge will create a prototype design for a lively public space at the edge of Wald Houses in the Lower East Side. The design will offer an engaging place for residents and foster connections with the broader community.
The deadline to apply is July 28, 2016, at 5pm.
For complete information visit: designtrust.org
Project Overview
Many NYCHA developments are set back from the sidewalk, surrounded by grassy areas that are fenced off from residents and the neighboring community.
Opening the Edge will work with residents to develop a new design for a green space at Wald Houses, prioritizing connectivity between the development and streetscape, while encouraging social interaction and promoting the physical and mental health of residents and the broader community. The Design Trust plans to construct a prototype of the design, coordinating with NYCHA, in a second phase of work.
Lighting Design Fellow
The Lighting Design Fellow will be responsible for documentation and analysis of the lighting conditions of the site and its context, and the design of human-focused lighting solutions for the health and safety of residents and the surrounding community.
Working with staff from the Design Trust and NYCHA, and the Participatory Art (Lead Fellow), Community Organizing, Landscape Architecture, and Active Design Fellows, the Lighting Design Fellow will:
- Document and analyze day- and artificial lighting on the grounds and built environment at Wald Houses, including any temporary security lighting
- Consider how the site can meet the shared goals of residents, participating community organizations, and NYCHA
- Propose lighting design solutions that reinforce shared goals and support social interaction, and the physical and mental health of residents and the community
- Develop and lead an educational session with the resident working group on the opportunities of lighting design, tailored to the site
- Co-facilitate workshops and other types of engagement (tbd) with the Fellows team and incorporate resident feedback into the design
- Contribute to the overall design through a set of detailed design drawings, renderings, and other forms of representation (tbd)
- Lead working presentations, and interface with a broad range of stakeholders, including NYCHA residents, community groups and public agencies
- Co-develop an assessment strategy for the design to monitor and evaluate its use/performance;
- Share the Opening the Edge plan with key stakeholders, including the broader residential community, NYCHA staff, and potential partners/funders
Candidates should have at least five years of relevant work experience and a degree in lighting design or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates who have realized exterior lighting installations as well as multidisciplinary projects related to parks and open space, streetscapes, or public housing. Knowledge of the field of landscape architecture, public art, and furniture design is a plus. Candidates should have significant experience in graphically communicating and writing about complex issues for a broad public audience; fluency in Spanish or Mandarin is a plus. Proficiency in CAD software and Adobe Creative Suite is required.
How to Apply
Candidates applying for the Community Organizing Fellowship should submit a cover letter, a resume, and a letter of recommendation. Work samples, such as photos of a community-based project or a writing sample, are optional.
Candidates for the Landscape Architecture, Active Design, or Lighting Design Fellowships should send a single PDF (maximum of 10 pages and 5 MB), including a cover letter specifying the Fellowship category they are applying for, a resume, including references, and a sample of relevant work (drawings, photos, and written) as appropriate to [email protected]. The deadline to apply is July 28, 2016, at 5pm.
Interviews will be scheduled August 9–10, 2016. Please note: candidates under consideration will be contacted by e-mail. No phone calls to Design Trust, please.
Selected applicants should be available to begin work the week of August 22, 2016 and work part-time through May 2017.
Opening the Edge is made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NYC Council, and with support from the Design Trust Founder’s Circle, including Agnes Gund, Kitty Hawks, Sophia W. Healy, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Camila Pastor & Stephen Maharam, Claire Weisz, and Andrea Woodner.
