Active Design
Active design is an approach to architecture and urban planning that recognizes that the built environment can affect health as much as individual choices like diet, activity level, or prescriptions.
Active design encourages collaboration between designers and the community to overcome systemic, environmental, and social factors and implement strategies to:
- Design buildings and housing that optimize the health of all occupants
- Increase access to high-quality, well-maintained public spaces, parks and open spaces
- Provide equitable access to active recreation opportunities and spaces for physical activity
- Create walkable streets and neighborhoods
- Ensure safe and protected bicycle infrastructure and access to reliable public transit in all neighborhoods
Publications
Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design (PDF)
A collection of evidence-based, cost-effective strategies to help architects, urban planners and public health professionals design healthier environments. The guidelines include urban design strategies for creating neighborhoods, streets, and outdoor spaces that encourage walking, bicycling, and active transportation and recreation.
Supplemental Active Design Publications
Playbook for Early Childcare Settings (2017) (PDF)
Offers ideas and resources that early child care and education providers can use to increase physically active play and learning.
Toolkit for School (2015) (PDF)
Details how Active Design can improve student health and academic performance through case studies and provides a step-by-step implementation guide.
Guide for Community Groups (2013) (PDF)
Describes how you can make your community a place where people can be physically active, have access to healthy foods and beverages, and be socially engaged.
Promoting Safety (2013) (PDF)
Highlights strategies for reducing the risk of injury, while also promoting active living through walking, bicycling, and increased access to public transportation.
Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing (2013) (PDF)
Focuses on low-cost ways to implement active design in affordable housing developments. Drawing on case studies from thee major U.S. cities, this supplement provides concrete examples of how simple design changes can help encourage active living among residents of all ages.
Shaping the Sidewalk Experience (2013) (PDF)
Presents a framework for creating safe, attractive sidewalks that promote active living, along with a variety of resources that can help inform sidewalk design.
FitCity Conference
FitCity is an annual conference that brings together leading professionals from the fields of architecture, public health, urban planning, academia and community development to promote health through the design of the built environment.
Stair Prompt Poster
Walking up the stairs just two minutes each day can help prevent yearly weight gain. To encourage stair climbing, the City offers free “Burn Calories, Not Electricity” signs that you can place near elevators, escalators and stairs. Posting such signs has been shown to significantly increase stair use.
- Call 311 to receive plastic or laminated copies
For more information, email activedesign@health.nyc.gov.