New York City's New Chief Urban Designer

Architect Alexandros Washburn has been tapped to lead the city's new urban design division.

1 minute read

March 30, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"To make sure that this city of the future remains livable, the director of the Department of City Planning, Amanda Burden, has created a new division focusing on urban design within the department and named Alexandros Washburn, a former public works adviser to Senator Moynihan, as its first director.

Mr. Washburn, 44, is charged with making sure the parks get the right amount of sun, buildings aren't too bulky, and the skyline stays coherent. He will act as Ms. Burden's eyes for the incredible number of projects now under way in the city.

He was previously a principal in W Architecture & Landscape Architecture, in Chelsea, and was president of the Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corporation, overseeing the conversion of the Eighth Avenue post office into Moynihan Station. While working under Moynihan, Mr. Washburn was the only staff architect in the Senate."

Thursday, March 29, 2007 in The New York Sun

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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