Architect Alexandros Washburn has been tapped to lead the city's new urban design division.
"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."
FULL STORY: City Hall's Chief Urban Planner

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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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