Social Science & Architecture: A Decade of Impact & Future Directions

How does design shape human behavior, health, and equity in our daily lives? What has actually shifted in the built environment over the past decade, and where do we go from here?

Join us for a special evening celebrating 10 years of the AIANY Social Science and Architecture Committee—and diving into the questions shaping the future of our built environment. Building on recent conversations with past contributors, this event will connect big ideas to real-world projects and places. We will look at how the relationship between the built environment and health has evolved, exploring critical themes across sustainability, access and inclusion, housing, public health, policy, and community life.

With our invited speakers the evening will feature:

• Reflections on what has changed in design over the past decade—and what the future needs from us
• Interactive discussions examining real projects, community engagement, and data-driven insights
• Lively, participatory contributions and audience conversations (not just a standard panel)
• Opportunities to connect with long-term members, new collaborators, and the broader design community

At its core, this gathering is about ideas, community, and the continued belief that architecture is deeply connected to human experience. Join us to bring your perspective to the conversation and help imagine where social science and architecture go next.

Information on the Social Science and Architecture Committee: 

Founded on a commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange, the committee has spent the past ten years building a vibrant community of architects, researchers, strategists, educators, and industry leaders exploring how social science can shape more responsive, inclusive, and human-centered environments. Whether you have been with us from day one or are completely new to our work, this conversation is open to everyone interested in driving meaningful change through design.

Speakers:
Paul McConnell, Founder, Noble
Dina Miris Sorensen, Founder, Design Director, d.studio; Designer-in-Residence, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health, Center for Systems and Community Design; Co-chair, Research Subcommittee, American Institute of Architects-Committee on Architecture for Education.

Facilitators:
Eve Klein, PhD, Architectural Design Researcher, Professor, and Independent Scholar
Melissa Marsh, Founder and Executive Director of PLASTARC

About the Speakers and Facilitators:
Paul McConnell has led digital product and strategy innovation efforts for Intersection, LinkNYC, Sidewalk Labs / Alphabet, Arup, Samsung, Brookfield, Walmart, LA Metro, MTA NYCT Subways, Port Authority of NY/NJ, UK Dept. of Energy, and MoMA. His work has earned awards from Communication Arts, IxDA, and Cannes Lions. Paul teaches at Pratt and SVA and sits on several design boards.

Dina Miris Sorensen designs places that engage the senses through time, light, sound, materials, and the rhythms of the natural world. Trained in fine arts and architecture, she founded d.studio to bridge creative practice and socio-ecological research. A recipient of the Icon in Education award, she has published original research on design thinking pedagogy and architecture's role in promoting health and wellbeing, with work featured in Time, Fast Company, NPR, and peer-reviewed journals. Her new books, A Field Guide to Rewilding the Modern Schoolyard and the forthcoming Let Kids Be Kids, continue her mission to recenter nature as the place of childhood and challenge the norms of architectural practice and production. 

Eve Klein, PhD, is an architectural design researcher, professor, and independent scholar specializing in the social and psychological impact of the built environment. Her work focuses on how social science methodologies can enrich design processes, particularly in public space, cultural institutions, and education settings. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Architecture School at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she teaches seminars on Environmental Psychology, Urban Studies, Community Engagement, and Embodied Architecture. In addition to her academic work, Eve trains designers and organizational leaders to develop rigorous research processes that leverage data for informed decision-making and design. She also collaborates with designers, architects, and engineers on project-based initiatives, integrating research-driven insights into practice. Eve is the co-founder of the Social Science + Architecture Committee for the AIA NY Chapter. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Design Trust for Public Space and previously, she was Assistant Vice President of Strategic Assessment, Planning & Design at New York University. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Master of Architecture from UCLA, and a PhD in Environmental Psychology from the Graduate Center, CUNY. Her interdisciplinary approach advances ethical, inclusive, and impactful design practices.

Melissa Marsh is Founder and Executive Director of PLASTARC, a social research, workplace innovation, and real estate strategy consultancy. Her work leverages the tools of social science and business strategy to help organizations make more data-driven and people-centric real estate decisions. Marsh combines quantitative and qualitative social science research with architectural expertise and is dedicated to shifting the metrics associated with workplace from “square feet and inches” to “occupant satisfaction and performance.” This holistic approach enables PLASTARC to recommend evidence-based interventions that make the built environment more people-centric and responsive, promoting both individual wellness and business success.