Designing Across a Lifetime

New York City is aging. The city's population aged 65 and older is projected to grow 40% between 2010 and 2040, with research showing that most older adults want to remain in their communities as they age.

What does that mean for the way we design our cities—and for people's ability to remain independent, mobile, connected, and economically engaged throughout longer lives? Aging, transportation, accessibility, workforce participation, and the built environment are often discussed separately; however, people don't live in silos. The ability to get to work, navigate a transit station, move through a workplace, reach healthcare and services, or stay connected to community is deeply interconnected.

This panel will explore where common challenges emerge across aging, transportation, accessibility, workforce, and design—and how ideas and approaches developed in one context might inform another.

Speakers:
Quemuel “Q” Arroyo, Chief Accessibility Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
Lee Boyes, Senior Director, Design and Construction Management, NYC Department for the Aging
Kelsey Habla, Senior Design Consultant, Arup
Russell Kriegel, Chief Architect, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)

Moderator:
Seema Malik, Vice President, Asset Management Design & Construction and Accessibility, NYCEDC

About the Speakers:
Quemuel Arroyo is a nationally recognized mobility, accessibility, and universal design leader who serves as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Chief Accessibility Officer and Senior Advisor in New York. As the MTA’s first Chief Accessibility Officer, he is helping lead the transformation of the nation’s largest public transportation network into a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable system. His work has helped advance a historic $30 billion investment in accessibility through the MTA’s capital program, a landmark legal settlement establishing a path toward a fully accessible subway system, and innovative initiatives that improve the daily travel experience for people with disabilities. Previously, he served as New York City’s first Chief Accessibility Specialist at the Department of Transportation and as Interim President and Global Head of Community at Charge. Beyond his public service, Arroyo is a dedicated civic leader and nonprofit board member, including service as a Trustee of New York University and involvement with organizations such as NYC Outward Bound Schools, Project Sunshine, and Positive Exposure. A proud New Yorker and passionate advocate for universal design, he is committed to building cities and transportation systems that work better for everyone.

Lee Boyes, a licensed architect, is the Senior Director of Design and Construction Management at NYC Aging. She leads a team of architects and engineers managing relocation, design, and construction projects at NYC’s 300+ older adult community centers. These centers are an important part of NYC’s support system for aging in place. Older adults visit the centers for educational and exercise classes, art studios, or nutritious meals. As a representative for NYC’s aging population, Boyes has served on the Department of Buildings’ Technical Committee for Accessibility for the 2014, 2017, and 2024 construction code revisions as well as the 2020 Existing Building Code Revision. With years of experience, Boyes brings the perspective of how transportation and the built environment affect the diverse community of older New Yorkers to remain independent, connected, and engaged in their communities.

Kelsey Habla is a Senior Consultant and licensed architect in Arup’s New York office with more than eight years of experience in Universal Design and Venue Planning. She has played a key role in advancing Arup’s Universal Design practice across the Americas, leading initiatives such as the Brooklyn Army Terminal Universal Design Guide and supporting accessibility and inclusion strategies for clients across sectors including arts and culture, aviation, higher education, retail, technology, and the public realm. Her portfolio includes projects such as the Dartmouth College Hopkins Center for the Arts, Providence Riverwalk, and JFK New Terminal One, and she is also engaged in research exploring how XR technologies can inform more inclusive design solutions. Beyond project work, Habla serves as New York Lead for Arup’s Connect Women+ Employee Resource Group and sits on the EDI Scholarship Committee, helping to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization.

Russell Kriegel is the Chief Architect of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's Engineering Department, in which the multi-discipline Design Division employs architects, landscape architects, planners, and engineers who provide design and construction management services for the agency. Kriegel provides direction and leads the day-to-day operations of the 25-person Architectural Unit as it plans and designs projects in collaboration with both in-house disciplines and private consulting architects and engineers. Throughout his 38-year tenure at the Port Authority, Kriegel has played a major role in planning and design of significant transportation and infrastructure projects for the agency’s facilities. Kriegel is a B. Arch graduate of Cornell University, a Registered Architect in the states of New York and New Jersey, a LEED Accredited Professional, and an Associate DBIA. Kriegel is an active AIA New York member who co-chairs the AIANY Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Seema Malik is an architect and design leader passionate about shaping more inclusive, equitable, and vibrant cities. As Vice President of Asset Management Design & Construction and Accessibility at NYCEDC, she brings together architecture, urban development, and accessibility to drive meaningful change in the built environment. Her career spans the public and private sectors, with a focus on advancing design excellence, universal design, and social impact. Malik is a Coro Leadership New York Fellow, a member of the AIANY Design for Aging Committee, and holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.

Organized with:
MTA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Aup, NYC Department for the Aging, and NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC)