by: AIA New York
The professional experience of Yuri Birchwood-Fuentes, AIA, has engendered a deep love and appreciation of architecture and its power to transform both the built and social environment in which we live. His 23-year tenure has allowed him to cover a broad and diverse range in the architectural profession including expediting, code consulting, and zoning resolution review. As a Team Leader in the Architecture and Engineering Unit at the NYC Department of Design and Construction, he works collaboratively with engineers, sustainable design specialists, and construction professionals producing “in-house design” contract documents for sponsor agencies, collaborates with engineers, and works closely with the Office of Sustainable Design in the development of project scopes and review of consultant contract documents, both in the Design Bid Build and Design Build project delivery methods. He takes great joy in practicing architecture and deeply values the profession’s ability to address the critical challenges we face today, and to create a more equitable and sustainable future. Birchwood-Fuentes is also a Partner at B2 Architecture Group and currently serves as co-chair of the AIANY Public Architecture Committee.
Q: What is influencing your work the most right now?
As a public architect, I am greatly influenced by design excellence. I realize public buildings reflect our values and aspirations as a city. I am deeply appreciative to get to collaborate with the greater New York architecture community in delivering public architecture that is equitable, sustainable, resilient, and accessible. An architecture that speaks to the greatness of New York City as a whole.
Q: How/why did you decide to pursue architecture?
As a child, I enjoyed drawing buildings in my children’s books rather than reading them. I was always interested in design and problem solving. In high school, I did a civil engineering internship at The Cooper Union where I realized architecture embodied all of my interests. I was fortunate enough to return as an architecture student the following year. My education at Cooper Union deeply broadened my understanding of architecture and its impact on the world we live in.
Q: What are some of your favorite recent projects that you’ve worked on?
I am fortunate to work on a wide array of project types as an architect in DDC’s Public Buildings Division. Two of my favorite projects are both community centers, one in the Bronx and the other in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Working closely with the sponsor agencies and the end users you quickly get a sense of how these community centers serve the basic needs of some of NYC’s most vulnerable population. The dedication of the community center staff to its patrons is inspiring, and demonstrates the importance of having accessible, resilient, and inspiring public spaces to conduct civic affairs.
Q: What do you see as an architect’s role—and responsibility—within our culture?
Architects are on the front line in orchestrating solutions to many of the challenges society faces today in our built environment. Whether these challenges are climate-related or human rights issues, such as shelter, the architect must collaborate with the right cast of people and advocate for best practice in design and construction. In the case of public architecture, the architect is the driving force in delivering resilient and accessible civic architecture that speaks to NYC’s inclusive and equitable values.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges, or opportunities, facing cities today?
I believe climate change is by far the most existential challenge cities face. In the case of New York City, an aging building stock and infrastructure cannot meet the extreme demands a warming climate is placing on cities. These crises also breed the opportunity to think big on the scale of the Work Progress Administration, and to design and construct cities that can withstand the changing climate while being more affordable and equitable.