Sustainable Design as Human Centric Design

Lessons From the High Line’s Urban Renewal Journey

Sustainability has become a popular buzzword, dominating corporate agendas and social media discussions. Its scope is often limited to environmental actions like planting trees and reducing emissions. However, true sustainability extends beyond the environment to include the communities most impacted. This broader perspective aligns closely with the principles of human-centric design, which prioritizes the needs, preferences and behaviors of end-users. 

Both human-centric design and sustainable design share the goal of improving social well-being. By integrating these approaches, we can create environments that not only protect our planet but also improve the lives of those who inhabit them. 

But how can we ensure we’re balancing both the environmental and community priorities in our designs? For this, we’ll turn to The High Line Park in New York City as a case study.

Photo credit: Iwan Baan

The High Line 

Originally an abandoned elevated railway, the High Line was reimagined by a passionate grassroots group, Friends of the High Line (FHL), led by Joshua David and Robert Hammond. Its transformation began with the recognition of its hidden natural beauty, brought to the spotlight by photographer Joel Sternfeld. This abandoned railway, once a vital part of Manhattan’s industrial landscape, had become a lush overgrown haven. The vision was to transform this forgotten structure into a vibrant public space that would not only preserve a piece of history but also meet the needs of the community. 

Photo credit: Michael Syracuse (left), Iwan Baan (right)

Co-Founder Hammond, however, has since acknowledged where the project failed to meet those needs. During the planning stages, Hammond and David set up offices to engage public housing tenants and solicit their input. Their misstep was in how they engaged with their community members. They neglected to ask the essential question: "What can we do for you?" and missed an opportunity to invite meaningful co-creation and dialogue about their needs and desires. As a result, the park didn’t address the broader concerns of the community such as job opportunities, affordable living and strict park rules that made them feel alienated. 

Course-Correcting

While there are aspects of the park’s original design that can’t be retroactively addressed, Friends of the High Line has since launched initiatives to help course-correct. Following community listening sessions, they introduced paid jobs-training programs for local teenagers and developed community-centric events like "ARRIBA!", a series of Latin dance parties conceived by a local resident. 

Photo credit: Michael Syracuse (left), Liz Ligon (right)

While the High Line continues to evolve its community outreach efforts, other spaces have taken these lessons and proactively integrated them into their development plans. One such example is The Community First Toolkit, exemplified by Washington, D.C.’s 11th Street Bridge Park, offers a comprehensive approach to addressing displacement and rising home values in vulnerable areas.

This toolkit emphasizes proactive measures and community involvement from the outset. Project director Scott Kratz and his team held 200 initial meetings to ensure the park aligned with local desires. In 2015, they established equitable development goals, such as neighborhood hiring targets, strategies to support nearby businesses, and plans for a land trust to acquire properties for future housing. With $1.5 million raised and a $50 million investment from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the toolkit demonstrates the importance of community-led, inclusive development to mitigate displacement and promote equity in urban redevelopment.

Takeaways for the LBE Industry

The High Line’s evolution underscores the vital need for genuine and equitable community engagement in the design of green spaces and beyond. What can the Location-Based Experiences (LBE) industry take away from this? 

The High Line is a reminder that even the best of intentions can alienate or harm the communities we meant to serve. While sustainable design goals are vital to our industry’s growth and ability to operate ethically and responsibly, to achieve those goals requires a holistic approach that actively considers the human implications. Centering equity in our design processes is key to developing effective and lasting sustainable solutions. Consider a guiding framework such as Design Justice or Big Break’s own CREATE model. 

Photo credit: Mike Tschappat

Beyond sustainability, this case study urges us to more deeply examine the broader impact of our visitor experiences. As our industry continues to expand, how are we impacting not just the environment, but affordable housing, quality of life, and economic opportunities for the communities where we are based?

The High Line's transformation underscores that genuine sustainability involves more than just environmental efforts; it also requires enhancing the well-being of communities. For everyone, whether you're in design or another field, this means prioritizing inclusivity, actively engaging with diverse voices and considering the broader social impacts of your actions. By adopting these practices, we can ensure our actions contribute to a more equitable and thriving world for all. Let’s strive to make decisions that support both our planet and the communities we are part of. 

References 

• The High Line

• Design Trust, Reclaiming The High Line

• Harvard University, High Line

• Sustainability means shifting from human-centred to ‘humanity-centred’ design

• What is Environment Centered Design vs Human Centered Design

• The High Line's Next Balancing Act

Edited by Nicolle Figueroa Rosado