"Tremendous enthusiasm" among architects for Zohran Mamdani

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/07/architects-zohran-mamdanis-new-york-mayoral-election/



Architects have expressed optimism over the recent election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City, citing his campaign's focus on housing and the environment. "There is tremendous enthusiasm within the architecture and design community for change and new opportunities in our city," said AIA New York executive director Jesse Lazar.

"We look forward to working with mayor-elect Mamdani to advance goals we have long championed and that he has also emphasized, including increasing housing production and affordability, strengthening our collective commitment to resilience and decarbonization, and improving and expanding our public transportation and public spaces."



A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the 34-year old state assemblyman from Queens Mamdani won the election 5 November, beating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. His focus on affordability and improving the city's housing stock has caught the attention of many architects in the city, along with the passage of several city propositions on Tuesday designed to speed up the approval of construction projects in the city, especially housing.

The campaign made commitments to build as many as 200,000 new units over the next 10 years. New York architect and Columbia professor Laurie Hawkinson echoed the excitement and emphasised the need for architects to help to translate the new administration's goals into the built environment.

"Very excited and optimistic"

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