About the author  ⁄ Sarah Ruel-Bergeron, RA

Sarah Ruel-Bergeron is the Executive Director of ARCHIVE Global; she is a licensed architect and holds a certificate in Global Health Practice. ARCHIVE Global is an NYC-based nonprofit that works with resource-limited communities worldwide to improve health with housing design interventions through partnering with local groups on cost-effective, scalable housing improvements (srbergeron@isuh.org).

The built environment is a powerful tool for improving people’s lives, sense of well-being, and overall health. As such, good design is an important tool in the fight for equity across populations. Unfortunately, design services are often a luxury, inaccessible to those who might benefit most from them. However, architects and engineers are not able to operate without resources. To explore these topics, ARCHIVE Global and Silman’s Building Equity Initiative teamed up to host a conversation amongst New York City practitioners to evaluate barriers and best practices when addressing pro-bono and low-bono design work. Below is a documentation of the shared challenges, strategies, and opportunities voiced by architects and engineers in attendance, focusing particularly on the structural engineering perspective.

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STRUCTURE magazine