Classrooms on the Frontlines: Are NYC Schools Our Best Hope—or Biggest Gamble—in Climate Resilience? – Ep 111 with Caleb Crawford
This week on Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski heads to the heart of New York City’s public school system with Caleb Crawford, Director of Sustainable Design and Resiliency at the NYC School Construction Authority. With decades of experience as an architect, educator, and environmental advocate, Caleb dives into how one of the world’s largest school systems is confronting climate change head-on. From electrification and green infrastructure to passive survivability and equity-driven design, Caleb shares the innovative—and often surprising—ways NYC is making schools safer, healthier, and more resilient. He discusses the critical role of local laws, the balancing act of building in a dense city, and how even a brick wall can teach us something about thermal comfort. Whether you're designing new schools or retrofitting old ones, this episode is a masterclass in building for the future, today.
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More About Caleb Crawford
Caleb Crawford is the Director of Sustainable Design and Resiliency at the New York City School Construction Authority. Crawford comes to the SCA from private practice, where he was a partner in the award-winning firm, Coggan + Crawford Architecture + Design. He has taught design and sustainability at many institutions, including Pratt Institute and City College.
Crawford is a registered architect in New York State, a Certified Passive House Designer, and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction. Crawford studied fine arts at the University of Michigan and film at Hunter College before completing a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Pratt Institute. He went on to complete a Masters of Architecture degree at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc).
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