CASE Hosts 2025 Spring Open House
CASE Center for Architecture Science and Ecology is thrilled to announce the annual Spring Open House event, happening Friday May 2nd in Industry City, Brooklyn NY. Open House is the culminating celebration of the academic year, showcasing features presentations and exhibitions by students, startup ventures, and industry partners. The day-long event is bringing together academic, research, industry and community members to discuss the important challenges facing the built world and advances of the current era.
As part of this program CASE is hosting a panel discussion with industry, government and community leaders. This year our panel discussion, Advancing New York Climate Action is focused on navigating and optimizing responses to sustainable and equitable built environment development initiatives occurring in New York City and State. Changing priorities at the federal level are creating needs, opportunities and risks for New York City and State to assert regional, national and global leadership in advancing sustainable and equitable development practices. The expert panel consisting of leaders in local and state government as well as forward thinking developers and building professionals will provide valuable insight into how New York is tackling challenges in the ecosystem of buildings, nature and people.
CASE faculty and students collaborate to explore all aspects of the built environment, from materials to building systems, production methods, energy efficiency, AI integrations and more. The interconnected nature of CASE projects is highlighted during Open House, fostering inspiration and conversation across disciplines and industries. RSVP today to join the experience.
Meet the Panel
Moderator
Jack Murphy, Executive Editor, Architect’s Newspaper
Jack Murphy is executive editor of The Architect’s Newspaper and AN Interior. Before joining AN, he was editor of Cite and an adjunct professor at the University of Houston. Murphy was Co-Editor-in-Chief of PLAT 8.0 Simplicity and the assistant editor for Totalization, edited by Troy Schaum and published by Park Books in 2019. He received an Honorable Mention for the Pierre Vago Journalism Award 2020 from the International Committee of Architecture Critics. He earned degrees in architecture from MIT and Rice University. Prior to his work as an editor, Murphy contributed to award-winning architecture practices in Boston, Austin, Houston, and New York.
Panelists
Sreoshy Banerjea, Executive Director, Public Design Commission
Sreoshy Banerjea is the Executive Director of the Public Design Commission (PDC), New York City’s design review agency where she manages the Commission and team in reviewing proposals for permanent structures, landscape architecture, and art on City-owned property. The Commission advocates for innovative, sustainable, and equitable design of public spaces and civic structures, aiming to improve the public realm for all New Yorkers across the five boroughs.
Sreoshy is a former Vice-President of urban design for the NYC Economic Development Corporation, where she was responsible for establishing and leading the Urban Design Unit housed within the Planning Division. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Banerjea founded Design Corps, and formulated partnerships with AIA and NYCxDesign to create a network of 100 volunteer architects that assisted over 70 restaurants in design related to needs that had arisen during COVID-19. Sreoshy is a former forefront fellow of the Urban Design Forum, as well as the 2021 winner of the AIANY chapter’s Service to the City award, formerly George S. Lewis award. As her personal initiative, Sreoshy founded A.T.L.A.S: The proposal roadmap, an online course, from the client's perspective, that guides emerging and diverse architects in crafting persuasive RFP proposals that land. She frequently hosts workshops with AIA, APA, and SMPS to help architects navigate the proposal writing process to win more RFP's. Prior to her public sector experience, Banerjea worked as an architectural associate with Rafael Viñoly and Dattner Architects. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s degree in urban design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jennifer Cass, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Resilience, Capital Program, NYCEDC
Jennifer Cass is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Resilience for the Capital Program at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). In this role, she oversees an over $1.5B portfolio of diverse projects aimed at strengthening and enhancing New York City communities, including waterfronts, cultural facilities, and public space. Ms Cass holds a Bachelor of Science’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in both New York and California, and a LEED AP.
With over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, she specializes in integrating sustainable and resilient policies and principles into the construction of large, complex infrastructure projects. Notable work in her current portfolio includes Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience, the NYC Ferry, and the NYCEDC Circular Construction Program. Driven by a passion for advancing economic and sustainable growth, Jennifer is committed to shaping a resilient and sustainable future for New York City.
Jared Della Valle, CEO & Co-Founder, Alloy
Jared Della Valle has been a real estate professional and architect for more than 25 years and has managed the acquisition and predevelopment of more than 2 million sf in New York City along the Highline, In the Hudson Yards, in DUMBO and in Downtown Brooklyn.
Jared Della Valle is Chair of the Downtown Brooklyn partnership, sits on the Board of the the Architecture League of New York, and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. He has previously taught at Columbia University, Syracuse University, Washington University, Parsons School of Constructed Environments and Lehigh University. Jared has widely lectured at major universities and institutions and his work has been the subject of more than 200 articles and publications including a monograph entitled “Think/Make” published by Princeton Architecture Press. He holds a B.A. from Lehigh University and Master’s degrees in both Architecture and Construction Management from Washington University, St. Louis, MO. He is a LEED Certified, licensed Architect in New York State, holds an NCARB (National College of Architectural Registration Boards) Certificate and is a licensed real estate broker and a Fellow of the AIA (American Institute of Architects).
Chris Hayner, Deputy Director of Zoning, NYC Department of City Planning
Chris Hayner is the Deputy Director for Zoning at the NYC Department of City Planning. He has most recently been a core member of all the City of Yes text amendments, which have sought to promote carbon neutrality, economic opportunity and housing opportunity to the five boroughs. He has been with the agency since 2008 and has worked on myriad citywide texts and neighborhood plans.
Chris holds master’s degrees in urban planning and real estate development from Columbia University and New York University, respectively, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.
William Xia, Director, Multifamily Housing Programs NYSERDA
Will Xia is the Director of Multifamily Residential programs at NYSERDA, where he currently manages a multimillion-dollar portfolio of programs that help residents save money on energy, reduce their carbon emissions, and electrify their homes. Prior to NYSERDA, Will had a ten-plus year career at Con Edison – New York City’s electric, gas, and steam utility – where he worked on energy efficiency, demand management, and traditional electric and gas utility operations. Will holds an MBA from New York University and a Bachelor of Engineering from the Cooper Union.
Media Contact:
Kathie Brill, Program Manager
Brillk@rpi.edu