Acclaimed global architecture and interiors firm furthers commitment to civic engagement with new non-profit board positions and membership at advocacy groups
Reflecting a commitment to social impact and the creation of vibrant urban communities, the global architecture, planning and interior design firm CetraRuddy has announced the appointment of its Director of Strategy, Emmanuelle C. Slossberg, LEED AP, to new leadership positions at two influential nonprofit organizations: the United Nations-affiliated Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization and the Urban Land Institute New York chapter.
A widely recognized mentor and advisor in the fields of building design, real estate development, construction, and strategic growth/marketing, Slossberg will now serve on the Board of Directors for the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU), a leading advocacy group focused on smart growth and urban development. Affiliated with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (U.N. HABITAT), the New York City-based CSU brings together urban design and architecture professionals, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), governments, and academics to promote best practices in resilient design and planning.
In her position on the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization’s Board of Directors, Slossberg joins fellow appointees in 2019 including strategic real estate expert Megan Chusid and long-serving members including architect and CSU founder Lance Brown, FAIA, the New York City Department of Design and Construction’s Rick Bell. The team will work together to develop and lead the CSU’s expansion strategy.
In addition to her role at Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, CetraRuddy’s Slossberg has also been appointed to the Urban Land Institute (ULI) New York chapter’s Management Committee as Vice-Chair of the District Council Membership Committee. Launched in spring 2019, this group leads recruitment, engagement, and retention strategy for the nearly 2,700-member-strong New York District Council of the ULI. The nonprofit organization is known as much for its thought leadership on real estate trends and policy as for its role providing extensive professional development opportunities. Slossberg has also served as co-chair of a growing membership subcommittee, the ULI New York Women’s Leadership Initiative, or WLI, which offers strategic assistance to emerging professionals and aims to increase women’s visibility and representation in leadership positions.
“In order to foster the kind of successful, visionary urban environments we value as architects, it’s crucial for senior industry professionals to take an active role in advocacy and engagement, and to join collaborative networks that can influence citywide, regional, and national policy,” says Slossberg. “The missions of organizations such as CSU and ULI New York align strongly with our values at CetraRuddy, and we’re proud to contribute to their continued growth and success.”
These new leadership and advisory positions underscore CetraRuddy’s longstanding emphasis on community engagement, mentorship, and professional development. As part of the PENCIL Partnership, the firm has sponsored Community School 300 in the Bronx for over a decade, contributing supplemental STEM education to hundreds of students through workshops and office visits. Starting in 2017, CetraRuddy has also endowed a graduate course at the City College of New York (CCNY) Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture, sponsoring several innovative housing design studios in their Master of Architecture program.
In addition, many of CetraRuddy’s architects and designers participate in the ACE Mentor Program, which encourages high school students to pursue careers in architecture and related fields. The firm also offers employees access to civic leadership opportunities through membership in organizations such as the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), which provides a forum for business, labor, non-profit and political leaders to present ideas and policies aimed at improving New York City for residents, businesses, and communities.
About CetraRuddy
Founded in 1987, CetraRuddy is an award-winning international architecture, planning, and interior design firm driven by design excellence and the creating of one-of-a-kind experiences. For three decades, the firm has led with a guiding principle that architecture and design must engage context and enrich the human spirit. The 100-person firm’s thought leadership stems from shared passion and spirit of creating, as well as the firm’s diversity of backgrounds and cultures. CetraRuddy’s core beliefs begin with the idea that Architecture Is Home, always seeking out the story behind each building site, their deep historical context, and fresh opportunities to craft innovative solutions and lead clients on their journeys toward building a new legacy. Founded by Principals John Cetra FAIA and Nancy J. Ruddy, and led by seven distinguished principals, the firm works throughout the United States and abroad at varied scales and across typologies including multifamily housing, hospitality, education, cultural and commercial projects. CetraRuddy’s portfolio of distinguished work – defined by analytic problem-solving, contextual sensitivity, crafted details and innovative use of materials – reflects an underlying commitment to the human experience. More at www.cetraruddy.com.
…