Susan Chin

Susan Chin is an architect and civic leader recognized for her contributions to public space, cultural infrastructure, and design advocacy. She is the principal of DesignConnects, an independent consultancy she founded to continue advancing cross-sector design solutions for the public realm. Previously, as executive director of the New York–based Design Trust for Public Space, she led initiatives that brought together government, community groups, and private-sector experts to reimagine the urban environment. Her work at the trust helped shape public policy and improve design practices in areas such as open space equity, transportation, and food systems.

Earlier in her career, Chin served as assistant commissioner for capital projects at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, where she managed more than $3 billion in architecture and construction projects for the city’s cultural institutions. A Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, she is widely recognized for integrating design excellence with public service.