How Design Can Help Dismantle Racial Inequity

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Racial disparities in quality of life in many American cities are the direct result of past injustices. That’s the premise of "Designing for Racial Justice," our new signature research report from Gensler’s Center for Research on Equity and the Built Environment. 

The report leverages data from Gensler’s research on climate, cities, and residential experience to tell the story of historic and current inequities in the U.S. while also looking at the design solutions and innovations underway that are seeking to overcome these challenges.  

Too often, the far-reaching impact of previous design decisions has been division, inequity, and solutions that serve some communities well while leaving others behind. While design was used as a tool to create inequity in the past, design can — and must — be the tool we use to dismantle contemporary racial inequity in the U.S.

Today’s spatial inequities are a direct result of historically racist urban policies and practices.  

• Many majority Black American neighborhoods still suffer from underinvestment and neglect as a direct result of redlining in the mid 20th century.  
• Major urban areas are still largely in a state of de facto segregation, with stark divides in quality of life and economic opportunity falling on racial lines.  
• Intentional investment in accessible 20-minute cities, high-quality affordable housing, and the reunification of neighborhoods through public transit can create equity of place to urban areas.  

The isolation and devaluation of Black neighborhoods denies people access to systems of economic prosperity.    

• Homes in Black neighborhoods are still appraised at 20% less than homes in white neighborhoods.  
• Historically neglected neighborhoods tend to be further away from jobs centers, forcing residents to commute longer distances to access high-income job opportunities.  

• More than 50 years after The Fair Housing Act, only 44% of Black people own their home, compared to 72% of white people. 

Black communities are disproportionately burdened with environmental and well-being risks.

• Disinvestment in Black neighborhoods has made residents more likely to be exposed to dangerous environmental stressors such as extreme heat and polluting infrastructure like power plants or major roadways. 
• Today, only 39% of Black respondents reported living in neighborhoods with clean air and Black Americans are 40% more likely to have asthma than white Americans, and Black children are 8x more likely to die from asthma-related causes.   
• Long-term underinvestment has left historically neglected neighborhoods more vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change.  

Equitable design is a catalyst for transformation. 

Equitable design solutions require an equitable design process that starts with the community. Community-led design processes are the start of a process that ensures that local voices shape development — helping to pinpoint areas of the most need and foster greater inclusivity in design.  

True equity demands more than just providing basic amenities; it requires addressing the injustices built into existing structures and systems. Ultimately, equitable design isn’t just about building physical structures; it’s about reshaping our society to ensure a more prosperous tomorrow. 

More stats and stories you need to know.  

• Learn how the transformation of Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill district aims to correct the injustices of the past. 
• Read more about the importance of equity in the 20-minute neighborhood. 
• Read Gensler’s 10 strategies for fighting climate injustice. 

Written by Lisa Cholmondeley and Roger Smith, co-directors of Gensler’s Center for Research on Equity and the Built Environment. 

Join the conversation. How does your community support racial equity? What are your thoughts on community-centered design? 

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*The studies’ sampling strategies aimed to balance racial and ethnic identity to align with the U.S. Census. Only the average results of respondents who identified exclusively as White or Caucasian, Black or African American, or Latino or Hispanic had sufficient sample sizes to be included in this report. Additional detail on methodology is described in the report appendix.