As architectural practice increasingly emphasizes ecological responsibility and social engagement, the sustainability of public spaces has become a central concern for architects worldwide. How can we balance function, aesthetics, and user experience while reducing resource consumption and environmental impact? Architectural designer Jiaying Bai is offering thoughtful answers through a series of grounded yet forward-looking designs.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Bai is currently a designer at Centerbrook Architects in the United States. Her work consistently focuses on the intersection of green building and public space, blending environmental responsibility with a strong sense of community belonging. From educational centers in urban parks to small-town libraries, and even visionary systems of elevated paths that address climate risks, her projects share a clear ethos: design that is people-centered and in harmony with nature.
A Green Vessel for the Community — The Whittingham Discovery Center
Nestled within Mill River Park, a 31-acre urban oasis in downtown Stamford, Connecticut, the Whittingham Discovery Center showcases Bai’s skill in transforming sustainable concepts into built form. The park was envisioned as a new model of urban life—one that attracts residents who seek proximity to work and culture without compromising quality of life. As Stamford continues to grow with corporate headquarters and dense residential development, the park provides an essential balance of nature and community.
As the park’s signature landmark, the Discovery Center serves many roles: an operations hub, an environmental education venue, and a gathering place for the community. Its sustainable strategies include a green roof to counter the heat-island effect, rooftop solar panels for partial energy supply, double low-e glazing for thermal performance, high-reflectivity and recycled materials to lower emissions, and drought-tolerant native plantings that enhance stormwater infiltration. Extensive material research and climate-adaptive detailing ensure the building is both visually transparent and energy efficient.
The Center embodies the idea of architecture as education—a living demonstration of sustainable design while fostering connection and learning. Recognized with LEED Platinum certification, an AIA Merit Award, and an Honorable Mention of International Architectural Awards, the Discovery Center stands as a model of environmentally responsive public architecture.
A Sustainable Cultural Landmark — The New Canaan Library
A defining milestone in Bai’s work is the New Canaan Library in Connecticut—a 42,700-square-foot facility envisioned as the town’s hub for learning, culture, and community. New Canaan, long celebrated for its modernist landmarks such as Philip Johnson’s Glass House, the Noyes House, and the sinuous Grace Farms, provided both inspiration and context. From the start, the library was designed to achieve a dual ambition: to embody sustainability and to serve as the community’s cultural heart.
Referencing modernist traditions through its forms and composition, the building features dry-laid stone walls animated by dramatic glass openings. Vertical metal fins of varied heights evoke the rhythms of New England’s upland forests, while the interplay of stone and glass creates a dialogue with the surrounding landscape—at times merging softly into it, at times standing in striking contrast.
The library operates entirely on an all-electric system, eliminating fossil fuels. Rooftop photovoltaic panels, air-source heat pumps, and high-efficiency energy recovery systems sharply reduce carbon emissions. Its high-performance façade integrates low-e double glazing with adjustable shading to minimize glare and heat gain. Sustainable material choices—including recycled-glass concrete and bird-safe patterned glazing—reinforce ecological responsibility while protecting local biodiversity.
Inside, the sustainable ethos continues: locally sourced wood, low-VOC finishes, a fuel-free fireplace, and generous daylighting establish a healthy, welcoming environment. Balancing energy performance with cultural vitality, the library has earned prestigious honors such as the Green Good Design Award, an Honorable Mention of International Architectural Awards, and the Finalist for the “Public Library of the Year” award by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations), while drawing widespread recognition from Architectural Record, American Libraries, and beyond.
Adaptive Reuse for Health and Community — The Verdant Commons
Beyond her built projects, Bai also pursues sustainability through visionary conceptual research. One of her most acclaimed proposals, The Verdant Commons, reimagines a historic student residence hall in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, as a model for adaptive reuse and sustainable urban living. Originally constructed in 1920 as a bank and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the building carries deep cultural and contextual significance. Bai’s design preserves this historic integrity while reconfiguring the structure into a vibrant, health-centered living environment that integrates biophilic strategies and sustainable design.
Key interventions anchor the transformation: a rooftop garden fosters urban ecology and wellness; underutilized corners are converted into communal kitchens that now serve as inviting, sound-insulated hubs for cooking and socializing; upper floors introduce “winter garden” balconies that admit daylight and fresh air, doubling as thermal buffers and informal lounges. Corridors are widened and enriched with soft seating, ambient lighting, and tactile finishes, encouraging spontaneous interaction and a sense of community.
Sustainability is layered throughout the scheme, from green walls that enhance acoustics and provide educational value, to breakout spaces fostering collaboration, to the use of recycled and natural materials. With minimal structural change, Bai’s design dramatically enhances livability and environmental performance.
“The challenge was to honor history while envisioning a healthier future,” Bai explains. The Verdant Commons demonstrates how adaptive reuse can merge ecological goals with human-centered innovation. Its recognition as a Gold Winner for Architectural Concept Design at the London Design Awards affirms the project as a forward-looking model for sustainable, community-oriented living in historic urban contexts.
A Gentle Yet Resolute Design Language
Through her built works and conceptual visions alike, Jiaying Bai illustrates how architecture can be both a response to urgent environmental challenges and a catalyst for cultural vitality. Whether shaping community anchors like the Whittingham Discovery Center and the New Canaan Library, or envisioning future-ready systems like The Alley Arbors, her designs reveal a guiding belief: sustainability is not a constraint, but an opportunity to enrich human experience.
Bai’s projects highlight that ecological responsibility and social engagement are inseparable. By weaving together technical innovation, cultural sensitivity, and human-centered design, she offers a powerful model for how architecture can evolve in an era of climate uncertainty.
As cities around the world face the dual pressures of environmental risk and social change, Bai’s work reminds us that sustainable design is most impactful when it fosters belonging, resilience, and hope. Her journey continues to demonstrate that the future of public space is not only greener—but also more inclusive, more adaptive, and more deeply human.
