America is currently suffering a severe affordable housing crisis, one that is not only draining the economy but leaving millions without a reliable or dignified place to live. The lack of thoughtfully designed and inclusive spaces doesn’t just impact people, but businesses as well. Poorly designed environments have ripple effects that directly impact productivity, workforce stability, innovation, and public safety.
Architect Nneoma Asinugo has focused her career on reimagining how architecture can build trust, access, and opportunity, advocating for underrepresented communities to have thoughtfully designed spaces so that they may thrive both economically and culturally.
Studies show that well-designed spaces with human evolutionary needs at the forefront lead to better productivity and mental and physical health. With nearly a decade of experience leading these types of projects, Nneoma’s work blends architectural excellence with social purpose, fighting for a future where buildings are designed to benefit those who live in them.
Her approach is rooted in economics. Equitable design choices foster long-term growth and make communities more attractive to both residents and businesses. “Consider a neighborhood or district that is walkable, properly integrated with natural elements, thoughtfully laid out with sufficient infrastructure, and is also aesthetically pleasing with its own unique character expressed and celebrated,” Nneoma urges. “Residents will take greater pride in living there and more people will be drawn to visit or stay. Attracting top talent leads to increased quality of local goods and services.”
Additionally, design plays a critical role in risk mitigation. Low-income communities are generally at a greater risk in the event of natural disasters because of the way their spaces were designed. This can lead to displacement, which is traumatizing enough, and rebuilding taking a long time and even leading to abandoned buildings and areas. If buildings are resilient from the beginning, the people who reside in them and the businesses that work out of them will be set up for greater success. It’s about investing in the future and can mean the difference between devastation and recovery.
Regardless of scale or cost, it’s important to approach each design project with the same desire to create something that will have a lasting impact. “It is important to have clients with similar values,” Nneoma says. “If clients are not directly involved in revitalizing communities in their daily work, they support and sponsor such developments in other ways. We aim to truly empower the people and places we design for and this at times means taking on pro bono work and volunteering in the community.” With humanity at the forefront of all architectural choices, cities thrive.
She also believes that true change starts early with access to opportunity. That’s why she advocates for exposing young people in underrepresented communities to creative, practical careers like architecture. Investing in youth today builds the foundation for a stronger workforce tomorrow.
Nneoma urges leaders to involve not just investors, but also the people who use the spaces every day. This allows for input from those who spend time in these spaces and know the nuances of what the area needs. It’s easy to create something that looks good on paper but lacks a local connection or doesn’t function in practice as intended. People are happier and put more into their communities when they feel like their voices are heard and their needs valued.
Nneoma’s work reminds us that architecture isn’t just about buildings, but more importantly, people, purpose, and possibility. Her equitable, human-centered approach helps communities become more resilient and economically vibrant. When design is inclusive, functional, and rooted in the voices of those it serves, the result isn’t just aesthetic appeal, it is the opportunity to create lasting value for both people and businesses, shaping a stronger future for all.
