From ASU to NYC: Zack Aders on public work for real change

ASU alum Zack Aders—an accomplished architect and recent recipient of the AIA New York Public Architect Award—shares how a childhood love of building clubhouses in Indiana grew into a public service career managing over $1 billion in infrastructure projects for New York City. Now a vice president at NYCEDC, Aders reflects on the urgency of sustainable design, the complexity of public architecture, and why he believes commitment matters more than passion. “Find the problem you care about,” he says, “and let the work pull you forward.”

Q: Can you tell us a bit about what you do now and what a typical day (or week) looks like in your current role?

A: I'm a senior vice president at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, overseeing over one billion dollars in public projects. That includes libraries, cultural centers, community facilities and green infrastructure. A typical day involves meetings with city agencies, architects, engineers and community stakeholders. The big challenge is always how to do more with limited public resources—making sure every dollar serves both the city's needs and the communities most impacted. Most of my work revolves around capital projects that serve public good. The biggest challenge is aligning ambitious community goals with city processes and funding. It's a balancing act between vision and feasibility.

Q: What do you love most about working in the public sector side of architecture?

A: The ability to shape places for everyone. I love that our work isn't driven by profit, but by need. Public projects come with real stakes and accountability. They’re harder, but more meaningful. In the public sector, we own projects from concept through ribbon-cutting. We engage deeply with communities, navigate city processes, and have to justify every decision. It’s slower and more complex, but more impactful.

Q: Congratulations on receiving the AIA New York Chapter’s Public Architect Award! What does this recognition signify for you personally and professionally?

A: It’s incredibly humbling. It affirms that public service in design matters. Personally, it’s a reminder to keep showing up and doing the work. Professionally, it raises the profile of the issues I care about—climate, equity and community-centered design.

Q: How does this award reflect your values and the work you’ve pursued throughout your career?

A: I’ve always believed design should serve people. The award reflects a team effort to deliver projects that are beautiful, useful and just. It shows that prioritizing public good isn't a sideline—it can be a full career.

Q: What initially drew you to the world of architecture and design?

A: I’ve been drawn to architecture since I was a kid. My brother and I would build clubhouses in the Indiana woods. I loved creating spaces that people could inhabit. Architecture combined art, science and purpose in a way that made total sense to me.

Q: Reflecting on your time at The Design School (known as the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at the time), what experiences helped shape your approach to architecture and public service?

A: Studio was foundational. I was challenged to think critically, not just visually. Professors like Max Underwood and Dan Hoffman made me question what architecture is for. That questioning still guides me.

Q: What advice would you give current ASU students who are interested in architecture—especially those considering careers in sustainability or public service?

A: Don’t chase passion—commit to problems. Let your work guide your motivation. And find peers and mentors who challenge you to think beyond aesthetics. Architecture can be a tool for justice.

Q: Were there specific professors, courses or projects that made a lasting impression?

A: Yes—Max Underwood’s emphasis on storytelling in architecture, and Dan Hoffman’s rigor in systems thinking. Also, working on community-based design studios planted early seeds of service-minded practice.

Q: You currently oversee more than $1 billion in public building projects in New York City. How has your role at NYC EDC shaped your ability to influence sustainable, inclusive and community-focused urban development?

A: It’s given me reach and responsibility. With scale comes the ability to push markets—to insist on low-carbon materials, inclusive design processes and equitable contracting. We don’t just build projects; we model how the city should invest.

Q: Your portfolio includes NYC’s first net-zero energy library—a major sustainability milestone. What drives your commitment to sustainable design in public architecture?

A: The building industry is one of the largest contributors to climate change. I see our role as minimizing harm and maximizing benefit. Every project is a chance to demonstrate what’s possible.

Q: You also co-authored the city’s Circular Construction Guidelines. How do you see circularity shaping the future of architecture and infrastructure?

A: It’s essential. We’ve made progress on operational carbon, but now we need to tackle embodied carbon. That means salvaging materials, designing for deconstruction, and rethinking what we build. Circularity is both strategy and ethical.

Q: Are there particular public outcomes or innovations you’re most proud of?

A: The net-zero Charleston and Red Hook Libraries are big wins. I’m also proud of embedding equity in how we procure designers and construction managers—those systemic shifts ripple across every project.

Q: What message would you want to share with students about the power of architecture to shape and serve communities?

A: Architecture isn’t neutral. Every line you draw affects someone’s life. Ask: Who does this serve? Who might it harm? If you design with that awareness, you’ll always find meaning in the work.

Q: Why is public service an important and often overlooked avenue in the design professions?

A: Because it doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s where the real change happens. Public service puts architects in the position to address inequity, resilience and dignity at scale. And we need more people doing it.

Q: What do you hope your legacy will be for ASU students who are following in your footsteps—particularly those pursuing sustainable and community-centered design?

A: That design can be a form of care. That buildings matter because people matter. If I can show even one student that public architecture is a worthy and powerful path, that’s enough.

Final note:
"Be brave. Reach out. Ask questions. The path to impact is there—you just have to step onto it."