Andrei Harwell believes that the most important tool in an architect’s kit is not a drafting pen, but a pair of ears. As a Senior Critic at the Yale School of Architecture and the Director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, Andrei has spent over two decades practicing a philosophy he calls “radical listening”. For Andrei, urban planning is not something done to a city from the ivory tower; it is a powerful vehicle for community organizing that must be done with the people who live there.
Since joining the Yale Urban Design Workshop over 20 years ago, Andrei has facilitated major projects that have reshaped the landscape of New Haven, including the development of affordable housing and comprehensive neighborhood plans. His methodology is defined by deep, sustained collaboration between Yale students and New Haven citizens. Under his guidance, students learn to see the city not as a blank canvas for their own ideas, but as a living blueprint for collective living that requires respect and humility.
Andrei’s work ensures that Yale’s institutional resources are used to build more than just buildings; they are used to build civic infrastructure and long-term trust. Whether he is facilitating a neighborhood charrette or mentoring the next generation of architects, he emphasizes that trust is the foundation of any design. By treating every resident as an expert in their own neighborhood, Andrei has fostered a form of urbanism that is as much about social equity as it is about aesthetics. He has taught generations of students that the best designs are those that emerge from the voices of the community, ensuring that New Haven grows in a way that is inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable.
For his career-long commitment to radical listening, his leadership in community-based design, and his dedication to building a more equitable and collaborative city, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Andrei Harwell with an Ivy Award.