Active Design Guidelines 2.0
Designing for Health and Equity
Photo Courtesy of Mia Castro | Creative Art WorksCelebrating a New Era of Active Design.
Photo courtesy of Iwan Baan.
Barrett Doherty, courtesy of MNLA
The Active Design Guidelines 2.0 (ADG 2.0) offers an updated vision for creating cities that prioritize health, quality of life, and equity through design. Building on the foundation of the original 2010 Guidelines, ADG 2.0 provides architects, planners, and policymakers with an expanded, evidence-informed framework for shaping buildings, streets, and public spaces that foster physical activity, mental health, and social connection.
PS 86 Brooklyn, New York | Photo Courtesy of Scott Lucas | Creative Art Works
Developed through a collaboration between the Center for Active Design® (CfAD) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, along with city agencies, community organizations, and design professionals, ADG 2.0 reflects fifteen years of global progress and an ever-growing evidence linking the built environment to measurable health outcomes.
This updated edition moves beyond physical activity alone—addressing mental health, social health, civic life, and safety, and emphasizing the role community engagement and design play in advancing equity and resilience across all communities. For more details on NYC’s Active Design program visit nyc.gov/activedesign.
Explore ADG 2.0 and join us in shaping a healthier, more vibrant future for all.
If interested in learning more about how we can support you in your work to leverage the built environment to promote health, reach out to us at info@centerforactivedesign.org.