Neeraj Bhatia named Columbia GSAPP urban design director

Neeraj Bhatia, who serves as the principal at The Open Workshop, will take on the role of director for the master of science in Architecture and Urban Design program at Columbia GSAPP starting in July 2026. He replaces Kate Orff, who has been in the position since 2015. A recipient of the 2026–27 Rome Prize, Bhatia previously worked at California College of the Arts (CCA), where he co-led the Urban Works Agency. CCA announced its closure in January. He also curated the 2023 exhibition Climate as Praxis alongside Irene Cheng and Adam Marcus. His upcoming book, New Investigations in Collective Form, stems from a 2018 exhibition at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. GSAPP dean Andrés Jaque commended Bhatia for his capacity to link design experimentation with issues like climate and spatial justice. Meanwhile, Orff will remain involved with GSAPP's Earth Studio and work with Columbia Climate School on climate initiatives.