PORTFOLIO
LYDIA LI
[IDENTITY]
Work Sample 2018-2025
Master of Science, Advanced Urban Design
Cornell University
Bachelor of Architecture
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Lydia(Ruoxi) Li
Urban Designer, Spatial Data Analyst, LEED Green Associate linkedin.com/in/ruoxi-li-241778202/ rl794@cornell.edu +1 914-438-6642
Education
Cornell University
Master of Science, Advanced Urban Design
• GPA: 4.0 / 4.0
Huazhong University of Science and Technology Bachelor of Architecture
• GPA: 3.91 / 4.0
Project Manager and Urban Designer
Metropolitan Urban Design (MUD) Workshop
New York City, United States Aug. 2023 - Aug. 2024
Wuhan, China Sept. 2018 - June 2023
New York City, United States Full time, Oct 2024 - Present
• Managed a county-wide Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, leading research, engagement, and drafting vision and strategies.
• Collaborated with local Business Improvement District (BID) on public realm installation and long-term visioning.
• Conducted zoning-based massing and financial feasibility studies for a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) project.
• Coordinated as a client-facing project manager on multiple New York State initiatives, including Downtown Revitalization Initiatives (DRI) and Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) projects.
• Led and supported spatial analysis as a GIS specialist across urban, rural, and regional-scale planning projects.
Digital Future Participant, Generative Symbolism Workshop
Tongji University
• Conducted urban-scale model generation and typology comparison study on residential units.
June 2024 - July 2024
• Developed rules for symbolic AI (RABBIT, WASP) to generate design scenarios, and applied the result to generative AI (Monoceros, Stable Diffusion) for result visualization.
Assistant Writer College of Arch, Art & Planning NYC Program, Cornell University
New York City, United States Part time, Jan. 2024 - May 2024
• Produced bi-weekly blog and conducted interviews for the AAP NYC Center, highlighting academic initiatives, faculty research, and community-based cultural engagements.
Architecture Shadow Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
San Francisco, United States Jan. 2024
• Observed multidisciplinary workflows and collaboration, participating in client meetings and site visits to understand whole project process.
TerraViva Competitions, Brise-Vent Havre International Design Competition
Cube Award, The 19th Architectural Talent Award
Archtwist Regeneration Competition, Architectural Heritage Preservation Competition
PRI²DE Creative Camp, Movable Chair International Design Competition
Young Architect Competition (YAC), Cultural Station Competition
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Proficient: Rhinoceros, Vray, ArcGIS Pro, Grasshopper, Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), AutoCAD
Advanced: Twinmotion, SketchUp, Python, Adobe (Premiere, After Effects)
English, Chinese(Mandarin)
Project Management, Facilitation, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Innovation, Resillience
AS A CORE
Innovation Park Design at Wuhan Shipbuilding Industry Factory
Paulista Avenue Renovation Based on Civic Events
Rethinking Housing Model in Long Island City
Reimagine Curbside Design in Commercial Districts TOWARDS A NEW AFFORDABILITY
MANIFESTO OF STEEL AND BRICK
Industrial Renovation of Hanyang Steel Plant
CONDENSER
Residential Design at an Urban Village UNTANGLING THE CURB
Connection with Regional Scale Open Space
Wuhan built many factories along the Yangtze River in the funding years of the country, forming the Yangtze River Industrial Belt. As the periphery of Wuhan expanded, idustrials zones were diverted to the outskirts of the city, leaving industrial brownfield to be transformed.It is found that most industrial sites are transformed into commercial pedestrian streets, and a few are transformed into science and technology business parks serving nearby universities.
Alongside the Yangtze River, two metro lines and over five bridges were build for crossriver transportation.
There are three significant waterfront parks located along the river, creating a green corridor for the citizens.
A number of docks and routes are still in use today, for tourism and cargo transportation purpose.
Connection with Regional Scale Open Space
Land Reaggregation
The innovation park is built on the former shipyard factory site and part of its workers dorms.
The primary road network is based on a grid of 300*400m, and the block is approximately 100*100m in scale.
The
Road Network
Zoning and Footprint
Open Space
Along
River
A View From the Yangtze River
The semi-enclosed feature is emphasized by the view of the entire site from the Yangtze River. The form of the green space is also differentiated according to its function, with the natural wetlands serving primarily as a gathering place for people to relax, while the man-made green space provides more hard paved areas and a marina to add vibrancy to the waterfront.
STAPLING THE URBAN GRID
Paulista Avenue Renovation Based on Civic Events
- 2022 Havard Design Discovery Virtual
- Instructor: Alex Yueyan Li, Elyjana Roach, Sophia Xiao
- Individual Work
- Site: São Paulo, Brazil
- Urban Spatial Renovation
Paulista Avenue is one of the oldest and most significant boulevards in São Paulo.
However, as rapid urban development took place, high-rise towers were constructed, taking up spaces for residential units. This urbanization process has led to the demolition of many homes and the alignment of high-rise buildings along the street has become a rift across the middle of the residential area.
As a result, the existing urban scale is too large for people to fully participate in public events, yet the current strategies that citizens take are passive. They will have to construct temporary flyovers and allow no vehicles to trespass whenever holding an event, causing a lot of troubles to the regular routine.
The strategy is to create a connector between the large and small scales, to reserve space for people to move around, and to strengthen the identity of the street and the city. The nodes were designed to solve the problems between the small-scale residential areas, the large-scale highrises and the linear street.
By inserting four different types of space, chessboards can be set up again, banners will have a place to hang and more people are encouraged to participate in this event.
A Significant Passageway
Paulista Avenue is in the center of São Paulo. This 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometer) route connects the southern and western part of the city.
As one of the oldest and most significant boulevards in São Paulo, countless civic events were held and celebrated in this street, as well as protests and parades.
The newly added system uses the fragmented spaces as drop-off points for columns, elevating the connections between the upper floors, while creating sufficient buffer space for the metro stations.
The strategy is to build a footbridge from the residential area, embed it into the high-rise and extend it to the street, increasing connectivity while dissipating the volume of the original high-rise.
Unused plots are selected as a basis to elevate and expand the public spaces of the community. The elevated space allows residents to hold group activities and enhance neighborhood interaction.
Node #2: Infrastructure Connector
Node #3: Cross-Block Flyover
Node #4: Community Center
TOWARDS A NEW AFFORDABILITY
Rethinking Housing Model in Long Island City
- 2024 Spring
- Studio Project
- Instructor: Jae Yun Shin, Damon Rich
- Collaborator: Yongcong Gou
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Queens, New York
- Urban Mechanism Research and Design
In Long Island City, new luxury towers have reshaped the skyline—and the neighborhood. Once defined by working-class communities and shared public spaces, much of the area has become inaccessible to longtime residents, both economically and physically. Gated amenities, rising rents, and displacement tell a familiar story.
Our design envisions a new, decked neighborhood above Sunnyside Yards that centers affordability, access, and collective ownership. Through a partnership between public agencies, private developers, and a community land trust , the proposal introduces 1,200 affordable housing units, distributed across three distinct but connected communities—public, co-op, and mixed-income housing. Each typology is supported by ground-floor programs like youth centers, markets, and shared cultural spaces.
Civic and commercial corridors create an network of gathering spaces that prioritize daily life. A central plaza merges these flows, offering flexible space for both economic activity and community events. More than a housing plan, Sunnyside Yards is a call to imagine new forms of urban development—ones rooted in equity, inclusion, and everyday use.
Civic and Commercial Corridor
Two corridors thread through the new neighborhood—one commercial, one civic—each shaping daily rhythms in different ways.
The commercial corridor hums with life: local vendors, corner stores, and small businesses offer spaces to gather. Just steps away, the civic corridor invites pause—lined with cultural centers, playgrounds, and community halls. These parallel paths reflect the balance of city life. Where they meet, a shared plaza becomes the heart of the neighborhood—a place where stories overlap, events unfold, and strangers become neighbors.
In the central open space where the commercial and civic corridors intersect, community amenities such as shared workspaces and a gym are integrated alongside commercial activities like a marketplace and neighborhood-serving retail.
Deck Access
Rising above the railyard, a series of public access points connects the existing neighborhood to the new community atop the deck. These entryways do more than bridge elevation; they bridge experience.
Residents move seamlessly from streets to newly shared spaces: a school courtyard, a community garden, a public square. What was once a barrier becomes a platform for connection. These access points invite curiosity, encourage movement, and signal that this new neighborhood belongs to everyone.
* Collaborated with Yongcong Gou
Deck access also offers an opportunity to create multi-level public spaces that guide residents from the ground level to the deck. These entryways—whether expressed as open plazas or tucked into buildings—enrich the public realm and elevate spatial experience.
Rebalancing the Affordability
Once divided by income and access, residents now gather in shared courtyards, markets, and cultural spaces. Newcomers and long-time neighbors cross paths daily—not as strangers, but as co-creators of a new kind of neighborhood. Here, living together isn’t just proximity—it’s participation in a more inclusive, collective way of life.
* Collaborated with Yongcong Gou
UNTANGLING THE CURB
Reimagine Curbside Design in Commercial Districts
- 2024 Summer
- Studio Project
- Instructor: Shachi Pandey, Jieun Yang
- Collaborator: Richa Suratti
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Manhattan, New York
- Streetscape Management Design
As e-commerce expands, vacant storefronts and declining use of legacy infrastructure like USPS signal a shift in how cities function. Meanwhile, large trucks occupy curbside space, disrupting pedestrian safety and public life. This project reimagines the curb in Garment District, NYC, as a site of intervention— untangling its spatial and temporal conflicts through phased design strategies.
In 2030, the curb will be extended and reallocated for flexible uses : bike parking, loading, vending, and resting stations for delivery drivers in repurposed storefronts. Dynamic curb management allows flexible functions throughout the day.
By 2050, selected cross streets become curbless, prioritizing pedestrian movements and the public realm. Permeable surfaces, green belts, bioswales, and slow mobility design calm traffic. Large trucks are rerouted to regional hubs, while last-mile delivery is handled by cargo bikes and electric vehicles.
The system scales to the city level by reactivating underused USPS facilities and aligning delivery districts with existing ZIP code boundaries. These nodes serve as pre-distribution points, reducing long-haul trips and enabling localized delivery networks. Combined with green mobility infrastructure, this model supports a logistics ecosystem that is resilient, low-carbon, and embedded within the fabric of daily urban life.
By 2030, the curbside is no longer a leftover edge but a layered threshold—re-distributed to clarify the circulations of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. he curbside is also extended to create a more adaptable zone, where loading, bike parking, pick-ups, and informal vending can coexist through time-based shifts.
Vacant storefronts are integrated into the curb ecosystem—converted into low-impact rest stations for delivery workers, offering a pause in the city’s logistics cycle. Together, these interventions frame the curb not as infrastructure, but as shared urban ground.
Parking & Loading Zone
Collection Zone
Outdoor Seating Food Vendor
Renovated Infrastructure
Bike Parking and Charging
Delivery Workers' Station
Pickup and Drop-off Zone for Hotel
Curbside activity and arrangement in 2030
Untagling the curbside to accommodate multi-uses
Extending the Curb
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Implication of social media qualities on the built environment
- 2023 Fall
- Practicum Project
- Instructor: Brian Ho
- Collaborator: Melanie Chu, Yongcong Gou
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Manhattan, New York
- Urban Spatial Analysis and Application
Instagram has evolved into a powerful tool for individuals to explore new places, serving as a public database shaped by the community rather than a centralized agency. However, there exist two New York Cities. One is the vibrant metropolis showcased on social media, while the other is the hidden reality, often overlooked in the confined dimensions of a single photograph.
This study unfolds in two phases, each addressing critical aspects of urban spaces in New York City. Initially, the focus is on analyzing ten of the most frequented locations, aiming to discern the disjunction between social media portrayals and the reality.
The second phase of the study delves into the intriguing question of what happens when public urban spaces are set to be "Instagrammable." A series of controlled variations are introduced for testing, utilizing both surveys and social media posts. The outcomes of these tests are collected to discern the specific spatial qualities that contribute to the heightened popularity of urban spaces on Instagram.
Through this comprehensive exploration, the study endeavors to unravel the intricate dynamics between social media, public perception, and the design of urban spaces, offering guidance for future urban planning endeavors.
Based on open data from the New York City government, the coordinates and daily ridership of each station are extracted to reflect the location and popularity of different parts of New York City. Each day, a heat map is generated, and the ten most visited stations are listed based on the weekly ridership summary.
Two Parallel Realities
Engagement and Complaint
A MANIFESTO OF STEEL & BRICK
Industrial Renovation of Hanyang Steel Plant
- 2022 Spring HUST Studio
- Collaborator: Wenzhuo Cai
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Wuhan, China
- Industrial Renovation project - 3540m²
- Instructor: professor Wei Zhou weizhou_@hust.edu.cn
-Winner - Archtwist Regeneration Competition
Situated in the center of China alongside the Yangtze River, Wuhan has long been praised for its convenient transportation and rich mineral sources. During the 1890s, Zhang Zhidong realized its marked influence on the whole country and built the Hanyang Iron Plant.However, in the 21st century, the significance of industry decreased. The enclosed factory areas were shut down and become forgotten barren places inaccessible to the public.
The project thus aims to resolve the conflict between present urban development and the preservation of old buildings. The primary intervention is to break down the intimidating large-scale blocks and open up the campus to the public. Physical boundaries are eliminated and urban networks are introduced. Some of the factory's historical value are reused as museums that are educational to the public.
For the specific architectural design, the same concern is how to introduce new functions and forms while meeting the historical value of the heritage. After a careful examination of the authenticity and originality of the factory, an elevated curve ramp is inserted into the factory, serving as a link between the old and new programs and a commemorative route regarding the workers’ closely-supervised and isolated working environment under the time of collectivism. The preserved structures and ruins of the original factory buildings have become part of the tour, allowing visitors to have a chance to get a closer look at the industrial relics. When stepping on the soil and ruins, feeling the brutal structures from the past, visitors can recall the old and glorious days of the factory.
Collaborated with Wenzhuo Cai
The curved wall defines a theater on the ground floor and also serves as a monitor window allowing visual connections with people on the elevated ramp.
At the end of the route is a book shop in the woods. Readers can watch the bustling tourists from a quiet space and experience how workers were isolated by the equipment in the past.
Scenario A
Scenario B
"An elevated
curve ramp is inserted into the factory, serving as a commemorative route regarding the workers’ closely-supervised and isolated working environment under the time of
collectivism."
Collaborated with Wenzhuo Cai
An elevated curve ramp is inserted into the factory, serving as a link between the old and new programs and a commemorative route regarding the industrial context. Moving along the path, visitors can take a closer look at the brutal structures from the past.
The preserved ruins of the original factory buildings have become part of the tour, allowing visitors to have a chance to get a closer look at the industrial heritage relics. When stepping on the soil and ruins, visitors can recall the old and glorious days of the factory.
Stepping on the Ground
Walking along the Path
LIFE CONDENSER
Residential Design at an Urban Village
- 2022 Spring HUST Studio
- Collaborator: Wenzhuo Cai
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Wuhan, Chian
- Residential design project
- Instructor: Mei Jiang jump_jm@126.com
-First Prize - Cube Award
The rapid urbanization of China that began at the end of the 20th century swallowed up large amounts of agricultural land but failed to absorb the homesteads of the agricultural population protected by state land policies, thus creating villages in the cities.
Aesthetically, the urban village is seen by many as a scar on the city; politically, it is a ticking bomb. Yet in the small-scale space of existence, people are closer to each other than in most areas of the city, at the same time, due to the mix-use of functions, the urban village is also a condensed society where people live, work and participate in many social interactions.
Therefore, a proposal is made to rethink the present living pattern. Streets are extracted as a skeleton to link housing units and different layers are superimposed with each other in terms of height.
After studying the living and interaction patterns of people in urban villages, typologies of the street were extracted as a skeleton to link different housing units and superimposed different layers in terms of height. The closeness between neighbors is re-established, and traditional forms are inherited while meeting the demand for high-density living space.
A New Paradigm of Living
In this proposal, street patterns were extracted as a skeleton to link different housing units and different layers are superimposed with each other in terms of height. The goal is to restore neighborhood closeness between neighbors, and traditional forms are inherited while meeting the demand for high-density living space.
VEIL OF LIBERATION
Adaptive Renovation of Birse-Vent Havre
- TerraViva Competition 2024
-Competition Work
- Collaborators: Wenzhuo Cai, Yunzhao Wei
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Le Havre, France
- Infrastructure Renovation
-Honorable Mention
Le Havre’s prosperity is deeply rooted in the transatlantic slave trade, yet the physical cityscape offers only a muted acknowledgment of this painful legacy. Our project begins with a recognition of this historical silence. The existing windbreak wall, a massive and immovable concrete structure, becomes the foundation of our intervention. It symbolizes the weight of oppression—the industrial wealth built on human suffering— and stands as a physical embodiment of the city’s unspoken history.
To confront and transform this legacy, we explore the tension between stability and fragility through a new architectural language: a lightweight, translucent membrane structure that pierces and reshapes the wall. The concrete represents the enduring forces of exploitation, while the delicate membrane evokes the resilience and vulnerability of liberation.
The reconfiguration of the wall culminates in the creation of a human rights museum—a space not only for remembering those who suffered but also for affirming the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. Through this architectural gesture, we transform a symbol of injustice into one of hope, resilience, and human dignity.
* Collaborated with Wenzhuo Cai
TIME RESORT
Cultural Station Renovation in Elini
- Young Architect Competition 2021
-Competition Work
- Instructor: Jingjing Lei
- Collaborators: Zemin Yan, Wenzhuo Cai
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Elini, Italy
- Infrastructure Renovation
-Honorable Mention
Rail infrastructures have long been neglected or abandoned, for they are linked to a form of transportation that was considered obsolete and incompatible with the speed of modern times.
Elini is a perfect mixture of tradition and future, and this is the feature we decided to build our culture station on. We grasped several images from different times and collaged them into a bigger picture.
Using time as the thread, we connect Parco Carmine, Elini Town and the Old Mill together.Our new station is a linear space which interacts with the old buildings and the site. Arriving at the station, tourists are able to take a quick glance at this time-honored town or enjoy a leisure time at a café and outdoor theater.
We are hoping that this culture station is not only a transfer station for tourists, but also a wonderful depiction of Sardinian culture, and Elini will be known as a land of idyllic beauty.
* Collaborated with Wenzhuo Cai
* Collaborated with Zemin Yan
LONG ISLAND CITY DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATVE
- New York City DRI Round 7 (2024)
- Professional Work at MUD Workshop
- Role: Project management, Public and stakeholder outreach, Final documentation
All the drawings except ones annotated with*
- Site: Long Island City, NY
- Client: NYS Department of State
- Consultant Team: MUD Workshop, HR&A, Sherpa Construction and Consulting
“More
Located in Queens, the Long Island City neighborhood was selected as the New York City region’s Round 7 recipient of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). As the prime consultant, MUD Workshop worked with NYS Department of State to lead an eight-month planning process to craft a detailed strategic plan for project investment and implementation.
Through extensive community engagement, analysis, and collaboration, a shared vision and goals for revitalization were developed. This process identified 25 potential community projects, of which 12 were advanced for further design, planning, and financial feasibility studies. The selected projects focus on expanding access to open space, enhancing the quality of the public realm, supporting local businesses and cultural assets, and improving community amenities. Together, they build upon existing investments to catalyze economic revitalization and enhance the quality of life for Long Island City residents.
In total, the slate of 12 recommended projects is supported by $14.8 million in public DRI funding and is expected to leverage an additional $32.6 million from other sources, positioning Long Island City for sustained, community-driven growth.
trees, parks, green space, and benches to rest”
place for all families Support local mom & pop shops
Expand
and
reconstruct the 46th Ave Plaza
Flux Factory will renovate its 9,800-square-foot arts center to enhance artist studios, gallery space, and community facilities. Improvements include a new gallery ceiling, upgraded building façade, new signage, and an energy-efficient HVAC system. These updates will create a more sustainable, welcoming environment for artists and visitors, while improving the surrounding streetscape. Located in Long Island City, the revitalized center will foster greater cultural engagement and contribute to the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation.
“ More investments in LIC Industrial Business Zone”
Expand and reconstruct the 46th Ave Plaza
The 46th Avenue Pedestrian Plaza project will transform a temporary plaza at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and 46th Avenue into a permanent, vibrant public space in the heart of Long Island City’s Court Square neighborhood.
The intervention includes replacing interim materials with permanent paving, landscaping, seating, and areas for public art, alongside new crosswalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian safety improvements. Managed by MoMA PS1 through the NYC Plaza Program, the enhanced plaza will create a safer, greener, and more welcoming environment for residents, workers, and visitors. The project builds on the area’s rapid growth and rising pedestrian activity, reclaiming space from heavy traffic and improving walkability, connectivity, and access to cultural destinations.
By encouraging green transportation and expanding open space, the project will strengthen LIC’s public realm and support its ongoing transformation into a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly urban neighborhood.
Dimensions
(1) Type A: 21.75’ L x 5.5’ D x 9.75’ H
(2) Type B: 13’ L x 5.5’ D x 9.75’ H
Medium
Aluminum frame, painted plywood seating filled with CMU blocks, perforated mesh-like shading fabric, solar and battery-powered light fixtures
Weight
Minimum 800 lbs for each seating structure
Installation Method & Procedure
• Freestanding structures with no direct anchor to the site, weighed down with CMU blocks inside the seating box
• Each component (seat, vertical posts, roof frame, shading material, lights) to be fabricated and delivered to the site for assembly
SAIL is a temporary installation of three shaded seating structures on the Lou Gehrig Plaza’s middle platform. The design was informed through community input, illustrating the necessity of shades and seating to make the plaza more inviting. The design iteration began with a larger-scale tent-like structure covering the full extent of the middle platform. The community preferred the sawtooth-like structure. The final iteration of the structure integrates seating components and flexibility to host different types of events and community engagement activities.
* Collaboration with Suttathai Niyomwas
Perforated mesh fabric shade
Painted aluminum square tube roof frame
Spike mount pike solar accent light
Spike-mounted solar panel with adjustable clamp
Cherry Bubbls solar string light
Painted exterior grade plywood seating box
Weigh-Down CMU block inside, fill grout where posts intersect
Paint aluminum square tube vertical frame