The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) is pleased to present the 2026 Built by Women Map, a juried initiative that features the breadth and impact of women’s contributions across the building industries. The Built by Women program at BWAF recognizes the significant but often overlooked work of women architects, urban designers, engineers, contractors, and developers whose projects shape our cities. This new map builds on earlier iterations in Manhattan and Los Angeles, and includes over fifty projects across all five boroughs of New York City—the largest map to date. Highlights include 30 Hudson Yards Skyscraper (KPF), The Forum at Columbia University (Dattner Architects), The East River Waterfront Masterplan (SHoP Architects), Louis Armstrong Center (Caples Jefferson Architects), The New Terminal One at JFK Airport (Jaros, Baum, & Boles), Bronx Charter School for the Arts (WXY architecture + urban design), among many other cultural landmarks and architectural marvels.
BWAF collaborated with Once–Future Office on the identity and design of the 2026 map and accompanying campaign. The digital and print materials feature a vibrant color palette and bold folding motif that reimagines the standard fold-out format with something more legible and elegant, resulting in a map that is both a navigational tool and a lasting cultural takeaway. Inspired by the geometry of the Built by Women hexagonal logo, the folding systems extend across both physical and digital elements, reflecting the program’s intersectional and collaborative mission. In a further nod to women’s authorship, the map features Paragraf, a typeface designed by New York-based designer TienMin Liao of Typeji.
“We had a lot of fun making prototypes in the studio and solving the puzzle of fitting 50+ projects scattered throughout five boroughs into a map that’s portable, fun, and functional. Our hope is that people will find delight in using an old school printed map to seek out these celebrated buildings, or pin up the poster side as a keepsake,” said founding Principal and Creative Director of Once–Future Office Dungjai Pungauthaikan. “As a women-led studio, we’re honored to be a part of this special project.”
Despite their central role in shaping cities, women’s work in the building industries remains underrepresented. Built by Women offers a unique opportunity to create visibility for these practitioners and projects, presenting a public-facing record that is interactive and educational. This is just one of the many programs that the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation facilitates to celebrate and promote diversity in these fields, and following this launch will be a series of scheduled tours and events to activate the map and the spaces it highlights. This map serves as a clear, visual reminder: women have always been building our cities, and their influence is everywhere around us.
The 2026 Built by Women map was officially launched at the BWAF annual Bevy Leadership Awards on April 16, at The Shed. The evening honored leaders advancing equity in the built environment, including Sharon Prince, David J. Cohen, Erleen Hatfield, Julia Gamolina, Amale Andraos, and Tess McNamara. More than 300 guests across architecture, design, real estate, construction, engineering, etc., convened to celebrate and discuss how we can reshape systems, spaces, and decisions that define our world. Each guest went home with the 2026 Built by Women Map and a sneak peek at the new brand identity for the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, which will be rolled out over the course of a year leading up to the organization's 25th anniversary in 2027.
“Maps are powerful tools for navigating and interpreting the world around us, and initiatives like this play a critical role in illuminating the ways women shape space,” said Executive Director of The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, Tizziana Baldenebro. “We are deeply grateful to Once–Future Office for their design support and to the esteemed members of the jury for their thoughtful engagement with each project.”
Image courtesy of Once-Future Office
