New York, NY, September 2, 2025 – The CIDIE Lab today announces the expansion of its groundbreaking community-informed design pilot certification program by Fall 2026. Backed by a powerhouse coalition of academic, industry, and community leaders, the initiative is laying the foundation for the first-of-its-kind community-centered certification to gain national and global recognition.

The Community-Informed Design for Innovative Environments (CIDIE) Standard™ is an emerging building certification program that supports architecture and design professionals in transforming community and end-user priorities into actionable design solutions. Built on research-driven frameworks, CIDIE outlines innovative methods for capturing, translating, and evaluating socially responsible built environments.

The 13-member Steering Committee, composed of C-Suite executives, academic researchers, and community organizations, will guide key initiatives during the 2025–2026 term. Their priorities include developing CIDIEv1 into a points-based rating system, expanding certification pathways, and advancing CIDIE’s impact on a national and global scale.

“We are putting significant efforts towards completing CIDIEv1 so we can continue to support teams interested in creating community-centered environments and – most importantly – recognize those efforts through certification,” said Victoria Lanteigne, CIDIE Lab Founder & CEO. “Our goal is to link the conversation on design directly to civic engagement and ensure that every community has a seat at the table when designing its future.”

Jessica Bantom, Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging at DLR Group, shared, “I joined the CIDIE Steering Committee because I believe that authentic community engagement in design is essential. By supporting CIDIE, we’re creating a framework where every voice can shape the spaces where we live, work, and gather.”

The Steering Committee builds on a successful pilot period in which several projects achieved or registered for CIDIE Certification, including:

• The Memorial at Harvey Milk Plaza – First project to receive CIDIE Design Certification (case study here).

• Norman-Sims Elementary – First project to receive both CIDIE Design and Experience Certifications (case study here)

• Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind – Most recent project registered for CIDIE Design Certification.

To support CIDIE Lab’s mission:

• Apply for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAG) – Applications due September 5, 2025 (Apply here).

• Join the CIDIE Incubator – Become a gold, silver, bronze, or platinum member and help advance community-centered design (Membership details).

• Learn more about CIDIE Certification (cidiecertified.com).

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CIDIE Steering Committee Members:

• Victoria Lanteigne, Ph.D., WELL AP – Chief Executive Officer, The CIDIE Lab

• Rachel Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP – President & CEO, Bergmeyer

• Danyson Tavares, Assoc. AIA, NOMA – Executive Director, Boston Society for Architecture/AIA

• Traci Rose Rider, Ph.D., LEED AP, WELL AP – Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs, School of Architecture | College of Design, North Carolina State University

• Nicola Springer, AIA, LEED AP – Partner, Managing Director, pK-12 Practice, Kirksey Architecture

• Kevin Symons, Assoc. AIA – Senior Associate, Mackey Mitchell Architects

• Rainey Shane, SEAM AP – Executive Director, SEAM, Inc.

• Jessica Bantom – Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging, DLR Group

• Moira Denson, ASID, LEED AP – Associate Professor, School of Design and Art, Marymount University

• Rey Sully – President, Sully Development

• Brian Springfield – Executive Director, Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza

• Pareisse Wilson – Senior Principal, Social Impact, Mott MacDonald

• Jessica Sticklor-Lipson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel – Design Principal, Fielding International

About The CIDIE Lab

The CIDIE Lab leads the Community-Informed Design for Innovative Environments (CIDIE) Standard™, a building certification program that translates community voices into impactful design solutions. CIDIE envisions a world where built environments are free of structural, programmatic, and social barriers through design that is grounded in community insight.

Media Contact:
info@cidiecertified.com