James Piacentini

James Piacentini (M.Arch/MSUP ‘20) is a product manager, designer, planner, and visual data researcher. His work explores the intersection of urban spatial cartographies, climate and social equity, and data-driven analytics through web-based platforms. He currently works at the NYC Department of City Planning as a product manager for digital services, directing the design and development of the Agency’s portfolio of public-facing digital applications and tools such as ZoLa, Population FactFinder, and the Online Zoning Resolution. He oversaw the implementation and launch of the Equitable Development Data Explorer, the City’s first-of-its-kind racial equity and displacement risk tool, now used to generate Racial Equity Reports (RER) as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). He also served as the work-stream leader for RER improvement for DCPRE, the Agency’s internal racial reform working group.

Prior to joining the Department of City Planning, Piacentini worked as a cartographer and data analyst at Apple where he designed and implemented public transit systems on Apple Maps. He also served as an in-house design manager at Lincoln Center Development Corporation, working on campus-wide projects as well as the $500 million David Geffen Hall renovation.

He received his Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia GSAPP in 2020, where he also served on the University Senate for two years. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014.