Nandini Bagchee

Nandini Bagchee is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the Spitzer School of Architecture, City College of New York (CCNY), and Principal at Bagchee Architects. Her work bridges academic research and architectural practice with a strong focus on community engagement and spatial activism.

Her research centers on the intersection of architecture and social action, particularly in urban environments. Through projects like her book Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham, 2018), she explores how activist-run buildings in New York City embody collaborative building practices and serve as sites of collective resistance and liberation. Using drawings, oral histories, and textual analysis, she documents how physical spaces shape and are shaped by community action.

Nandini's work reveals critical insights into the mechanics of city-building from the ground up, emphasizing participatory processes and the democratization of space. Her ongoing collaborations with community-based organizations in New York City continue to inform both her architectural practice and pedagogy.

She has been invited to present her work widely, including as a speaker in the Spring 2025 lecture series at Cal Poly Architecture School, where she discussed strategies for critically engaging with communities.

• Associate Professor of Architecture, Spitzer School of Architecture, CCNY
• Principal, Bagchee Architects
• Author, Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham, 2018)

Nandini Bagchee mentors students and emerging architects through her teaching and studio guidance at CCNY. While specific grant details are not mentioned, her research is deeply rooted in fieldwork, archival documentation, and community partnerships, suggesting sustained support for socially driven architectural inquiry. Her work contributes significantly to redefining architectural practice as a tool for equity and civic empowerment.

She is actively involved in shaping discourse around inclusive design and spatial justice through her practice, publications, and public lectures.