Lindsey earned her master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. VHB's focus on professional development and mentorship drew her to the NYC office.

Lindsey serves as Deputy Project Manager on New York Forward, a statewide downtown revitalization program, and contributed to the Environmental Impact Statement for SPARC Kips Bay, a first-of-its-kind life sciences campus projected to create more than 15,000 jobs over the next 30 years.

This article is part of our series highlighting the experiences of VHB professionals across the company. This is Lindsey's story.

8:00 a.m. | Site Visit at SPARC Kips Bay

I took the ferry from Queens this morning, instead of my usual train, which means I'm arriving in Kips Bay slightly windswept and very awake. Today begins with a site visit to SPARC, a Science Park and Research Campus, going up on the CUNY Hunter College Brookdale Campus. I'm here to take site photos and document current conditions, which will inform our ongoing environmental analysis.

The project includes three buildings, nearly two million square feet, and more than 15,000 jobs projected. SPARC is part of a larger city initiative to establish New York City as a global leader in Life Sciences. In addition to SPARC, I worked on the environmental review for Innovation East, another development project that helps meet this city-wide goal. It’s incredible to work so closely on projects that are shaping the future of industry in New York City.

9:00 a.m. | Arrive at the Office

I arrive at the office with a full day ahead of me. I've got updates to share with the team from this morning's site visit, plus a New York Forward meeting and a brainstorm with the Emerging Professional Group. The NYC office has a great energy, with people always stopping by each other's desks to chat and collaborate. Today, breakfast is waiting in the office kitchen, and I’m hoping to snag an everything bagel before my first call of the day.

10:00 a.m. | New York Forward Work Session

I meet with the hybrid New York Forward team to talk through our upcoming Local Planning Committee meetings. New York Forward is a state program that awards $4.5 million to small villages across New York to invest in their downtowns. VHB facilitates the planning process, and as Deputy Project Manager, I help run the meetings where local leaders decide how to spend it.

My project manager has mentored and encouraged me to lead and facilitate more of the meetings myself. Working on NY Forward has allowed me to build invaluable skills in community engagement and meeting facilitation. You get a room full of people who genuinely care about their town, often with different ideas about what it needs. Helping communities work through those decisions and arrive at a plan they're excited about is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

12:00 p.m. | Lunch on the High Line

When the weather cooperates, I have lunch with a friend on the High Line near the office. It’s great to be able to stroll through and enjoy the park before heading back to the office and closing out the rest of my day.

What I love about planning in NYC is that it's a hub of innovation and creativity. There are many opportunities for planners to work on forward-thinking projects and help shape planning trends and best practices.

1:00 p.m. | Project Work at my Desk

After lunch, I'm at my desk working through deliverables. I use GIS daily for mapping and analysis, but lately I've been spending more time on written reports, translating technical findings into language that is easy to understand for clients and community members. Getting the language right is important. It's how technical findings become something communities can build from.

2:00 p.m. | Environmental Team Review

Our environmental team meets to review a few active projects. These are some of my favorite meetings because everyone brings a different perspective. Someone will ask a question that shifts how I'm thinking about a problem or suggest an approach I hadn't initially considered. We build on each other's ideas, and I usually leave with a clearer sense of direction than when I walked in. This kind of collaboration is how we deliver stronger solutions for our clients and communities.

3:00 p.m. | Emerging Professional Group Brainstorm

A few of us from the Emerging Professional Group meet in the library downstairs to plan upcoming events. Today, we’re brainstorming ways to make events even more engaging for students. The Open Houses are my favorite. These are events where we invite students from local colleges and universities to learn about careers at VHB. They come excited to explore planning and engineering, and I remember being on that side of the table while at Pratt, eager to take the next step. Being able to share my experience and help someone find their path is a great feeling.

4:30 p.m. | Wrapping Up with My Manager

Before heading out, I stop by my manager’s office. We talk through what's coming down the pipeline and discuss where I might need support. Today I have a question about framing a deliverable for a client, and we spend a few minutes talking through the best approach.

I've learned so much from these conversations—whether it's client communication, seeing the bigger picture, or trusting my instincts. Having a manager who's invested in my growth has been one of the best parts of being at VHB.

5:15 p.m. | Heading Home

I pack up and head back out into Midtown. The city is buzzing at this time of day, with everyone moving fast through Penn Station. I grab a seat on the train back to Queens.

I came out of grad school hoping to find meaningful work. Two years in, what I love most is the connection we build with the communities we plan for. I get to engage directly with community leaders and, through collaborative conversations and analysis, develop strategies to help move their vision forward. That I get to do this work with people who make me laugh between deadlines makes it even better.

Learn more about VHB's early career opportunities, or explore all open positions across our footprint to find where you can make an impact.