Welcome back, Skyliners! In this episode, we sit down with Toby Snyder, Design Director at FXCollaborative, whose career is a testament to the power of vision, adaptability, and purpose. 

From his early days as a cartographer at National Geographic to becoming a leading voice in urban planning and design, Toby has always been drawn to the way places evolve. To him, a city isn’t just an aggregation of people, policies, and capital—it’s an act of design, where buildings, neighborhoods, and communities must work together as part of a larger system.

Now, Toby is at the forefront of office-to-residential conversions—one of the most critical and complex solutions to NYC’s housing crisis. His deep knowledge of zoning, sustainability, and building adaptability is helping turn underused office towers into much-needed homes, all while preserving the city’s architectural fabric. 

But his passion goes beyond blueprints—affordability and sustainability aren’t just industry buzzwords to him. Whether designing housing that integrates with its surroundings, navigating the hurdles of NYC’s evolving zoning laws, or mentoring future urban planners at Pratt Institute, Toby is dedicated to making cities work better for everyone.

What does it really take to transform an office building into a home? How can urban design fight climate change while keeping housing affordable? And what’s next for City of Yes, the ambitious initiative reshaping NYC’s future? Toby has the answers. Join us as we explore Toby’s passion for creating a more inclusive, resilient, and forward-thinking city in Shaping the NYC Skyline.

More on Shaping the NYC Skyline:

Website - https://www.seidenschein.com/podcast/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/shaping-the-nyc-skyline

Instagram - Shaping the NYC Skyline (@shapingthenycskyline)

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShapingtheNYCSkyline

Email - [email protected]

You can Reach our Hosts by email:

David Shamshovich [email protected]

Brenda Slochowsky - [email protected]

Camila Almeida - [email protected]

SEIDEN & SCHEIN, P.C.

570 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Email: [email protected]

Phone:  (212) 935-1400