Meet Scott Lauer, Founder, Open House New York
On April 28, the 2026 Open City Benefit will bring together hundreds of New Yorkers for a festive evening at 3 World Trade Center.
Scott Lauer, founder of Open House New York, will be presented with the Open City Award at the event, in honor of his bold and generous vision to provide access to the city for all New Yorkers and his enduring leadership over the past 25 years.
About Scott
Scott Lauer has had a multifaceted career directing architecture projects, community building initiatives, and design education programs. He currently directs design, planning, and sustainability at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
His experience as an architect, combined with a passion for social impact design, led him to direct building initiatives in underserved communities. These projects included Rebuild Philadelphia, a $400M Mayor's initiative to improve libraries, recreation centers and parks; The Library Initiative, a public/private partnership to build and staff 25 elementary school libraries; and post-hurricane demonstration projects in NYC and NJ to build resilient, sustainable, and affordable modular homes.
As the founder of Open House New York, he advised similar organizations in Chicago, San Diego, Denver and Newark, NJ. He also served as V.P. of Programs for the American Architectural Foundation, educating the public on the power of design to improve lives and transform communities.
You founded Open House New York in 2001. What inspired you to start the organization?
I grew up in the New Jersey suburbs and New York City has always been a major source of inspiration. In my teens I used to take the train to the city on weekends and explore off-the-beaten-path places and spaces, clutching my camera and bag of subway tokens. When I graduated from architecture school in 1986 there was very little public discourse about architecture, design and the built-environment—topics I cared about deeply. It's hard to fathom that now when a flood of information is available on our smartphones and streaming channels.
I moved to London in 1990 and soon after attended the first London Open House. It was so exciting to experience a festival that connected people, places and systems in a fun and welcoming way. I was hooked!
What were the early days of OHNY like? What kept you going when things were tough?
It was exciting to delve into the many aspects of starting a non-profit business. I brought together an ever-expanding team of advisors and volunteers, who provided valuable input on how to create a business plan, build a governing board, research and develop programs, fundraise, lobby elected officials, marketing, branding, soliciting wine and cheese donations (for events, not for me!), and 1,000 other considerations—all while working two other jobs to stay afloat. The generous advice and contributions of my friends, family and experienced advisors kept me and OHNY on track. The enthusiastic response from the civic and design community was energizing. Coffee also helped.
Obtaining financial support was, and is, a perennial challenge for all non-profits. Despite our half-a-shoestring budget—or maybe because of it—everything we did was an experiment. That spirit of innovation and improvement has been passed down through our board and staff. It’s the secret sauce that fuels OHNY's entrepreneurial nature and growth.
When did you first realize the level of public interest in OHNY’s work?
Leading up to the first OHNY Weekend our volunteer PR team worked a miracle on a $0.00 budget and garnered very significant media coverage. The response was a promising sign. During the weekend I found large, happy crowds and long queues at many sites. We welcomed more than 1,600 visitors to several sites across the city including City Hall, The Grand Lodge of Masons, and even a private home with a scale model of the Yangtze River stocked with carp running through the Living Room floor and out to the Garden. The architecture firm where I worked part-time bought 60 apples to offer OHNY visitors and volunteers. More than 600 people showed up to tour the studio and roof deck. So many people contributed to that initial success. I was happy that they could see for themselves the results of their time and effort.
How does OHNY today compare to your vision of it in 2001?
I always believed OHNY would be successful. The city and its residents are too amazing for it not to be. That said, it’s truly satisfying to see OHNY grow and mature. Our staff and board members are so dedicated. Their ability to improve OHNY's programs and capacity year after year has enabled OHNY to connect a broad and growing audience with important issues, organizations and individuals. The impact of our volunteers, who over the years have been so committed to our mission and act as OHNY evangelists, is the foundation of our success.
Do you have a favorite memory or story you’d like to share of how OHNY changed a person, a community, or New York?
I could write a book about the impact OHNY has had on people, places, organizations and initiatives. It has helped worthy programs, projects and policies across the city gain support. By doing so, our programs have touched many lives – and kickstarted more than a few businesses and long-term relationships.
I recall a moment of joy during the 3rd OHNY Weekend. The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is a beautiful, 19th-century landscape filled with statuary, architecture and history. At that time, however, it wasn’t broadly appreciated. Working with The Green-Wood Cemetery and local arts group, Dance Theatre Etc., we developed an ambitious program of events. Some 1,700 visitors took tours and enjoyed site-specific dance performances, a pianist playing a Steinway at the family’s mausoleum, a procession of bagpipers, and a quartet debuting an original piece composed for the occasion. It was meaningful to bring such a large audience to an important and undervalued site. In doing so, OHNY fulfilled its mission, by supporting the cemetery as a public resource, promoted the dance company and provided its performers with a large and appreciative audience. The integration of architecture, art, music, dance and history was spectacular and very moving for me.
Why are you an Open House New Yorker?
OHNY believes that awareness and understanding leads to advocacy and action. When we introduce our audience to a new neighborhood, place or idea it creates a bridge of understanding. I believe this engagement helps build and strengthen a civil society.
What's your hope for New York and OHNY for the next 25 years?
I would like to see more thoughtful dialogue about the city, how it looks and works, and how we can make it live up to its potential for all New Yorkers. I am confident that OHNY will help lead that conversation.