Help shape what better spaces can be.
Join the founding Best Spaces Membership Cohort (2027-2028) to become part of a growing community putting equity into practice in the built environment.
What you’ll gain as a member.
Join a community putting equity into practice in the built environment. Bring your experience, explore the Best Spaces criteria, and help make them clearer, more useful, and responsive to the people spaces serve.
champion the workBe part of the first Best Spaces Membership Cohort, the first to explore how the criteria apply to real situations and learn from the experiences of others.
Build connectionsMeet people working through similar questions across projects, organizations, and communities.
Help shape the standardContribute feedback, useful resources, and recommendations for future improvements.
What perspectives we’re seeking.
Membership brings together people who want to understand, apply, and strengthen Best Spaces. You don’t need to have all the answers. Your questions and experience are part of the work.
We are currently seeking:
Community engagement experts
Design practitioners
Advocates
Policymakers
And others interested in the built environment
Three Criteria-Focused Working Groups
Members will be asked to choose a primary working group when you join, allowing ample perspectives to support the ongoing development of Best Spaces.
01 / Engagement
Whose voices shape a space?
Explore meaningful participation, whose perspectives are missing, and how community input informs decisions.
02 / Design
How do priorities become design?
Explore how the criteria translate into design choices, using project examples and practical challenges.
03 / Evaluation
How do we know what’s working?
Explore useful evidence, outcomes, and ways to learn whether spaces deliver what people need.
The Membership Year
Members will meet every other month to exchange perspectives and move the work forward. Gatherings are planned for 60 minutes virtually unless otherwise specified. Dates and participation details will be shared before the program begins. Written feedback provides another way to contribute when you cannot attend.
March 2027
Review the current standard and identify questions to explore during the year.
May and July 2027
September 2027
Two gatherings in April and June to discuss priorities within your choses working group.
Working Group Meetings
Mid year there will be an in-person opportunity for networking, meeting, and coordinating. Members are responsible for covering any related travel expenses.
In-Person Convening in New York City
February 2028
March 1, 2027 - February 28, 2028
All Member Meeting - Setting Priorities Together
Last working group meeting to discuss takeaways from the in-person convening and prepare for end of term synthesis.
All Member Meeting - Bring the Learning Back Together
We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
November 2027
Working Group Meeting
Individual Memberships
Organization Memberships
Frequently asked questions
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Enrollment is open now through February 28, 2028.
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Yes. However, all memberships cover February 1, 2027-January 31, 2028 regardless of when you enroll.
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Students not represented by an organization are able to enroll at the standard rate of $95 or the open rate at $5.
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BSDI aims to facilitate a meaningful and impactful membership cycle. The capacity limit of 75 members reflects the balance between current administrative resources and the goal of delivering a high-quality experience for all members.
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No. There is not a weighted application process. Memberships are granted on a first-come-first served basis. However, members should be able to indicate their interest in working groups and any applicable experience.
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All members are eligible to g their time as members.