At Grain Collective, we are dedicated to designing public spaces that pulse with the vitality of the people who inhabit them.
Who We Are
Sapna Advani
Principal
Urban Planning
Sapna leads with an unwavering commitment to creating urban environments that are ethnically and socioeconomically diverse — generating equitable, culturally rich community spaces through research and analysis, community building, and strategic communications.
Runit Chhaya
Founding Principal
Landscape Architecture
Runit is a visionary leader known for bold thinking, innovative problem-solving, and dynamic collaboration that influences unexpected design outcomes. He consistently delivers vibrant, impactful designs that transform urban spaces and enhance the public realm.
Kate Belski
Director
Landscape Architecture
Kate champions outdoor spaces as vehicles to unite communities and engage residents with their urban ecosystems. Whether designing a plaza or playground, Kate applies the concept of play to create spaces for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to connect joyfully.
Our Team
Ziqing Chen
Landscape Designer
Shruti Deore
Urban Planner
Ali Estefam
Associate Urban Planner
Gea Ferrone
Architectural Designer
Xue Gao
Landscape Designer
Andrew McHenry
Landscape Architect
Mitali Naik
Landscape Designer
Yiyang Qian
Landscape Designer
Sripoorani Srinivasan
Urban & Landscape Designer
Rui Tao
Landscape Designer
Ana Maria Toro
Visual Designer
What We Do
Urban Planning
Community Visioning
Collaboration with Government Agencies, CBOs, and Institutions
Data and Demographic Analyses
Economic Development
Interagency Coordination
Land Use and Zoning Analysis
Neighborhood Planning
Phasing Strategies
Public Realm Design
Social Services Needs Assessment
Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis
Strategic Development
Urban Revitalization
Urban Design, Placemaking, and Programming
Landscape Architecture
Campus Planning
Cloudburst Management
Climate Resilience
Cost Estimating
Construction Documentation
Construction Oversight
Coordination and Approvals
Environmental Planning
Feasibility Studies
Land Planning
Master Planning
Site Analyses
Programming
Urban Ecology
Green Infrastructure Design
Sustainability Advisory
LEED/SITES Certifications
Community Engagement
Anti-Displacement Advocacy
Capacity Building
Community Advocacy and Education
Community Outreach
Conflict Resolution
Consensus Building
Digital Campaigns
Engagement Impact Evaluation
Equitable Development
Engagement Planning and Strategy
Focus Groups, Fireside Chats, Listening Sessions
Participatory Design
Health and Resilience Advisory
Placemaking
Public Engagement (Story-telling based engagement methods)
Public Reviews
Research, Analysis and Documentation
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Communications
Surveys, Workshops and Events
Clients
Public
BPCA Battery Park City Authority
DASNY Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
Empire State Development Corporation
Hudson River Park Trust
New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
NYC DDC Department of Design and Construction
NYC DEP Department of Environmental Protection
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks)
NYC EDC Economic Development Corporation
NYC OER Office of Environmental Remediation
NYC Public Housing Preservation Trust
NYC SCA School Construction Authority
NYCHA Housing Authority
PANYNJ Port Authority of NY and NJ
Private
Alloy
Artimus
Charney Companies
Douglaston Development
Tavros Capital
Two Trees
Institutions / Not-for-Profits
Center for Justice Innovation
Family Services Network of New York
Fifth Avenue Committee
LISC Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Make the Road New York (MRNY)
Red Hook Coalition
The Architectural League of New York
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
Baruch College
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Public Library
Green-Wood
New York City College of Technology (City Tech)
Prospect Park Alliance
Public Housing Community Fund
Rochester Public Library
The Center for an Urban Future
The City College of New York
Collaborators
Aanda Architects
Ahuja Partnership Architects
AKRF
ArchitectureRED
Arts East NY
ARUP
Bjarke Ingels Group
C&G Partners
Center for Zero Waste Design
The Community Builders
Compost Power
Dagher Engineering
Dattner Architects
Dewberry Engineers
Ennead Lab
Ettinger Engineers
FCA
FXCollaborative
Green City Force
HR&A
Hazen and Sawyer
Hester Street
Hope
Insight Civil Engineering
Jacobs
NDNY
Nelligan White Architects
NV5
Pei Cobb Freed
Perkins&Will
Plan A
Popli Design Group
Procida Companies
Public Works Partners
SOM
Tonab Architects
VHB
WSP
WXY Studio