Environments that calm the nervous system make people feel safe.
[vay-gus]
VAGUS
The Vagus nerve transmits feelings of emotional well-being... When our breathing and heart rate are regular and calm and our stomach is relaxed, the vagus nerve conveys feelings of safety to our brains. When we are overwhelmed or stressed, our heart rate goes up, our breathing quickens, and our stomach feels tight. And in reverse, when our stomach aches or our heart rate goes up, we don't feel safe.
-Schools That Heal by Claire Latane
[wurk-shop]
WORKSHOP
Sometimes a noun, sometimes a verb.
The meeting or act of people collaborating in a discussion or activity about a given subject.
A seminar, discussion group, or the like, that emphasizes exchange of ideas and the demonstration and application of techniques, skills, etc.
MISSION
We believe that in order to live + engage comfortably and fully, people must feel safe in their built environment. Our mission is to improve the human experience in the built environment through research + design by working together to understand client + community needs.
We work with you to create space, places, and plans to bring visions to life.
Vagus Workshop was founded in 2024 by Margot Kleinman, AIA.
Margot is an architect, educator, and researcher based in New York City. She believes in using her training to improve the built environment by engaging with and listening to the people who use and are impacted by the spaces she designs. She is experienced in working with youth, facilitating workshops, and is motivated to support the experience of young people through design and mentorship. Her professional experience spans a wide range of project scales and design phases, including urban planning, airports, K12 and higher education projects.
Margot is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York City College of Technology, and has taught at the City College of New York and Parsons New School of Design. She teaches an interdisciplinary co-design studio and architecture studios, drawing and representation courses, as well as a course on public toilet access and design. Passionate about being in school, she loves to create, inquire, learn, and share with her students, colleagues, and clients.
In her spare time, Margot can be found dancing, searching for the best cookie in the city, and advocating for free public toilets.
Speaking Engagements
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Children, Youth and Performance Conference
07.2025
Emerging Ideas Roundtable presentation and discussion about the co-design process with youth based on Co-Designing the Classroom and the application across fields.
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NYCxDesign Exhibit
05.2025
Co-Designing the Classroom Exhibit with NYCxDesign, design, curation, installation and presentation of the process and design solutions.
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A4LE Conference
05.2025
Co-Designing the Classroom was a year long collaborative project designing with middle school students to increase their sense of engagement and belonging in the classroom, in response to absenteeism.
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INTtalk at Pratt Institute
10.2024
Public Toilets in NYC highlights the research, findings, and design work of the students Public Toilets, a course taught in Summer 2024.
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AMPS Conference
06.2024
Exploration through Drawing discusses hybrid techniques in teaching, learning and drawing from a drawing and representation course.
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A4LE Conference
04.2023
Learning from the BIPOC Experience in Designing Educational Spaces and the development of the framework for engagement.
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Center for Architecture
03.2023
AIANY Women in Architecture Committee Meeting & Education Design Presentation on safety and belonging in educational spaces.