Cities at Risk. The Making of a Green District for the West Side of Manhattan

CITIES AT RISK

The Making of a “Green District” for the West Side of Manhattan

Cities at Risk The Making of a “Green District” for the West Side of Manhattan

2021 Syracuse University School of Architecture

AUTHORS Aika Aussicker Victoria Chiu Miles Forminard Russell Harman Ina Jang Pramita Mital Marco Pagliara Michael Yang Erin Zearfoss Yukun (Kjo) Zhuang Instructors: Amy Chester Jeannette Sordi

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work is the result of the Cities at Risk seminar. Aika Aussicker, Victoria Chiu, Miles Forminard, Russell Harman, Ina Jang, Pramita Mital, Marco Pagliara, Michael Yang, Erin Zearfoss, Kjo Zhuang are the authors of the research projects, the maps, and strategies and have organized and led the workshop with the West Side Community members and stakeholder. The course was taught by Amy Chester and Jeannette Sordi at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture NYC Program in the Fall 2021.

We are all extremely grateful to Alice Blank, Community Board 1, William Benesh and Joseph Gallagher, Community Board 2, Jesse Bodine, Community Board 4 and Maia Berlow, Senator Brad Hoylman’s Office, for their time, insight, and support throughout the process.

We would also like to extend our thank you to all the guest speakers and reviewers that inspired the research and proposals, Matthijs Bouw, Adriana Chavez, Lizzie Hodges, Janette Kim, Johanna Lawton, Timon McPhearson, Jeffrey Raven, Chris Reed, Malkit Shoshan, Belinda Tato, and Eric Wilson.

Finally, this could not have been done without the support and collaboration of Angela Co, Director of the NYC Program of the School of Architecture at Syracuse University, and Ester Flaim, the Project Manager of the Program.

CONTENTS Introduction

10

Principles of Our Green District

18

The Site: The West Side of Manhattan

22

The Challenge: Analysis

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Social Resilience

34

Air Quality

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Carbon Reduction

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Heavy Rain

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Stormsurge

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The Challenge: Tools

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Workshop: Learning from Stakeholders

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Global References

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INTRODUCTION

9

What if we adapt to climate change in ways that improve and protect our entire community?

10

Cities at Risk: The Making of a “Green District” for the West Side of Manhattan Flood Zone

As the world gets hotter, cooler, wetter and dryer, storms like Superstorm Sandy will become more frequent in urban environments such as New York City which will wreak havoc on the lives of millions. Records show that maximum daily summer temperatures have been rising at rates of 0.5°F per decade at JFK Airport and 0.7°F per decade at LaGuardia Airport since 1970. Sea level recorded at The Battery in lower Manhattan has continued to rise at a rate of 0.11 inches per year since 1850, according to the NYC Panel on Climate Change. This is already affecting many New Yorkers, as downpours and nuisance flooding have become more regular, costing the city millions to mitigate.

This summer, Tropical Storm Elsa and Hurricanes Henri and Ida wreaked havoc on NYC streets and subways, leaving behind multiple feet of water, and causing deaths from people who were trapped in their basement apartments or vehicles.

Extreme temperatures and heat waves are exacerbated in urban areas by the heat island effect and can lead to air contamination and a series of effects on human health, which include dehydration, heat stroke, cardiovascular and renal complications, and death. The increase in temperature is also leading to more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme climate events, affecting the quality and availability of water, and putting human lives and resources at risk. It is estimated that, by the turn of the century, countries worldwide will face up to six natural disasters at the same time. The predicted three to six feet of sea level rise by this time will only exacerbate these risks, affecting millions of human lives, especially those who are the most socially vulnerable, damaging ecosystems, and accelerating the loss of biodiversity.

11

Climate change will make New York City hotter, colder, and wetter with increased extreme climate events. Our waterfront City will experience 3-6 feet of Sea Level Rise.

12

Cities around the world are standing up to this challenge.

Coastal cities such as New York, Miami, Boston, and many other examples globally, are investing billions of dollars in protecting their waterfronts from increasingly impactful climate events and relentless sea level rise. This new urban infrastructure is also an opportunity to improve the availability and quality of green public spaces, increase land value, rethink mobility, and generate new economies. If we want to adapt our cities to climate change, it is increasingly important to embrace a structural change that will anticipate future environmental risks by promoting new forms of urban and economic development. “Green districts,” a universal term for a geographical area which has formed specific policies or practices to address a range of environmental vulnerabilities, have formed around the world to address cities’ challenges of immediate and future environmental risk on the community-level. Examples such as Portland, Detroit, Toronto, and Paris have demonstrated that localized planning can strive to address the communities’ most pressing physical challenges while building social resilience by creating spaces which enhance a community’s experience every day, not just during extreme climate moments.

The Fall 2021 semester Syracuse Architecture class Cities at Risk was developed to apply best-in-class worldwide examples to inform the development of a plan to create a “green district” for the West Side of Manhattan from Chambers Street to West 59th Street, from the Hudson River to Sixth Avenue - an area vulnerable to storm surge, flash flood and increased urban heat - to create a district wide approach that could be responsive to resident needs and prepare this community for a changing climate. This location was chosen to “complete” the BIG U - a comprehensive flood protection strategy that was developed after Hurricane Sandy. Rebuild by Design, a design challenge created by President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Task Force, was formed to create large-scale community driven infrastructure to address future climate uncertainties. One of the winning designs, the BIG U, is a 10 mile stretch of physical and social infrastructure to protect Lower Manhattan from floodwater, storms, and other climate change impacts. The vision was to create seamless flood protection for the Lower Manhattan flood zone from West 57th Street down to The Battery, and up to East 42nd Street, which is home to approximately 220,000 residents and is the core of a $500 billion business sector that influences the world’s economy.

13

A “green” district is an urban area that prioritizes carbon reduction, nature-based solutions, and sustainable technologies.

The district may use design elements, policies, and programs to increase climate resilience, build community, and improve the quality of life.

14

The collaboration and innovation that began with the Rebuild by Design competition gave way to the planning, design, and implementation of various sections of this continuous flood infrastructure spanning multiple community boards at a budget of almost $2 billion. The City’s current plans span from East 25th Street on the East Side to Chambers Street on the West Side, for which sections have been named: East Side Coastal Resilience (ESCR), Brooklyn Bridge Montgomery Coastal Resilience (BMCR), Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience (LMCR), the Fidi Seaport Master Plan, and Battery Park City Resilience Projects. There are no current plans for permanent flood protection above Chambers Street.

While a green district will not solve a community’s full exposure to climate change, it can reduce risk by creating storm surge barriers, expanding green space to absorb rainwater and reduce urban heat island effect, and contribute to the global reduction of carbon by incentivising greener building construction and rehabilitation. It can also build social resilience by enhancing spaces where neighbors get to know one another, and invest in programs that can be activated every day, and when communities need them the most.

Included in this book are global examples of green districts, visual representations of the challenges these neighborhoods face such as flood maps, pedestrian crashes, heat picks and air pollution, and potential spaces that could be expanded and systematized: tree canopies, foldable areas, green areas, social infrastructures. This cartographic analysis is organized into five topics - Heat & Air Quality, Storm Surge, Heavy Rain, Social Resilience, and Carbon Reduction - and for each of these topics students have identified tools and strategies that could transform the area into a green district. The book also includes a report of the workshop that the students organized with the community to get feedback and inputs on their maps and tools.

This work could not have been done without the cooperation of Senator Brad Hoylman’s Office, and Manhattan Community Boards One, Two and Four who gave regular input to the student’s work. Their collaboration ensured that the work is informed by real-life challenges, and that the end product would be able to inform policy and investment decisions for the future.

15

PRINCIPLES

Climate change will make New York City hotter, colder, and wetter with increased extreme climate events. Our waterfront City will experience 3-6 feet of Sea Level Rise.

17

A Green District For The West Side Of Manhattan Should...

18

1

EMBED climate change predictions in all decisionmaking processes.

2

INCLUDE a wide range of people and lived experiences, especially those who reside in undeserved areas of

3

PERFORM on multiple scales that consider people,

4

PRIORITIZE infrastructure addressing physical and social challenges together.

the district, in the design of the district.

buildings, districts, and cities. Social and environmental impacts need to be acknowledged in terms of short and long term benefits.

5

UTILIZE green infrastructure and natural solutions to

6

INCENTIVIZE building scale retrofits that will lower carbon and deliver additional environmental benefits.

7

IMPLEMENT passive systems over active systems and

8

COMBINE existing local activities with programs that offer green solutions to create networks and enhance social resilience.

9

EDUCATE communities by developing education

absorb water from storm surge and flash floods. Green infrastructure should also improve air quality, lower temperatures to address the urban heat island effect, and reduce carbon and greenhouse gases.

create community programs to participate in system maintenance. Community programs can be created through incentives for block associations, after school programs, and senior programs.

programs by working with existing residential associations and community organizations to prepare residents and businesses to unite during times of crisis. This can be achieved by creating physical spaces for communities to work together and creating funding opportunities for these organizations.

19

THE SITE

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THE WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN

Perimeter of the Study Area. Google Earth.

SUBWAY ROUTES

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KEY Subway Stops

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BUS ROUTES

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KEY Bus Stops

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FERRY ROUTES

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KEY Helicopter Pad Ferry Dock

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BIKES PATHS

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KEY Class I: Protected Bike Lane Calss II: Conventional Bike Lane Calss III: Shared Route, Signed Route Calss L: Bike Link

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GREEN SPACE + TREE COVERAGE

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KEY Green Space & Tree Cover

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GREEN BUILDINGS + GREEN ROOFS

KEY Green Buildings & Roofs

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HURRICANE SANDY + THE BIG U

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KEY Hurricane Sandy Flooding

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Big U Proposal

LAND USE

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KEY 1 & 2 Family Multi-Family Walkup Multi-Family Elevator Mixed Commercial/ Residential Commercial/Office Industrial/Manufacturing

Transportation/Utility Public Facilities & Institutions Open Spaces Parking Facilities Vacant Land All Others or No Data

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CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE: ANALYSIS AND TOOLS

Social Resilience

Air Quality

Carbon Reduction

Heavy Rain

Stormsurge

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ANALYSIS

SOCIAL RESILIENCE

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STUDY AREA BY INCOME

This map shows the income distribution of the

West Side. As seen, the income is mostly ranging from high income to the top 1% of all income. This gives us an idea about the kind of community we are working with, as they were people of substantial wealth and assets. Income is also a necessary tool to map the real estate in a given area and understand the target demographics and markets of an area, which can be extrapolated from to better understand the resources and assets that are available to a given community.

INCOME LEVELS

SOURCE: https://bestneighborhood.org/household-income-new-york-ny/

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Top 1% (>$700k)

Average ($110k-$31k)

High ($700k-$110k)

Low (<$31k)

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STUDY AREA DEMOGRAPHICS

This map depicts the racial distribution of

Community Boards 1, 2, and 4. It is important to highlight racial demographics when looking at the people and characteristics that make up a neighborhood. This can later inform us better about underserved populations or areas where more sensitivity is needed. As seen, the West Side is a predominantly White area, while many of the minority groups are in their own enclaves. Income and race typically do have some association to one another, especially in disparaiged communities. In high density areas such as in Manhattan these statistics can be less clear, but they do indicate more in the other ways that the demographics are indicative of the community, as well as how certain areas and communities are more at risk than others.

RACE White

SOURCE: https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-newyork-ny/

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Hispanic

Asian

Black

Multiple/Other

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FOOD INSECURITY

Food Insecurity describes how easily accessible

a neighborhood’s food source is. Community Boards 1 and 2 are mostly food secure. However there are parts of Community Board 4 to the North that have more moderate to severe food insecurity, as well as pockets within the eastern part of the site. This data and information can tell a lot about the health and quality of living within the neighborhood, as well as the dependency of the community on affordable food sources and transportation. Food inequality and a lack of food access is something that is directly affected as a resource in social resilience, as it is a basic necessity for the community. Without sufficient food security, the community would not be able to develop equally for all of the communities affected.

FOOD INSECURITY

54% Food Insecure SOURCE: https://www.data2go.nyc/map/

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0% Food Insecure

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COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Here the key amenities for the community, such as

health institutions, human services, and schools, libraries, and cultural programs, are all highlighted. These community amenities show the relationships and proximities between various facilities and programs in mapping out the community and its accessibility. These organizations can better show how the community is developed today, and what resources are existing within the community, and can be used to show which resources are missing from the community.

NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS Civic Associations Residential Associations SOURCE: https://cbmanhattan.cityofnewyork.us/cb4/resources/community-groups/

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Health & Human Services

Education & Child Welfare Libraries & Cultural Programs

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ANALYSIS

AIR QUALITY

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ASTHMA RATES

This map illustrates the prevalence of asthma in

specific areas around the site. This prevalence is recorded based on the number of residents who have asthma. The lighter yellow areas have lower prevalence of asthma, whilst the darker purple represents a larger prevalence of asthma.

The most heavily prevalent area is around Times Square, which is the darkest area shown on the map. Asthma prevalence is associated with the health and air quality of a given area, which can be mapped in accordance with the air pollution of a given area. Though these correlations have a number of underlying factors, when taken into account with other sets of data it can show the health index of a given community.

PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION WITH ASTHMA

SOURCE: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/22c71 82a162d45788dd52a2362f8ed65

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>11.3%

9.99%

<8.7%

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TEMPERATURE DEVIATION

The temperature deviation of the site from the

mean is shown here throughout Manhattan. The most notable cooler areas are around spaces that provide larger, more open, and green spaces. The more urban and dense parts of the site are seen to have larger temperature deviations that are indicative of higher average temperatures. Temperature deviation can be the result of the built environment, as well as the larger infrastructure that affects the built environment. That can be through the residual heat of buildings, or exhaust and residual heat from transportation, or from people and their activities in the community.

TEMPERATURE DEVIATION FROM THE MEAN

-3 SOURCE: LINKS https://council.nyc.gov/data/heat/

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AVERAGE PM2.5 PARTICLES

Here the annual average PM2.5 particles are

mapped in the site. The lighter yellow indicates a less polluted area, whilst the dark red areas represent the more polluted areas. The most polluted areas on the map are around 8th Avenue, which is the darkest area. The PM2.5 particles that are recorded in a given area can also give an indication of the pollution in an area. Showing that pollution is affected by infrastructure and the built environment, whether by human occupation and activity, transportation, building and facilities, or other means.

PM2.5 PARTICLES

8 (Less Polluted) SOURCE: nyc.org

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14 (More Polluted)

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RESIDENTS WITH HYPERTENSION/ COPD

This map illustrates the areas throughout the site

where residents are affected by both hypertension and COCP, which is . This percentage is based on a gradient, lightest areas having the smallest percentage and the darkest areas having the largest percentage. On the map, the darkest area accounts for Times Square. Hypertension, or COCP, can be indicative of a number of underlying factors that affect the community, such as health data and accessibility, food accessibility, or racial and income disparities.

PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS WITH HYPERTENSION/COCP

0.0-0.2% SOURCE: council.nyc.gov

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0.2-0.4%

0.4-0.6%

0.6-0.8%

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ANALYSIS

CARBON REDUCTION

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ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Energy datas on the map shows that energy

consumption within the research area varies. More energy was consumed towards inner Manhattan due to more high rise office buildings concentrating in the red area. On the other hand, the west waterfront consumes less energy creating a great starting point for green development.

Energy consumption can also be indicative of how efficient the building energy consumption is in a given building. It also could indicate the infrastructure in a given area, as well as the land use of a given community.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

High SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

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Low

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PEDESTRIAN INJURIES

Pedestrians and bikers get injured frequently in

New York City. Comparing the data with existing bike lanes, more accidents happen in areas without bike lanes or with only conventional unprotected bike lanes. Mapping the data also provides a visual record of the infrastructure and the communities dependency on it, within certain areas.

KEY Bike Injuries

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

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Pedestrian Injuries

NYC BICYCLE ROUTE Class I: Protected Bike Lane Calss II: Conventional Bike Lane Calss III: Shared Route, Signed Route Calss L: Bike Link

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GREEN ROOFS

Green roofs are a way of utilizing the top of the

building to provide the urban system with green plantation.

Many buildings have already been using green roofs as a means to collect rainwater and keep buildings cooler during warmer months. Green roofs can also show areas of newer developments depending on newer zoning laws and regulations, which can overlap with building energy consumption and efficiency.

KEY Buildings With Green Roofs SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

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TREE CANOPY

Trees canopy coverage in the research area is

uneven. Residential areas tend to have more trees than commercial areas. There are very little tree canopy gains over the years. Tree canopies may also indicate the level of residential activity in certain areas, or commercial activity conversely, as well as the scale of streets and the built environment.

KEY Tree Canopy Coverage SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

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ANALYSIS

HEAVY RAIN

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SURFACES PERMEABILITY

Most of the land in the West Side of Manhattan is

occupied by private building parcels. This map shows the types of surfaces across each building parcel categorized by if it is pervious, semi-pervious, or impervious. Flooding from heavy rainfall is dependent on the permeability of surfaces since water not absorbed or managed on a parcel is directly sent to street drainage systems and potentially flooding sidewalks, roads, and subways.

PERVIOUS SURFACES

SOURCE: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/City-Government/ DEP-s-Citywide-Parcel-Based-Impervious-AreaGIS-St/uex9-rfq8

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Impervious

Pervious

Semi-Pervious

MS4 Drainage Area

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SEWER SHEDS & OUTFALLS

When water isn’t captured and becomes runoffs,

it heads to specific outfalls in a sewer district known as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4’s) and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO’s). MS4’s are sewage systems for stormwater only and do not handle household waste, whereas CSO’s are a combination of excess storm water and household waste. In this district, those are all located along the edge of the Hudson River, meaning that water is forced to traverse the whole district before it finds a drain. When there’s a lack of permeable surfaces used, flooding and pooling occur significantly. Additionally the sewer sheds in our area of focus, which manage the runoff from heavy rainstorms are unbalanced. There are 12 total sewer sheds for NYC and they handle the management and treatment of wastewater and stormwater for the city. The Newtown creek sewer shed handles almost three times the amount of water as the North river one, which serves more than half of the site.

KEY Combined MS4 & CSO SOURCE: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/Municipal-Separate-Storm-Sewer-System-MS4-Data/j57c-rqtq

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CSO

North River Sewer Shed 170 MGD

MS4 Drainage

Newtown Creek Sewer Shed 310 MGD

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FLOOD PROJECTION -MODERATE RAINFALL

This map shows projections of where stormwater

flooding is expected to occur. These projections are not based on recent flooding, but on possible 10 year flooding scenarios showing flooding in a moderate flooding situation combined with subway station entrances. Moderate flooding is due to roughly two inches of rainfall in one hour, there is a 10 percent chance this could happen in any given year. In this moderate scenario, flooding mostly occurs along the hudson river, along 42nd st and the hudson yards between 23rd st and 30th st. The subway entrances most affected are along the 1,2, and 3 lines at 18thst and 34th st.

KEY

SOURCE: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7c260f80c5d44d948d45051d7a2d6d77/ page/page_0/?views=view_1

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ACE

BDFM

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FLOOD PROJECTION - EXTREME RAINFALL

Similar to the previous map, this one shows the

extreme flood projections combined with subway station entrances In an extreme flood scenario flooding is due to roughly 3.5 inches rainfall in one hour and has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year. In this case there is a large increase in areas affected with flooding including along the hudson river, around the intersection of Canal St and 6th avenue, west of the highline in Chelsea, and along the west end of 42nd st. Many subway entrances are also flooded in this scenario along the A, C, & E, 1, 2, & 3, B, D, F, & M.

KEY

SOURCE: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7c260f80c5d44d948d45051d7a2d6d77/ page/page_0/?views=view_2

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ANALYSIS

STORM SURGE

Flooded Avenue C at East 6th Street in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood of Loisaida, moments before the Con Edison power substation on 14th Street and Avenue C blew up during Hurrican Sandy, 2012. Author: David Shankbone.

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500 YEAR FLOOD

This map shows a prediction for a 500 year flood

in the year 2050, which is a flood that has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in a given year. It indicates an even more expansive floodplain than the current FEMA map, and uses data from recorded extreme climate events to better predict what areas could be most at risk for storm surge flooding. This 500 year flood is a prediction for an extreme climate event and floodplain, which is necessary in anticipating the trend of extreme climate events that has been increasing over the past decade.

SEVERITY OF FLOODING

SOURCE: Department of Small Business Services.

(10 Sept. 2018). Sandy Inundation Zones. https:// data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/Sandy-Inundation-Zone/uyj8-7rv5

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EXTREME INUNDATION

Here the hurricane inundation (the level of water

that is found on typically dry land) is depicted for an extreme climate event. This has been mapped from existing data from Hurricane Sandy’s floodplain, and extrapolated to show predictions of future events with more extreme conditions.

This prediction can be used to better understand which areas would be left most vulnerable to future hurricane inundation without any form of intervention. These areas extend beyond the existing coastline of Manhattan, affecting much of the West Side of Manhattan.

SEVERITY OF FLOODING SOURCE: Worst Case Scenario Office of Emergency Management. (29 May 2014).

Hurricane Inundation Zones - Worst Case. https:// data.cityofnewyork.us/Public-Safety/Hurricane-Inundation-Zones-Worst-Case/h3ke-x25q

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STUDY AREA OF FLOODPLAIN AND BUS ROUTES

Here is shown the 500 year flood in the year 2050,

and is overlaid with a map of the bus routes. This shows how the public transportation system is affected by coastal flooding, both during and after these major events. This will show how public transportation is affected during and after extreme climate events, affecting recovery efforts and access to resources.

SEVERITY OF FLOODING SOURCE: Bus Route Map Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. (16 Sept. 2021). Sea Level Rise Maps (2050s 500 Year Floodplain). https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/Sea-Level-Rise-Maps-2050s-500-yearFloodplain-/qwca-zqw3

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STUDY AREA OF FLOODPLAIN AND SUBWAY ROUTES

Here is shown the 500 year flood in the year 2050,

and is overlaid with a map of the subway system. This shows how the public transportation system is affected by coastal flooding, both during and after these major events. This can show how the subway system can be largely affected by extreme climate events, both by the flooded areas, as well as the lines that would not be able to run due to flooding at important stops.

KEY ACE

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FLOOD PLAIN AND LAND USE

Taking a look at the current land use in the area,

and overlaying it with the 500 year flood in the year 2050, allows for it to become more apparent which of the affected areas in these neighborhoods are most vulnerable.

This would also demonstrate the characteristics of the built environment of those areas and how they are affected. This can be applied at both a larger and smaller scale, for both city planning and neighborhood interests.

KEY 1 & 2 Family

SOURCE: Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. (16 Sept. 2021). Sea Level Rise Maps (2050s 500 Year Floodplain). https://data.cityofnewyork. us/Environment/Sea-Level-Rise-Maps-2050s500-year-Floodplain-/qwca-zqw3

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Multi-Family Walkup Multi-Family Elevator Mixed Commercial/Residential Commercial/ Office Industrial/ Manufacturing Flood Plain

Transportation/ Utility Public Facilities & Institutions Open Spaces Parking Facilities Vacant Land All Others or No Data

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TOOLS

1. People Scale

Container Trees

Direct Air Capture

Raised Subway Grates Street Pavers Rain Barrels Rain Gardens

2. Building Scale

Pervious Asphalt Green Walls

Rooftop Garden/Community Garden Managed Retreat Water Basins Blue Roofs

3. District Scale

Cool Roofs

Green Roof/Facade

Redesigning the StreetScape Street Shading Green Corridor Living Seawall Canals 4.

City Scale

Flood Walls Flood Gates

Multifunction Emergency Shelters

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CONTAINER TREES ABOUT THE TOOL: Container trees are street trees that are planted within a raised container instead of being planted directly into the ground.

They provide many environmental benefits, as well as social benefits. Trees in general help to reduce storm water runoff, which then reduces pollution in waterways. They also help to improve the overall air quality and provide shade for pedestrians in the warmer months.

The species most effective for improving air quality, according to BBC, are: Silver Birch, Yew, and Elder trees.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Container trees can be placed along the streets of New York City similarly to the in-ground trees that are currently planted.

They can also be placed on top of surfaces that are not plant-friendly. Some examples would be on top of subway grates, interior plazas, and indoor public gathering spaces.

A container tree is a perfect addition to smaller, tighter spaces that can often be found around New York City (such as alleyways between buildings and entryways to buildings).

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BESPOKE TREE PLANTERS - ENGLAND

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Trees absorb the carbon dioxide and releases fresh oxygen back into the air.

2

In a given year, a mature tree will absorb around 50 pounds of CO2 from the Earth’s atmosphere.

3

While improving the overall air quality, trees also provide shade and add to cities’ biodiversity.

4

Container trees can be placed anywhere, even in surfaces where trees normally cannot be planted (i.e on subway grates).

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DIRECT AIR CAPTURE ABOUT THE TOOL: Direct air capture technologies are a high-tech/high-power version of natural green wall sequestration systems. Capable of cleansing the air of particulate matter, filtration technologies come in a variety of forms and can be applied to high-risk areas to mitigate pollutants. Certain technologies can filter hundreds of trees worth of air per unit, and can be modified to fit into the urban pedestrian landscape. More powerful CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration) technologies utilize large intake fans and store captured carbon deep underground to prevent it from emerging into the atmosphere.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: This tool can be applied to urban, suburban, and rural environments depending on the type of capture unit. Technologies like the City Tree can be placed within the urban fabric due to their compact nature and efficient functions. Larger wind and solar powered units require more land area to account for intake fans and mechanical requirements, but integrating these systems into buildings could allow this method to transition from rural to urban.

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CASE STUDY

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Improves air quality in urban areas, reducing harmful effects of polluted air.

2

Can be entirely solar powered or wind powered depending on the location of the capture system.

3

Interruption of existing infrastructures is a possibility in some cases, but not a necessity.

4

Inexpensive compared to adding the equivalent number of trees in terms of air filtration.

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Intake Fans

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RAISED SUBWAY GRATES ABOUT THE TOOL: Not only does heavy rain lead to flooded streets, but the subway system can become inundated through its air vents as well. A main reason for this is that ventilation grates are at ground level, leading floodwater to flow directly into them and further into train tunnels.

By raising the grates and creating a barrier along the sides, both street and sidewalk runoff will avoid the subway system with greater ease. These can be paired with neighboring interventions to create a new place for sidewalk programs.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: These are located atop subway vents on sidewalks throughout New York City.

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NEW YORK CITY, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Prevents stormwater flooding from seeping into subway grates, minimizing direct flooding

2

Provides new places to sit or stop along sidewalks

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Opportunity for new programs

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Protects longevity of infrastructure system below

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STREET PAVERS ABOUT THE TOOL: Like porous asphalt, street pavers allow for gaps in the street or sidewalks for water drainage. Storm water can now collect underneath the street itself, allowing more direct water infiltration and reducing the chance of runoff contamination.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: These can be put into pedestrian right-ofways as an alternative to impervious asphalt or concrete surfaces. They can be introduced onto pedestrian pathways, or depending on strength can support low-traffic areas for vehicles.

CONNECTICUT, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

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Better management of stormwater flow on usually impervious areas

2

Reduces burden on drainage systems

3

Lowers ambient temperature

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Aesthetically more appealing than asphalt tar

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RAIN BARRELS ABOUT THE TOOL: Water that is shed from buildings during rain events is collected from roofs through downspouts into rain barrels. They can range in scale from small barrels all the way to large cisterns.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Given the versatility of this tool, rain barrels can be inserted onto any site. In colder climates, the intervention must be placed- or removed- in such a way to prevent freezing, or disconnected for a span of time.

NEW YORK CITY, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

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Works at any scale, from barrel to cistern

2

Easy to introduce and set up in residential properties

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Prevents immediate flooding or inundation of drains during storms

4

Stored water can be released gradually following storms, or used for other purposes

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RAIN GARDENS ABOUT THE TOOL: Rain gardens collect rainwater at street level when there is excess and provide a place for it to disperse directly into the ground below. Taking the appearance of gardens, the plants and rocks found here often help control the flow of water, filtering it before it descends into the aquifer.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Rain gardens can be located within existing green-spaces or can be introduced into a tree-bed along sidewalks. It is best that they are placed to limit the chance for contamination from pollutants. So long as there is direct connection to the groundwater table below to allow proper drainage, this intervention will succeed.

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NEW YORK CITY, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Works at any scale

2

Can be appropriated into existing right-of-ways with ease

3

Manages stormwater more efficiently

4

Creates plantlife, mitigating heatisland effect

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PERVIOUS ASPHALT ABOUT THE TOOL: Pervious asphalt is a material that absorbs water instead of the water running off into drainage areas. This helps limit the amount of water entering already full stormwater systems.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: This material can be introduced on any existing right-of-way for vehicles, so long as it is paved over the ground directly. The water-channeling properties will only work if there is a direct connection.

CONNECTICUT, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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1

Long lasting; material less susceptible to potholes, breaks, and cracks over same lifetime as traditional asphalt

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Less contribution to runoff into groundwater table

3

Lower ambient temperatures

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Cost efficient

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GREEN WALLS ABOUT THE TOOL: Green walls are different to green roofs in that they are vertically placed on the sides of a building rather than horizontally on top of a building.

They are made by planting selected greenery into a growth mdeium that consists of soil, stone, or water. And because these walls feature living plants, they are also equppied with irrigation systems.

Incorporating greenery onto a building’s exterior not only improves its approachability, but also comes with several environmental and social benefits.

1 HOTEL - NYC

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: A green wall can be placed on the facade of any building in New York City. If it is a corner building like the 1 Hotel (pictured to the right), then it can be placed on multiple sides of that building.

They are installed on the exterior of buildings, but can also be used on interior walls as well.

Green walls can exist on any type of building, with any type of living plant, and provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to its surroundings.

1

Green walls are beneficial in providing a visual break from concrete and brick materials that are often swallowing dense, urban areas.

2

Plants not only helps to improve people’s overall health, but also improves air quality.

3

Incorporating green walls can provide buildings with thermal benefits, while also reducing urban heat island effects.

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A green wall helps to absrob rain water and decrease its wear on building materials, in addition to helping block street noise.

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ROOFTOP GARDEN COMMUNITY GARDEN ABOUT THE TOOL: Gardening is a great way to create connections but also is beneficial to mental and physical wellness. In helping create a more eco friendly district, adding greenary is important to benefitting the overall wellness of the community. Within NYC it is important for people to be able to find fresh produce to keep healthy. Throuhgout NYC there has been a lot of initiatives such as GrowNYC and Harlem Grown that have created community garden spaces to help educate the neighborhood about fresh produce but also create a more sustainable and resilient community. Sustainable gardening can even slow future warming by reducing carbon emmission and increasing carbon storage in the soil.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Brooklyn Grange for example, is one of the leading rooftop faring and intensive green roofing buisnesses in the US. As Manhattan is always working with empty lots being bought up for development, rather than taking over the ground flooring, community gardens can be implemented onto rooftops. Currently in NYC over 90% of greenroofs are privately owned and so it may not be accessible for everyone in the community. However, this can be an opportunity for public buildings such as publicly owned schools to start actively promoting for a greenrooftop for educational purposes for the youth and parents and building social resilience for everyone in the community to came together and take part in taking care of it. Green roofs can significantly reduce the amount of rain water that would otherwise run off an impervious roof surface.

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BROOKLYN GRANGE IN NYC

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Maximizes the use of space by building and preping already existing structures within the area by using the rooftops

2

Greenroofs help to reduce the urban heat island affect

3

Reduces and slows stormwater runoff into the urban environment

4

Gardening as a whole benefits ones mental and physical wellness

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RELOCATION ABOUT THE TOOL: Manage retreat is another option to consider when considering flood protection measures along the West Side. Managed retreat is the relocation of a person or a group of people to another location to retreat from impending climate disasters. Retreat could mean retreating from below ground and the first floor to higher levels, or it could be retreating to other areas of the city, state or country depending on severity of flooding risks.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Managed retreat is not a tool that has a specific location where it could happen-- it is a more general solution to many climate related issues. On a case by case basis managed retreat can happen within a building scale, or more largely on a neighborhood , city, state, or country scale.

JESSEANDGREG

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1 2

3

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Retreat from exisiting occupied spaces would be one of the safest and most secure options as it would minimize risk for the people most likely to be affected.

Can be evaluated case by case, and is more individual.

Potentially more cost effective

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WATER PLAZAS ABOUT THE TOOL: Basins serve as large scale water catchment systems. These plazas double as basins during high rainfall situations, creating a passive infrastructure. Since their capacity is reached in emergency situations, they are generally dry and not full for most parts of the year. This in turn means that the design of this large infrastructure can prioritize a large public space beneficial to community members just as much as it functions in managing water. As is the case with many of these strategies, they can incorporate additional amenities and uses into the passive design of the intervention.

ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Basins can be located anywhere in an urban setting where space permits. They are best suited for existing open spaces that lack programming (parking lots, soft sites, etc.). When designed to alter programs with different levels of inundation, the site can become re-oriented in previously unseen ways.

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1 2

Space can be designed to fit new and beneficial programs

Mixes green infrastructure with high use, high visibility areas

3

Large scale storage of water in emergency situation reduces immediate impact on drainage system

4

Lowers heat-island effect when inundated

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BLUE ROOFS ABOUT THE TOOL: Similar to green roofs, blue roofs prioritze water catchment over integrating vegetation into its space. They incorporate rocks and other filtration systems to reuse and clean water that is captured.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: These are to be located on any roof surface.

When designed from the conception of a project, the structure of the building accounts for the water storage spread evenly along a roof’s surface. In projects that retrofit these systems, the weight of water during a rainfall event must be considered as another significant weight on the building’s roof. It is important to check the capability of an existing building to handle this weight.

Depending on the scale or ambition of this, the system may be introduced with ease or may require significant intervention. As for the drainage component, a network of pipes can adapt to existing drainage systems or may be treated as a separate water system.

PHILADELPHIA, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1 2 3 4

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Can use collected water to serve the building below in days following a storm

Water can be evaporated by sun rather than forced to go through the full municipal drainage network

Limits burden on existing drainage systems

Complete management of water lowers opportunity for unintentionally harmful leaks or pooling on roof

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COOL ROOFS ABOUT THE TOOL: Cool roofs are mainly used to combat heat absorbed into buildings during the high-temperature days throughout the warmer seasons. They are designed to reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them like normal roofs do. This, in turn, lowers a building’s interior temperature when it is hot outside.

A cool roof can be made from highlyreflective paints or by covering rooftops with reflective materials such as tiles, sheets, or shingles.

The method of using light-colored materials to cool buildings can be compared to wearing light-colored clothing on a hot day to stay cool.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO:

WHITE ROOFS - BALTIMORE, MD

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1

Cool roofs can be placed on any type of building, in any part of Manhattan.

They can be integrated along with green roofs, or stand alone as an individual cooling system.

A cool roof can be carried out on small residential buildings, medium sized commercial buildings, and very large high rises.

2

Cool roofs stay around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than standard roofs, which then reduces energy costs and maintenance costs for buildings.

3

This system increases the life span of roofs, as well as help to reduce urban heat islands by lowering local temperatures.

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Standard or darker rooftops can reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher, in the summer sun; cool roofs lower this temperature significantly.

Research has found that cool roofs slow the formation of smog from air pollutants, which is dependent on temperature.

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GREEN ROOF/FACADE ABOUT THE TOOL: Green roof systems allow for the cultivation of healthy ecosystems at a wide variety of scales, enabling individual buildings to reduce their own emissions while creating more attractive spaces. Vegetation coverage at high elevations as well as along facades reduces the amount of pollution in the air, and can be expanded across a network that is not interrupted by vehicle traffic. Accessible roof spaces also promote healthier lifestyles and less crowded streets.

Modular green wall and roof designs can be modified and fixed to specific environments, allowing for a wide variety of customization and specification.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: This tool can be applied to existing structures as a method of improving their environmental impact, and can also be integrated into new designs to maximize their potential. This is a versatile tool, as it is not restricted by a single form or structure. It can take any shape depending on where it is being applied, and it can adapt to changing conditions through modular techniques. Green roofs and facades are needed most in dense urban areas, and are most effective in places with high levels of emissions. By integrating filtration elements and sequestration technologies into the structures that cause the highest levels of pollution, the harmful particles produced by the built environment can be managed at the source.

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CASE STUDY

NEW YORK CITY

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

1 2

3 4

Capable of reducing the urban heat island effect and emissions produced by buildings and cars.

Operable at multiple scales and across a variety of dimensions, fluid and modular method of creating green space.

Creates community spaces that can both sequester carbon and facilitate social interaction.

Improves the overall aesthetic and ecological health of urban areas.

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REDESIGNING THE STREETSCAPE ABOUT THE TOOL:

CASE STUDY

L’allée des Vignerons was a particapitory redesigning project that focused on landscaping and urban design strategy in the city of Courbevoie. The main objective of the project was to get people from of the community to turn this original asphalt paved lane into a planted promenade. This fulfills resiliency in promoting social interaction and connections but also in creating a more greener and friendlier atmosphere by adding trees and other native plants to what was originally a barren cold street.

ALLÉE DES VIGNERONS IN THE CITY OF COURBEVOIE

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WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO:

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

In places such as along Gansevoort Street and 9th ave, there is currently a plaza space.

However for most of the street there are no trees along the area and no green space within the plaza. Part of this tool is not only to get the community involved but also to see it as an initative to add and create more green space in general. Along the west side of Bryant Park along the street there is an overall lack of trees planted within the area. Trees in general help with safe road and streetscape design by acting as a medan that reduces the liklihood of head on collisions and creates a clear demarcation of pedestrian areas. Trees are also great at filtrating pollution out of the air. In areas west of Bryant Park, there is a higher precentage of asthma which correlates with the fact that this is an area that lacks trees around the area. In general for a more connective street scape residential block associations could come together to transform for a more welcoming atmosphere in which green scape is prioritized and can bring the community together.

1

Adding trees into the landscape is important because they help filtrate the air

2

Adding trees into the landscape is important because they act as barriers along the roadside

3

Is a great tool to build relationships with others that are from the same block

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STREET SHADING ABOUT THE TOOL: A street shade system, or street canopy, is a way to keep sidewalks cooler by providing shade for pedestrians in high temperatures.

They offer protection from harsh sun rays, in addition to intercepting precipitation and providing shelter from unpredictable weather conditions.

As for materials, these structures can be made completely of greenery or be designed as more architectural/artistic systems.

They are usually installed as a more formal structure, or by hanging them from certain points on neighboring buildings.

STREET SHADE - MADRID, SPAIN

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Street shading systems can be placed on narrower streets between two blocks of tightly packed buildings, something that exists all over Manhattan.

They can be hung from certain points of the building and secured in place, or be a more structural installation on the ground.

A street shade can exist at all scales: they can be placed over roads, installed over seating areas in parks, or placed over city infrastructure (such as subway stops, bus stops, or sidewalks).

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Green street canopies not only reduce high temperatures during peak summer days, but they also help to improve the air quality.

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Street canopies in very dense, urban cities can protect people’s eyes from highly reflective building materials, which also contribute in making warm days feel even warmer.

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Shading systems protect pedestrians from harsh UV rays by providing coverage from direct sunlight.

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Artistic street shading installations bring a new aesthetic quality to a neighborhood that is both refreshing and interesting.

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GREEN CORRIDOR ABOUT THE TOOL: Green corridors refer to right-of-ways that create a stretch of uninterrupted greenery through its course. They incorporate grass and vegetation in both walking and street surfaces, creating gaps along the ground plane for water and plants. Natural surfaces absorb water flowing through, helping to filter out pollutants that result from traditional hydrophobic street designs.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: PASSEIG DE SANT JOAN, BARCELONA, SPAIN

On any corridor for pedestrians and vehicles.

The designs of these can be scaled to work at any length or distance; gravel and stone layers underneath the plant beds and pavers are required to properly filter water and create sturdy foundations. Because of the careful design consideration needed for natural and artificial materials for it to work, a thriving ecological intervention can be introduced into the heart of any urban setting.

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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Creates a natural landscape along a right-of-way through urban settings

Introduces plants and ecosystems into typically barren streets

Provides the opportunity for new pedestrian experiences

Better air quality and lower ambient temperature

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LIVING SEAWALL ABOUT THE TOOL: Traditional living shorelines (i.e., wetland restoration) are challenging for NYC’s waterways due to wave energy, water depths for boat access, erosion control, and permitting constraints. Living seawalls, are an extension of living infrastructure, they are a reimagination of shorefront infrastructure that help mitigate storm surge by bringing biodiversity back to the coastline which helps to facilitate the natural wave action.

Living Seawalls are made of habitat panels that are 3D printed to mimic natural reef environments. Cities like Sydney and Miami are starting to implement living seawalls in their reimagination of the shorefront.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO:

CASE STUDY LOCATION

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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Living seawalls can be placed along the exisiting seawalls of the West Side of Manhattan.

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Promotes the return of biodiversity to the city’s waterfronts without interfering with existing waterway functions.

By returning marine life to the seawalls, natural functions that prevent flooding, like, controlling wave action and rebuilding shorelines can occur.

It is a fairly cost-effective and easily replicable tool that provides benefits in a multitude of ways.

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DAYLIGHTING ABOUT THE TOOL: Water canals manage the flow of water by providing ample space for it to divert. These can exist on multiple scales from gutters, all the way to lanes for watercraft to travel. If properly integrated with a neighborhood’s social and building fabrics, the canal becomes a significant opportunity for daily life to be centered around the proper management of water. If a completely new system is introduced, the design must find ways to exist within pedestrian or vehicle right-of-ways, or stitched through properties. Typically, this infrastructure requires significant intervention to create proper foundations and relationships to the surrounding conditions. To prevent standing water, these must be designed to flow and mimic streams, as well as account for tidal action in New York Harbor.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: Canals are located where water naturally flows or in areas that demand waterside access for navigation. A network can emerge from dealing with these demands, distributing bodies of water throughout a community. Existing streams that are underground or have been artificially covered may be “daylighted” and returned to an open-air state.

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NEW YORK CITY, USA

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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High flow and output directly connected to navigable waters

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Cools surrounding neighborhoods

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Can remediate previously buried streams and reintroduce ecosystems into urban settings

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Place for water recreation

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FLOOD WALLS ABOUT THE TOOL: Flood walls could be permanent or deployable structures.

Permanent fill-up flood walls would be left as a permanent piece of whatever condition it is a part of. These structures would stand at a significant height dependent on predicted levels of flooding in an area, and would be a barrier in the case of any flooding, protecting areas that lie beyond it.

Deployable floating flood walls would be automatically deployed in the case of flooding. These flood walls will float up after its crevace is filled with water.

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO:

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Permanent fill-up flood walls could be used as an existing piece of infrastructure in the median of the West Side Highway, It would act as a barrier to fill with flood waters and storm surges. When not flooded the area will be left as a permanent piece of the existing median. When flooded, this would divide the highway and leave the side of the median that is more inland dry, allowing for vehicles to pass and transport in emergency.

These flood walls can be applied to most parts of the shoreline (if necessary) as they do not interfere with existing underground infrastructure.

Deployable floating flood walls can be placed along the coastline of the West Side of Manhattan where there is not exisiting underground infrastructure since the floating mechanism and height of the wall would require it to be far underground.

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Both flood walls don’t require human intervention during the time of a flooding event. They are either constantly present or automatically deployed.

Permanent fill-up floodwalls can be integrated into exisiting infrastructure easily.

Deployable floating flood walls are out of sight until necessary in the case of flooding.

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FLOOD GATES ABOUT THE TOOL: There are two types of flood gates that can be implemented on the West Side of Manhattan: flip-up gates, and roller-gates.

Flip-Up gates would be out of sight until deployed in the event of flooding or storm surge. These structures would exist within the ground and flip up to connect with adjacent flip-up gates in the event of flooding.

Roller-gates incorporate fixed structures that roll out further to act as a barrier. The same could be built onto sidewalks and streets on the West Side. Although these structures will always be in sight, they are useful in areas where trying to avoid underground utilities and infrastructure.

Gates can be deployed through sensors or through a main switch.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: The ideal location for flip-up gates is within sidewalks. The use of these structures depends on the width of existing and proposed sidewalk spaces. However, they cannot be placed in areas with existing underground infrastructure as its mechanisms needs to placed below grade.

Roller gates can be placed in most locations along the West Side of Manhattan: parks, highways medians, sidewalks.

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BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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Both tools are deployable in the case of a flooding event.

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Roller gates avoid underground utilities and infrastructure.

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Flip-up gates are out of sight until deployed, preserving aesthetics and views.

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MULTIFUNCTION ABOUT THE TOOL: Prephubs are a new kind of infastructure that are designed to aid in disaster preparedness.

Created by MIT’s Urban Risk Lab, they are meant to be adaptable and changing structures depending on where they are placed, so that the larger the space, the more accessories and people they can accomodate. They are meant to serve not only for emergencies but in everyday life as recognizables structures that one can go to when in need of aid.

WHERE DOES THE TOOL GO: These structures are meant to have a kit of parts that is designed to be able to fit in a variety of spaces. For example, the Urban Risk Lab has created structures small enough to fit within a parking lot space all the way to the size of a plaza. Depending on the amount of allowable space, the kit of parts is designed to be mixed and match to what is most needed. For example, the structures that are recommended for the plaza types are larger, so they can accomodate for cooking and sanitation services. In trying to impliment this project into the West Side of Manhattan this might meanS placing them along smaller park areas or adding onto the existing citi bike infastructure allowing for ample room along the sidewalk and curb edge. As implicated in our workshop exercises, parks and other outdoor features allow for social resilience to thrieve in allowing people to interact and connect with one another. Therefore, it seems a perfect opportunity for these emergency shelters be located at or within these key destinations where people commonly gather.

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CASE STUDY

MIT URBAN PREPHUB PROTOTYPING IN PORTLAND, OREGON

BENEFITS OF THE TOOL:

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Creates meeting points for day to day life as well as functioning for emergencies

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Can be implimented into multiple different scales around the area.

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People of all ages can use some part of the structure from seating to charging ones phone

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WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP: LEARNING FROM STAKEHOLDERS INTRODUCTION

On October 27th, 2021 the students conducted a workshop with community members-- those who live and/or work on the West Side of Manhattan. The workshop took place over the course of 2 hours on Zoom as a response to COVID-19.

After a few brief overall remarks to kick off the night, students broke into groups lead by two students -- Air and Heat, Storm Surge, Heavy Rain, Social Resilience, and Carbon Reduction-to workshop potential solutions and ideas with community members. Each group showed community members a video they had put together to introduce their topics, and then they worked on a workshop activity to allow students to gain a better understanding of different thoughts, opinions, questions, and concerns that community members had regarding climate resilience on the West Side of Manhattan. These workshop activities consisted of online activities that groups could do together with the individuals in their group through platforms like Google Forms, Aha Slides, and ConceptBoard, to name a few. Through their work with the community students gained valuable insight for their direction for the rest of the semester.

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AIR & HEAT QUALITY STATEMENT Around green spaces and parks, significant benefits to air and heat quality are noticed. The West side of Manhattan lacks large green spaces, which results in lower quality of air and increases heat.

GOALS

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Help areas most in need of clean air and heat management

Reduce health effects caused by poor air quality and heat waves

Find the most relevant tools to address the issues with the neighborhood concerning air and heat quality

HOW EACH ACTIVITY WAS ORGANIZED

Using Concept Board as a virtual, on-line tool to collaborate, annotate, and input feedback via sticky notes, our group set up activities to address specific questions to discuss. After the question was posed in parallel with an idea for a solution, the meeting members were offered to create their own answers and suggestions on the board.

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FEEDBACK

Some of the ways we design and research air and heat quality can be thought of differently, such as, thinking of pollen as being a part of air quality issues too, rather than just looking at fumes and carbon emissions as air pollutants as well as looking at the practicality of the interventions and their impact. . NYCHA also has a rat issue, and therefore would likely reject development of more green space to get rid of breeding opportunities. Places where residents feel hottest is not just specific locations but also around highly reflective buildings and all-glass buildings. Traffic is bad in many areas of the city, especially for commuters in and out of the city; unfortunately, no way to avoid it besides walking and/or biking instead of driving. High traffic areas also tend to be the warmest temperatures in the city

ACTION While some of the proposed solutions in our toolkit are viable considering the data, there were also other suggestions for other types of solutions. There is also a possibility of reusing flood water as heat mitigation and alternative interventions can be to change local laws instead of being physical interventions

1. What can be done to improve air quality in this area --> Explain tools that are out there and then brainstorm things that can help clean the air together (show toolkit)

2. Which streets are the busiest/have the most traffic --> Map out specific areas

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STORM SURGE STATEMENT Rising sea levels, extreme climate events, and storm surges have left the coastline of Manhattan vulnerable to future major flooding events. The current proposed adaptive design interventions leave the West Side of Manhattan vulnerable to these inevitable events.

GOALS

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Identifying different specific areas of concern as it relates to storm surges

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Find out how storm surge events in the past affected the members of the community

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FEEDBACK

These are some of the ideas we need to reconsider. Since Hudson River Park (HRP) is quite narrow, making a berm and other interventions would be difficult. Also, HRP is a historic bulkhead, so development is not likely to occur and a lot of the community members did not like the idea of extending the shoreline.

Identify new developments

ACTION

HOW EACH ACTIVITY WAS ORGANIZED

Using Google Form as an on-line feedback tool, we asked our groups to input answers to our main questions that address our goals and discussion topics surrounding storm surges.

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Some suggestions for tools include mechanisms: sensors, floating, main switch.

We need to ask ourselves, how do we make sure this system continues to work and there are no loose ends when they are needed to be deployed. Connection of gates to all other parts of the city - should be a continuous barrier. Use of multiple gates and scales/ interventions. Maintain views because permanent structures will block views. Manage Retreat is an okay idea, but how to make sure the people who do retreat to top floors can receive emergency services. Look in the cost of all the different tools. Figure out what tools work for the scale and site

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HEAVY RAIN STATEMENT For the overwhelming majority of sky-facing surfaces on the West Side, building lots and public streets are not designed to deal with heavy rain.

District-wide approaches in managing water are necessary to help make these climate ready infrastructures, but the effective solutions come at the building scale.

GOALS

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Identify areas that experience a lot of flooding due to rain

Understand who would benefit most from decrease of flooding due to rain

Some suggestions for looking at the research differently are that temporary conditions in the city, like construction, contribute to flooding and are not designed with their contributions to flooding in mind, and current street and sidewalk materials are already very susceptible to flooding, like cobblestones, roads under construction and sidewalk due to cracks.

Show why people need to care about inundated infrastructures, even if their own apartment is dry

HOW EACH ACTIVITY WAS ORGANIZED

Using Concept Board as a virtual, on-line tool to collaborate, annotate, and input feedback via sticky notes, our group set up activities to address specific discussion topics. A series of maps were annotated as well as the set of tools proposed to show indicate the areas of flooding as well as how we can understand which neighborhoods needed the most intervention.

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FEEDBACK

ACTION There are also solutions to address this focus.

Solutions that don’t take up sidewalks or open space are favored, like green/blue roofs.

Green and blue roofs should be required for new buildings and older ones should be assessed to see if they could support retrofits.

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SOCIAL RESILIENCE STATEMENT Our aim is to strengthen community solidarity and resilience through implementing specific strategies that empower people to connect with each other.

GOALS

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Identify which areas are in most need of developing more social interaction for resilience

Understand the current experiences of people’s connection with the community

Develop interventions or tools that can be used to foster more social resilience

HOW EACH ACTIVITY WAS ORGANIZED

Ahaslides, an on-line, live polling website, was used as the main tool for interacting with the issues concerning social resilience. We asked questions in a series of interactive polls and live graphics to show and discuss the tools and issues. The audience could see feedback right away and we mainly discussed the whys and hows of our answers.

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FEEDBACK

Some comments we received were to dig deeper into the data and look at all the people in the neighborhood so that when looking into accessibility that there are programs that address everyone that lives in the neighborhood. Brian from CB1 said that he really got to know his neighbors and what was happening in his area by being a part of the community board (CB) . Although another person also said that for people who are food insecure they can’t access that because it’s not affordable. Making sure that we still maintain the connections that are already existing and preserving characteristics that already exist but how can we add onto that to build more connections. Parks and some museums were the types of amenities that they used often.

ACTION Our solutions have to address a multitude of questions.

How can we get people to join CB or programs that can connect to the CB so that everyone in the community has networks and connections? How do those not only with physical disabilities (wheelchair) but also those who are elderly interact with our interventions? How can we expand off of that though to find more social resilience?

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CARBON REDUCTION STATEMENT We are looking to improve the green interconnectivity and pedestrian quality of life in the West Side of Manhattan through the development of carbon reduction infrastructures that counteract the harmful effects of buildings and vehicles.

GOALS

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Reduce carbon by increasing green coverage

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Improve pedestrian quality of life

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Some of the suggestions we had received were to bring tools to different planes of buildings and filters to roof instead of ground.

This way, we are not limited to a certain kind of modularity and can expand our scope of reduction pollution. We were also asked to develop a plan that corresponds to the natural ecological systems of the area. Ecological cultivation would mean more bugs, which in turn, means more birds. The more birds there are, the less rats there are, bringing more people to occupy the green space.

Implement tools for resilience

HOW EACH ACTIVITY WAS ORGANIZED

Using Concept Board as a virtual, on-line tool to collaborate, annotate, and input feedback via sticky notes, our group set up activities to address specific questions to discuss. First, a board with questions could be answered with sticky notes on the bottom. Then, our series of maps were overlay-ed with dots and other notes to indicate areas of most need.

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FEEDBACK

ACTION Some specific actions that were suggested was to reorganize traffic patterns to allow for pedestrian blocks. Also deterring car use could mitigate some effects of air pollution and the carbon footprint. These could come in the form of legislative changes regarding emissions and car use in the city. We can also expand on current green spaces instead of just creating new green spaces.

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REFERENCES

GLOBAL REFERENCES

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Ecodistrict Gentilly Resilience District Ecolloyd Portland 4 Dogpatch and Potero Hill The City Systems Element Masdar City Brainport Smart District Singapore - Tengah Hydric Districts Botu 2028 Energy City Qatar Green Space In Wellington’s Central City ‘15 Minute City’ Lisbon Low Emissions Climate Ready Boston Eco-Viikki Toronto Green Standard Resilence Authorities Maryland Stockholm Royal Seaport Triboro Ecodistrict

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ECODISTRICT CHALLENGE:

Founded by Rob Bennet in Portland, Oregon, he originally named the program Portland Sustainability Institute (PoSI) before it started to extend out all over the country. It wasn’t named EcoDistrict until 2013 and is a movement that focuses on making neighborhoods more committed towards equity, resilience, and climate protection. Since EcoDistrict attempts to become a more global standard through its EcoDistrict Protocol, there will be issues from case to case especially in merging regional-level desires of sustainability with local levels of the communities needs.

STRATEGY:

The overall strategy that they have created is the EcoDistrict Protocol that acts as a framework to guide urban and community development. At the core of the protocol are the 3 imperatives of equity, climate, and resilience. Then the 6 priorities of place, prosperity, health & wellbeing, connectivity, living infrastructure, and resource infrastructure. Finally overarching the 3 implementation phases of the protocol are defined as formation, roadmap and performance.

PROCESS:

The EcoDistrict Protocol is designed to suit each specific community so it will be implemented differently for each city that takes it on. Following the 3 implementations of the protocol, the first step of formation is about building the necessary leadership and collaboration. Then roadmapping is about setting target goals, and a feasible strategy to achieve those goals. Lastly, performance is all about reaching those targets, making sure that they are staying on track with the goals they have set and reflecting on the results to strengthen performance for the next project.

IMPACT:

From 2013-2018 some of the major impacts that EcoDistrict has had is becoming a certified way towards holistic approaches that follow the EcoDistrict Protocol. As well as creating a program for accredited professionals which is a credential that provides practitioners with a foundation of understanding of the protocols and commitment to creating just and sustainable neighborhoods. As of 2018 it has trained 868 professionals and 178 accredited professionals. As of 2017, EcoDistrict introduced the Protocol to CapeTown and Johannesburg targeting sustainable housing development, and ecosystem restoration and continues to reach multiple other countries around the world.

REF: https://ecodistricts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/F-Impact-report-2018.pdf REF: https://evolveea.com/ecodistricts-101/ REF: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?article=1031&context=iss_pub

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: ORIGINATED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, - GROWING MOVEMENT, FOUNDED IN 2013 COORDINATES: VARIES CLIMATE: VARIES AUTHOR: ROB BENNETT (FOUNDER AND CEO) PARTNERS: STREETWYZE, POLICY LINK, RACE FORWARD SURFACE: THROUGHOUT THE US (TRYING TO INTEGRATE INTO CANADA, MEXICO, SOUTH AFRICA) BUDGET: VARIES

“The EcoDistricts Protocol represents an important tool to help city leaders think in an integrated way about sustainability at a scale that is truly effective.

Using the EcoDistricts Protocol, cities can build momentum for scalable change that transforms urban sustainability and positions our communities for success in the 21st century.”

–Joel Mills, Senior Director The American Institute of Architects

IMPACT : 4,019 PRACTITIONERS, OVER 421 CITIES

ECODISTRICTS-PROTOCOL

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GENTILLY RESILIENCE DISTRICT CHALLENGE:

During Hurrican Isaac, New Orleans suffered flash flooding and river flooding where multiple structures and dollars were lost from the heavy rainfall. Despite, creating a levee system to combat the storm surge after a hurricane, there are still challenges and inefficiencies in the system so alternative methods to working with excess water is needed. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had made nearly $1 billion available for states and counties that had been devastated by disasters in 2011, 2012, or 2013 to help fix the damage and create more resilient projects to withstand future disasters.

STRATEGY:

Specifically within the Gentilly Resilience District there are roughly 12 projects and programs that are focused on storing and managing stormwaters as well as other related water maintenance and infrastructure such as, the Mirabeau Water Garden which is designed to divert up to 10 million gallons of stormwater from the city’s drainage system.

It will then proceed to store and clean the stormwater and infiltrate into the groundwater.

This project aims to demonstrate how natural processes can be used for more sustainable water management. For example, in creating the concepts for Dillards Wetland, the project leaders engaged in outreach with the community through listening sessions, and feedback sessions and meetings to understand what the community wanted to come from the project.

PROCESS:

Through the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC) held in 2014-15, New Orleans submitted a proposal to help with rebuilding the damage left behind from hurricane Issac in 2012 and undertake multiple projects and programs to help build future resilience for the future which included the Gentilly Resilience District. Ultimately, New Orleans was provided $141.2 million dollars from the HUD. Multiple projects that are getting underway as a part of the Gentilly Resilience District are about incorporating a multitude of aspects such as recreational space, educational spaces, preserving the ecology, and listening to the community.

IMPACT:

The Gentilly Resilience District aims to be a model for other neighborhoods in New Orleans and other regions that are forced to adapt to the changing environment. None of the projects are fully completed but as the cities first resiliency district, it will hopefully pave the way with how the neighborhood can come together in creating a meaningful engagement to water management to help the future environmental crisis.

REF: https://www.nola.gov/resilience-sustainability/areas-of-focus/green-infrastructure/ national-disaster-resilience-competition/gentilly-resilience-district/ REF: https://wbae.com/projects/mirabeau_water_garden REF: http://gentillymessenger.com/ irises-cedars-and-willows-making-the-accidental-forest-a-neighborhood-park/

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: NEW ORELEANS, LOUISIANA IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF GENTILLY, 2015-PRESENT COORDINATES: 30.0125°N 90.0603°W CLIMATE: CFA - SUBTROPICAL AUTHOR: THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS PARTNERS: NEW ORLEANS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NORA), SEWERAGE & WATER BOARD OF NEW ORLEANS (SWBNO), & WAGGONNER AND BALL SURFACE: SIZE OF GENTILLY (ROUGHLY 9 SQUARE MILES)

“HUD was really keen on the Gentilly Resiliency District idea ... because our proposal was: If you can demonstrate success in one geographic area, then that allows you to prove you can make a holistic change -and not just one thing in one neighborhood, one thing in another neighborhood.”

–Jeff Hebert, Executive Director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

BUDGET: $141.2 MILLION IMPACT : 10,000

HTTPS://WBAE.COM/PROJECTS/MIRABEAU_WATER_GARDEN

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ECOLLOYD PORTLAND CHALLENGE:

The vision of the Lloyd district is to become the most green district in America. Some of the goals of the green district was to reduce water waste, reduce energy consumption, spread access to people of different ages and abilities, and create a sustainable urban ecosystem. The neighborhood/community along with the Lloyd Enhanced Services, a governmental organization for the Lloyd District, collaborated to embark on this ambitious goal of making the most sustainable district in America.

STRATEGY:

The plan of getting Lloyd to that goal of the most sustainable neighborhood requires different steps. There is a 2 year, 5 year, 10 year, and 10+ year strategy plan that all outline different initiatives for achieving the main goals. Some of the immediate strategies involve exiting retrofit building programs, district energy utilities, district water utilities, green streets, car sharing, bike sharing, and a district zero-waste program. Some longer term initiatives include pedestrian bridges, aggregate energy renewal program, and green infrastructure corridors.

PROCESS:

The process of allocating new initiatives to achieve these goals involved zoning strategies to indicate areas of high density and infrastructural need. The Pollinator Bikeway Pilot, for instance, is a patch of bike lanes in the city where native species of pollinators come to revive the greenery and plants within the area. Another initiative that upholds the goals and values of the ecodistrict is the LED Advantage Member Program (LAMP) where replacements of lights to low-energy LEDs are partially funded, giving initiative to smaller costs for property owners. The program’s funds are then cycled back into the program and also donated to the housing community. Lastly, one other initiative is Waste Reduction Action Plan where community efforts in preventing food waste, recycling, and composting are incorporated into the lifestyles of the neighborhood. All of these examples were completed or started in the first two years of the ecodistrict’s commencement.

IMPACT:

As a result, we see reports from Lloyd Ecodistricts on their efforts for reducing energy consumption, waste, water waste, and other goals. Based on the 2015-2016 annual report, “From the original cohort of 16 buildings with available historical data, total energy use has decreased since 2010, a reduction of 12.2%. Energy use intensity (EUI) for this cohort of buildings has also decreased by 9.1 kBtu/SF”. Within the more recent 2018-19 report, we see that the LAMP program has raised over $500,000 to keep funding the low-energy use LEDs as well as the donations to affordable housing within Portland.

REF: https://www.ecolloyd.org/who-we-are-2/ REF: https://ecodistricts.org/registered-districts/lloyd-ecodistrict/ REF: https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/oregon/ portland-6342/ REF: https://ecodistricts.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/lloyd_roadmap_FINAL_ lores.pdf REF: http://ecodistricts.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ed-case-study-LLOYD-FINALoct-2017.pdf

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: PORTLAND, OREGON, 2011 COORDINATES: 45.53194°N, 122.652220°W CLIMATE: CSB (WARM-SUMMER MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE) BY KÖPPEN AND GEIGER AUTHOR: LLOYD ENHANCED SERVICES PARTNERS: GREEN BUILDING SERVICES (GBS), LLOYD CENTER SURFACE: 410 ACRES

“It is a living laboratory for what Portland is about and how Portlanders can do even more, when individuals, government and business collaborate with intention.”

–Sheila Holden Lloyd District Board Chair

BUDGET: $6.86 B IMPACT : 2,100 PEOPLE

HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ECOLLOYD/PHOTOS/2205926166179446

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DOGPATCH AND POTRERO HILL CHALLENGE:

Dogpatch and Potrero Hill are part of 14 districts within San Francisco, California in which the City Government focused on turning into a Green District. Some of the main Green District’s focus are on parks, greening and public realm improvements in a residential neighborhood. These focuses also aim to reduce waste in the neighborhood, increase accessibility through different modes of transportation, and include greenery to increase the health of the community.

STRATEGY:

The Green District’s existing green patches, school buildings, and different land use were composited in order to propose new green spaces that incorporated existing ones.

These green spaces also have programmed public use for parks, art, sports, pets, and community gardens. There are also plans to redesign the street-scape infrastructure so that traffic can be directed more efficiently within the district. Some proposals for the future set out by the Green District prioritized walk-ability, maximize small spaces, freeway air filtration, and storm water management just to list a few.

PROCESS:

Some of the specific implementations for the green spaces would be identifying areas with the least amount of vegetation. Gardens and more greenery would be added to these areas. One example is The Potrero Gateway Eco-Patch Test Garden where the native habitat of species of plants would be revived and connect the different roads to create shortcuts throughout the neighborhood. This would restore the health of the native habitat. Some other green spaces are included in the network of different streets within the community, such as the picture on the right demonstrates. The biodiversity of the native species would be revived as well as the efforts to revive the native habitats and goals of the parks and greenery.

IMPACT:

The lasting impact of these community efforts for infrastructure of the streetscape and incorporation of the native species of plants in new green spaces are shown within the annual reports of Dogpatch and Potrero Hill’s Green District. The efforts added 76 new street trees, created 1563 square feet of sidewalk gardens, and converted more than 3,000 sq. ft. of pavement to permeable sidewalk gardens and tree basins. According to a survey of residences within the district, most found more satisfaction with the community efforts in incorporating spaces for walking, dog parks, mobility, and bike lanes.

REF: https://sfpublicworks.org/project/ dogpatch-and-northwest-potrero-hill-green-benefit-district REF: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54f63701e4b0f229542ca75b/t/551d88f9e4b0 aea90ab1fa9e/1427998969861/Green+Spaces+Survey+Final+Report.pdf REF: https://www.greenbenefit.org/about-gbd REF: https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/california/ san-francisco-385/

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 2015 COORDINATES: 37.7591° N, 122.3895° W CLIMATE: KÖPPEN-GEIGER CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION IS CSC (COLD-SUMMER MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE) AUTHOR: BOARD OF SUPERVIORS OF DOGPATCH AND POTRERO HILL SURFACE: 200 ACRES BUDGET: $500,000 IMPACT : 14,700 PEOPLE

“ When it comes to our district and the GBD’s work here, my greatest satisfaction comes from seeing a once-blighted place turned into healthy space, a depressing burden developed into something that brings joy and strengthens our community.”

–Kanwar Kelley Board of Directors President

HTTPS://WWW.GREENBENEFIT.ORG/ANGEL-ALLEY

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THE CITY SYSTEMS ELEMENT CHALLENGE:

Detroit is a major city located in Michigan State which needs major updating in their infrastructure. A decrease in population and employment have created a downwards slope for the sustainability of the systems that help the city run. Now, the city has been provided and opportunity to solve the system issue, but also implement the ideas and strategies to further the future of Detroit.

STRATEGY:

Detroit Future City (DFC), a firm based in Detroit, founded a plethora of alternative sustainable solutions for all city systems including water, waste, energy, and lighting and transportation. The three main system changes include: “strategic renewal of infrastructure to suit demand, deploying surplus land as a form of infrastructure (radically changing the image of the city in the process), and changing the culture of transportation (to enhance connections and minimize environmental impact).” This process will be coordinated over the span of decades on all system, both public and private.

PROCESS:

The project will span over twenty years. The first five years, DFC hopes to have the city’s full corporation as well as competed the groundwork for the next fifteen years. This will allow them to implement the strategic framework as well as creating an interagency platform for the city’s infrastructure. Restructuring the existing environment will allow the project openings to update the built environment. Investment opportunities can be applied based off the Strategic Framework Plan. At the ten-year mark, they plan on reviewing the Strategic Framework. The major projects will then begin, as well as the development of formal interagency coordination mechanisms. The second review of the Strategic Framework and the impact of investments will commence.

IMPACT:

The City Systems Element iniciative hopes to solve many ongoing issues that negatively affect Detroit. For example, the reformed delivery system will provide a more costeffective route for many businesses. This will allow businesses to cut down a major cost.

Creating landscapes, also known as blue infrastructure, not only gives public space for residents and visitors, but also it improves water quality, stream channel health, and flood mitigation. Reconfiguring transportation is another issue since residents in the city spend 32% of their annual income on transportation. The faster routes will not only reduce costs but also provide more employment opportunities with the improvement of cross-town connections. Detroit will be updated and upgraded significantly with the completion of this project.

REF: 1. DFC_CitySystems_2nd.pdf

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: DETROIT, 2012 COORDINATES: 42.3314° N, 83.0458° W CLIMATE: DFA (HUMID CONTINENTAL CLIMATE) KÖPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION AUTHOR: DETROIT FUTURE CITY PARTNERS: SURFACE: 91,456 ACRES

“More/better mass transit, especially using alternative fuels, would reduce air pollution.”

Maggie, Detroit 24/7 “Making Environmental Sense,” 5/2012

BUDGET: IMPACT : 674,841 PEOPLE

MAS_MC_BROCHURE_2020

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MASDAR CITY CHALLENGE:

According to Masdar, the Mubadala Company, cities around the world are accountable for 80% of the entire planet’s energy consumption. They are also accountable for 75% of the world’s carbon emissions. With exponential population growth around the world in all major cities, a new sustainable design needs to be implemented to prevent exponential pollution levels; reinventing existing programs within a city towards a more sustainable approach. This city, which finished construction in 2008, was the solution to this issue.

STRATEGY:

To create a “radical new approach towards developing the cities of the future”, every city infustructure programs and systems, from building efficiency to energy uses, must be revisited and refined for a more sustainable world. All buildings within the city must meet very strict criteria; a minimum 3-Pearl rating according to the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System. For the city’s public spaces, a minimum of a 4-Pearl rating must be met.

All buildings must also use less resources compared with the average in Abu Dhabi. The city is also in a free zone which encourages foreign companies by allowing them to have ownership of the property. Because the land is in a free zone and an investment zone, foreign companies were encouraged to test their environmental and clean energy systems.

PROCESS:

The city was created on a masterplan which allowed them to provide a city that contained the highest quality of life at the lowest carbon or environmental impact. The land is mixed use, providing citizens and visitors with employment-generating land uses, residential areas, parks, plazas, and neighborhood amenities. With the implementation of green spaces, residents and visitors can enjoy the outdoors with a higher quality of air, allowing the trees to naturally absorb the carbon in the air. The city also encourages residents to walk everywhere, emphasizing walkways and pathways. The city also provides to everyone autonomous vehicles called the NAVYA Autonom Shuttle; which is part of the city’s Personal Rapid Transit.

IMPACT:

The buildings throughout the entire city are regulated to use 40% less water and energy than the average building in Abu Dhabi. The city also contains some notable projects which excel in sustainable efforts such as the International Renewable Energy Agency HQ which is the country’s first 4-Pearl rated building. The city also invites for less conventional green building projects. The Eco-Villa Prototype is the first 4-Pearl rated villa, which uses 72% less energy and 35% less water compared to something similar in Abu Dhabi. Each villa also has 87 solar panels which provides electricity not only for itself but also 40,000 kWh to the national grid. Overall the city encourages innovation for a more sustainable future.

REF: https://masdar.ae/en/masdar-city/the-city; MAS_MC_MasterPlan_flyer_2020 REF: https://masdar.ae/en/masdar-city/the-city/sustainability

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: ABU DHABI, 2008 COORDINATES: 24.4267° N, 54.6150° E CLIMATE: BWH (HOT DESERT CLIMATES) KÖPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION AUTHOR: MASDAR PARTNERS: FOSTER AND PARTNERS SURFACE: 1,482.88 ACRES BUDGET: $18.7B-$19.8B IMPACT : 1,400 PEOPLE

“The addition of GE is an important milestone in our growth, as we expand and incorporate a diverse mix of tenants. Today, Masdar is a sustainable operation, combining multinational companies, organizations, startups and the amenities that make up a diverse urban community.”

–Green Prophet, a media company that covers renewable energy news for the Middle East

MAS_MC_BROCHURE_2020

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BRAINPORT SMART DISTRICT CHALLENGE:

Brainport Smart District is a project located in Helmond, the Netherlands by UNStudio with hopes of becoming a flexible part of the city that learns from its residents. The Brainport Smart District project also aims to provide a sustainable living environment to its residents and plans to introduce communal resources that promote energy conservation. Those who live in this neighborhood will be encouraged to adopt shared energy generation and land cultivation, while local businesses will be prompted to focus on innovative research. These efforts will then create a local economy where most things are made directly in the Brainport Smart District.

STRATEGY:

The Brainport Smart District’s main strategy is to establish a new relationship between the buildings and the landscape so that they strengthen each other. In order for this to happen, UNStudio proposes a mixed residential neighborhood with commercial spaces and nature reserves to be organized around a central green space. The green area in the center would then be used as a productive space for food growth, energy/water/waste processing, and biodiversity. This plan for the urban environment leaves room for growth by having a flexible framework that is adaptable in density: the site is divided into ten “strips” of land that allow for changes in urban use and densities. Those involved with the project hope to create a sustainable, cohesive community that is able to enjoy joint energy generation, digital data management, food production, water management, and extraordinary transportation systems once the district is complete.

PROCESS:

Development of the Brainport Smart District project is still underway as of 2021, but it aims to build at least 1,500 new homes and 30 acres of businesses that are largely based on the community’s needs and wants. And in order to become a community that is able to achieve all of these goals, Brainport Smart district will be a living experiment that directly adapts to the demands of the residents. The project will be implementing and changing things as the community sees fit while it is being designed, and later, constructed. This means taking on a ‘living lab’ concept so that the designers, developers, and all other stakeholders are able to create a smart district that is sustainable, socially cohesive, and responsive for its residents.

IMPACT:

Overall, the main goal of the Brainport Smart District project is to harness synergies between innovative solutions and different scales. The plan’s high ambitions for this new district are in regards to implementing climate adaptation and circularity into a framework that allows for ecological, social, and economic sustainability to be feasible. And because the construction of this project directly aligns with the community’s feedback, it will be possible to achieve these goals.

REF: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/11722/brainport-smart-district REF: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/realestate/brainport-smart-district-takesshape-in-the-netherlands.html

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: THE NETHERLANDS, 2019-PRESENT COORDINATES: 51.4793° N, 5.6570° E CLIMATE: MODERATE MARITIME AUTHOR: UNSTUDIO PARTNERS: HABIDATUM, FELIXX, AND METABOLIC

“I realize we are going to live in an experiment.

Some ideas might not work out the way we expect.”

–Hans Moerkerk

SURFACE: 150 HA (380 ACRES) BUDGET: FINANCED THROUGH A PUBLICPRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IMPACT : 4,500 PEOPLE

NY TIMES

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TENGAH, SINGAPORE CHALLENGE:

The “forest town” of Tengah, Singapore is being built on land that was previously used as a military training ground. It will consist of 5 different residential districts: Named Garden, Park, Brickland, Forest Hill, and Plantation. Tengah dreams of becoming Singapore’s first smart and sustainable city with a proposal that sees the country’s first car-free town plaza.

The vehicles will run underground, therefore leaving the street level safe enough to be used for activities such as walking, biking, picnicking, and other leisurely pastimes. Additionally, the city’s plan to place residents’ homes within walking distance of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations further solidifies the country’s goal of becoming less car-dependent and more people-friendly.

STRATEGY:

Tengah, Singapore is a new city under development by the Singapore Government Housing and Development Board. It has been nicknamed the “forest town” due to its abundance of greenery and will have a 100-meter wide forest corridor that goes through the center of the city. This corridor aims to connect a nature preserve with a water collection area, as well as connect wildlife to nature and provide a recreational space for neighborhood citizens.

The nickname also comes from the effort to design the city as a whole to be more energyefficient. The city’s go-green efforts propose designing buildings with smart lights that automatically shut off when an area is left unoccupied and optimizing wind flow in order to minimize heat.

PROCESS:

Development of the city is still underway as of 2021, but it is promising to build at least 42,000 new homes in an environment that is surrounded by nature. Throughout the process, there have been many computer simulations and analytical data tools to refine the design and layout of the buildings and city. It aims to be the greenest city in the country, with many plans in place to promote more sustainable living. One such way that this is being implemented will be the underground roadways. With no traffic to worry about, residents will be free to ride and bike around the city. Tengah will also have a centralized cooling system in some of the districts that help regulate the temperatures in individual homes as well as an automated waste collection in place to move household trash through a conveyance system.

IMPACT:

Overall, the Tengah, Singapore city development plans show the country’s Housing and Development Board’s hope of implementing many design and infrastructural strategies that promote sustainable living. With many energy-efficient efforts planned out, residents will have the opportunity to be living in the greenest city in the country once construction is complete. There will be lower energy rates from the advanced cooling/lighting technology, cleaner and more hygienic roads due to the automated trash system, and more cost-efficiency for residents and businesses with the energy-saving technologies in place. It will be a smart city that promotes and devotes its systems to living a life surrounded by the natural environment.

REF: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/ singapore-sustainable-smart-town-tengah/ REF: https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/history/hdb-towns-your-home/ tengah#

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: SINGAPORE, 2016-PRESENT COORDINATES: 1.3555° N, 103.7308° E CLIMATE: TROPICAL AUTHOR: SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD PARTNERS: SP GROUP

“Tengah will be Singapore’s first smart and sustainable town” –Housing and Development Board of Singapore

SURFACE: 700 HA (1,730 ACRES) BUDGET: N/A IMPACT : 42,000 HOMES

HBD

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MEXICO CITY HYDRIC DISTRICTS CHALLENGE:

Because of Mexico Cities, altitude of 2000m above sea level it struggles with access to clean water. Due to urbanization in Mexico City, there is a lack of infrastructure to bring water efficiently to people living on the peripheries of the city. This issue of informal infrastructure due to rapid urbanization disproportionately affects people in lower classes with limited income. Therefore, these peoplpe rely on buffering strategies to get water. these strategies allow for the collection of water in the anticipation of shortages and include practices such as collecting fresh water in tanks or cisterns, relying on bottled water, and gathering and reusing grey water.

STRATEGY:

This proposed solution to the limited access to water is the implementation of a medium scale hydric district that could be replicated in other districts of Mexico City and enhance livability and biodiversity. This district’s framework will test alternate models of decentralized urban water management in Tacubaya, a historic area in Mexico City. The hydric district proposes urban planning to integrate green and grey infrastructure through reuse, retention, and filtration of water at the scale of a district rather at the larger city scale.

PROCESS:

Currently the project is heavily research-based design proposal to explore the potential of the redevelopment of the existing district as hydric districts. Therefore, the implementation of these hydric districts across the city has the potential to become public policy once accepted as politically viable. The selection of Tacubaya as the first proposed site was due to its connectivity to other urban areas of the city and the existing local push for public projects. The re-development of Tacubaya as a hydric district as a prototype would then lead the replication of hydric districts throughout the city.

IMPACT:

If implemented this design proposal would have positive effects on public health and contribute to social resiliency. Due to the class stigmatization of water access, lower income families living outside the main areas of the city do not have reliable access to clean water. The hydric districts would not only provide accessible clean water but include social infrastructure like green spaces and pedestrian areas.

REF: Lerner, Amy M., Hallie C. Eakin, Elizabeth Tellman, Julie Chrissie Bausch, Bertha Hernández Aguilar. 2018. “Governing the Gaps in Water Governance and Land-Use Planning in a Megacity: The Example of Hydrological Risk in Mexico City.” Cities 83 (December): 61-70.

REF: De Alba, Felipe. 2017. “Challenging State Modernity: Governmental Adaptation and Informal Water Politics in Mexico City.” Current Sociology Monograph 65 (2): 182-194.

REF: Shwarz, Anke. “Hydraulic Standby: Anticipating Water in Mexico City.” Ephemera: Theory &amp; Politics in Organization, vol. 21, 2021, pp. 173–196.

Ref: Gutierrez, Jennifer. “Water Scarcity and Supply Challenges in Mexico City’s Informal Settlements.” PennIUR, Nov. 2019.

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: MEXICO CITY, 2021 COORDINATES: 19.3997° N, 99.1885° W CLIMATE: TROPICAL AUTHOR: ORU (OFFICE OF URBAN RESILIENCY) PARTNERS: N/A

“Those who have a cistern don’t need to be alert.

But I don’t have one, so I need to fill my tubs. (…) I get up; I almost don’t sleep in order to fill them. “ -Alma, 78-80, Iztapalapa

SURFACE: NEIGHBORHOOD OF TACUBAYA BUDGET: N/A IMPACT : 7,946 PEOPLE

TACUBAYA – MEDIUM SCALE HYDRIC DISTRICT | MEXICO CITY, MEXICO | ORU

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ROTTERDAM BOTU 2028 CHALLENGE:

BoTu 2028 is an initiative launched in 2019 to empower two neighborhoods located next to each other in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The neighborhoods, Bospolder and Tussendijken, are proposed to become a joint “resilient district” through transformative infrastructure construction and social programs that help manage personal debt, allow access to education for both kids and adults, find better employment, and improve housing quality.

BoTu was selected for this initiative due to it having the lowest combined resilience score, which are based on resident’s connectedness, satisfaction, capacity, participation, and living environment. These districts have been receiving help for over a decade, before the creation of the joint district, yet have not seen a breakthrough in raising the neighborhoods resilience. It is also important to note that these neighborhoods have underlying issues with immigration, identity, climate change, and poverty and equity.

STRATEGY:

Resilient BoTu 2028 is part of the city of Rotterdam’s resilience strategy to create a model for how to achieve resilience in a community. Taking a holistic approach there are three areas of focus (1) work, language, and debt (2) healthcare, young people, and parenting (3) energy, housing, and public space. Along with these three approaches are three areas, the waterfront, the heart of BoTu, and schools and public spaces. To bring these approaches into the spaces a focus is put in sustainable energy, upgrading housing, building with climate change adaptations, and social inclusion and integration.

PROCESS:

The implementation of this strategy calls for the creation of coalitions to oversee the project and work with Rotterdam’s city government. This allows for the housing cooperation, the community, city departments, and local business to be a part of the process. Holding true to the idea that the local people must benefit directly from the project through prioritizing connecting with and understanding the community as the main priority. This includes reaching out to organizations and schools in the area for their participation. The overall implantation of Resilient BoTu is expected to be complete by 2028, ten years after its initiation.

IMPACT:

By including the community residents in the implementation of Resilient BoTu 2028, resilience is not the only outcome of the project. Strengthening the sense of community leads to an inclusive approach and outcome, known as social resiliency. The project is still underway and has taken some hits due to covid, yet this has a allowed the community to focus in on new issues. Because the community had been previously working together their covid response was more efficient and led to higher regard for health in the strategy.

Covid allowed for the community to prove that the resilience programming done up until now was successful.

REF: “Making Rotterdam’s First Resilient Neighborhood through Social Cohesion.”

Resilient Cities Network, 20 Nov. 2020, resilientcitiesnetwork.org/urban_resiliences/ rotterdam-social-cohesion/.

REF: The City of Rotterdam. Brochure Bospolder-Tussendijken, 2019.

REF: “Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken.” Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken - Resilient Rotterdam, www.resilientrotterdam.nl/en/initiatives/resilient-bospolder-tussendijken.

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: ROTTERDAM, 2019 COORDINATES: 51.9244° N, 4.4777° E CLIMATE: MODERATE MARITIME AUTHOR: THE CITY OF ROTTERDAM PARTNERS: AHMED ABOUTALEB, MAYOR OF ROTTERDAM SURFACE: BOSPOLDER AND TUSSENDIJKEN (BOTU) BUDGET: 4.6 MILLION EUROS

“Resilience is about how well individuals, municipalities or organisations are able to handle changes, shocks and tension in their lives. How they respond to, recover from, adapt to or even transform in response to change.”

-Definition of Resilience, RESILIENT BOTU 2028, Brochure

IMPACT : 1,500 PEOPLE

BOSPOLDER AND TUSSENDIJKEN, THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE UP BOTU

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ENERGY CITY QATAR CHALLENGE:

Energy City Qatar is the region’s first integrated business hub dedicated to the hydrocarbon industry providing a single point of access to markets and expertise, in what will be the Middle East’s home for global players in the hydrocarbon value chain.

The project is initiated the Qatari government and will lead the way in hydrocarbon above ground resource development. Energy City Qatar forms part of the major new city development, Lusail, which is being developed by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. In addition to business and entertainment districts, this development will be home to up to 200,000 residents

STRATEGY:

Energy City Qatar will bring energy industry leadership together in one location, attracting investment from significant global players in the hydrocarbon chain thus providing a unique investment opportunity offering high yields and low risk. Energy City Qatar will provide a single point of access to the regional energy industry catering to the specialised commercial, technical and human resource requirements. Energy City Qatar will be home to the national and international energy industry leaders in Oil and Gas production, support services, infrastructure, downstream activities, shipping, market and resource data and energy trading. The project also incorporate clean energy companies as innovation for the future of energy.

PROCESS:

This organized business cluster offers a fully integrated, dynamic business and residential hub, purpose built for the energy industry providing a single point of access and a center of excellence for the energy industry to interact, compete and co-operate at commercial and technical levels. Energy City Qatar will enable the energy industry players to gain significant efficiencies due to the benefits of clustering, ease of interaction and communication, economies of scale and easier access to opportunities and decision makers at all levels. Using large amount of green spaces and plantation will revitalize the desert land bit by bit and created a better climate condition for the energy city.

IMPACT:

This eCity’s office of the future will create new tools and solutions that will enable Oil and Gas companies to achieve a new level of business performance. The highest standards of connectivity and efficiency through strategic alliances with major players in the IT industry will enable Energy City Qatar to deliver technology that can help the global energy industry achieve peak performance.

Software plays a central role in the energy industry and companies require solutions to create the strong infrastructure needed to streamline operations and respond quickly to customer needs. As the world’s first integrated energy business centre, Energy City Qatar will provide this strong infrastructure and be an international showcase for the next generation of technology innovations and promises to play a major role in the economic and social development of this vitally important region of the world.

REF: http://www.energycity.com

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: LUSAIL, QATAR, 2012-NOW COORDINATES: 25˚24’01”N 51˚30’17”E CLIMATE: DESERT CLIMATE AUTHOR: MZ & PARTNERS

(PLANING CONSULTANT)

“Energy City Qatar is the world’s next major energy hub, the Middle East’s home for major players in the hydrocarbon value chain.”

SURFACE: 0.34 SQMI BUDGET: $2.6 BILLION

–Energy City Qatar

IMPACT : 200,000 PEOPLE

IMAGE: MZ & PARTNERS

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WELLINGTON’S CENTRAL CITY CHALLENGE:

Central Wellington faces specific environmental and resilience challenges. Its situation on the Wellington Fault; one of New Zealand’s most active fault lines (GNS, 2019), has been long known and to some extent planned for, but significant earthquakes in 2013 and 2015 graphically illustrated the vulnerability of much of the city to this natural hazard.

Rainfall-induced slips can be active even in the heavily-reinforced central city (Capacity Infrastructure Services, 2013). Climate changes are almost certain to result in sea level rise that will cause major impacts in the central city as well as increased vulnerability to flood and storm damage from increased storm magnitude and/or frequency. Green space is needed in central city areas to provide health and wellbeing benefits for current and future residents, commuters and visitors, and increased amenity, livability and economic benefits. Green spaces also provide ecosystem and resilience benefits that will help mitigate and adapt the city to climate change and other environmental shocks.

STRATEGY:

Maximizing accessibility and quality of the few relatively large public areas, together with maximum use of opportunities for ‘pocket parks’ and small green areas; use of universal accessibility design principles, ensuring that all spaces meet international/national guidelines for accessibility, and that all green spaces are of sufficient quality to ensure they are usable by diverse groups within the population; making maximum practicable and creative use of opportunities for non-traditional green space, and green spaces that provide multiple ecosystem services; maximizing the number of trees in all central city development plans and broadening the range of trees and other vegetation used in street and green space planting; maximizing the amount of previous surfaces in all green spaces; making maximum practicable use of opportunities for complementarity between green space and other land uses, especially transport corridors, housing and commercial provision and flood control; and maximizing accessibility links between central city green space and peripheral central city green space, especially through both active and motorized transport corridors.

PROCESS:

The city will develop an effective management plan for the area. Work with residents, adjacent private land owners, and stakeholders for community restoration/gardening possibilities and common understanding. Develop better access portals, pathways, and signage where possible.

IMPACT:

The project is aiming to impact the amount of green space in Central Wellington per capita. Due to population growth the green space per capita will decrease by half by 2035.

The project is increasing the amount of green space in central Wellington which the goal is to help solve this issue and elevates living quality of this area.

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, 2019-NOW COORDINATES: 41˚17’06”S 174˚46’41”E CLIMATE: MARINE CLIMATE AUTHOR: NEW ZEALAND CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES SURFACE: 0.36 SQMI

“Central city green spaces enhance community and ecosystem health”.

–New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities

BUDGET: N/A IMPACT : 3110 PEOPLE + 179,470 TOURIST ANNUALLY

IMAGE: M. PEDERSEN ZARI

169

‘15 MINUTE CITY’ CHALLENGE:

Paris is a city that was designed before the automobile, and is sought after being reinvigorated in the same way. From the pandemic and the effects that Covid-19 had on the major city, many people found their day-to-day lives reimagined and redefined. Also, being one of many major urban settings seeking to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce automotive traffic, the city had been in the process of re-pedestrianizing the city. With all these contexts together, Paris looks to the future of how the city will be defined and operated, and questions if the city will ever return to the state that existed prior to the pandemic.

STRATEGY:

Mayor Anne Hidalgo, as a part of her campaign, advocated for the “15 minute city,” which would reimagine Paris as a decentralized city that would provide the day-to-day necessities to its occupants within 15 minutes of pedestrian travel. Hidalgo appointed Carlos Moreno as Commissioner to oversee the initiative, and since then the two have advocated that people’s needs can more easily be met within this smaller hub of activity in smaller neighborhood clusters than can be sporadically found in the city, and often out of the way. The needs of retail, food, services, access to green spaces, and education can all be reconfigured to accommodate all persons within these smaller radii, and through the pandemic they have seen the future of office work-life as existing outside the confines of a cubicle or office building.

PROCESS:

Ongoing policies have been implemented in Paris over the past decade, decreasing and prohibiting the use of polluting motor vehicles, closing streets to be reallocated for public space, and making all the streets in the city ‘cycle-friendly’ by 2024. Too, there have been €12.3 million allocated for 70 public housing projects done throughout the city, €30 million revamp of seven major public squares throughout the city, and many ‘urban oasis’ sites that have popped up during the pandemic. Planning for the future, the Mayor took the initiative to create this initiative for a ‘15 minute city’ in Paris, which builds on the past environmental policies and adapts them to a new, smaller scale. This would mean that the infrastructure of the city has to be renegotiated, while the city must aid in re-diversifying and making the city ubiquitous in its resources, such as in the goal to acquire 30% of the stock in housing to increase the public housing throughout all of the districts in the city.

IMPACT:

As a result of the ’15 minute city,’ Paris would be able to redefine and reinvigorate the city at a communal level that it was never able to before. The city is not going to be able to reinvigorate and reimagine the life of all of its occupants, nor does it seek to prevent the residents the accessibility or feasibility to travel beyond where they live. Instead, the city seeks to make the day-to-day, or the mundane, be largely within reach and not be something that is out of reach or out of touch for its residents. And now, Paris’ initiative and future vision of the ‘15 minute city’ has inspired other cities internationally to adapt this model to their own environmental issues.

REF : https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201214-how-15-minute-cities-willchange-the-way-we-socialise; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-11-12/ paris-s-15-minute-city-could-be-coming-to-an-urban-area-near-you REF : https://tomorrow.city/a/paris-the-15-minute-city

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: PARIS, 2020-ONGOING COORDINATES: 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E CLIMATE: MARINE WEST COAST OR CFB AUTHOR: CARLOS MORENO (COMMISSIONER) PARTNERS: ANNE HIDALGO (MAYOR) 2 2 AREA: 105.4 KM (40.7 MI ) BUDGET: €300M+

“The 15-minute city is a journey, a guideline, a possibility for transforming the paradigm for how we live over the next many decades, “Before, people were losing useful time. With the 15-minute city, we want them to regain it.”

–CARLOS MORENO

IMPACT : 2.161 MILLION

LEFT : HTTPS://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/954928/ CREATING-A-PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY-UTOPIA-THROUGH-THE-DESIGN-OF-15-MINUTE-CITIES RIGHT : HTTPS://MEDIUM.COM/STRATEGICDESIGN/ THE-KEY-TO-BUILDING-15-MINUTE-CITIES-GOOD-NEIGHBOURHOOD-SERVICES-48D5BF14A7F1

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LISBON LOW EMISSIONS CHALLENGE:

Beginning in 1996, the E.U. approved the European Air Quality Directive, which has been adopted and enforced over the past decade. Programs would be in need of being implemented for the health and betterment of the cities, being that air pollution is the cause for numerous cases of respiratory issues and complications, as well as numerous premature deaths across Europe. In dealing with how to best remediate these issues, European cities must propose their own solutions to mitigate these problems .

STRATEGY:

Faced with the impending complications of climate change, on top of improving the quality of city life and health, Lisbon had to find ways in which to further their efforts for the future. The Lisbon City Council oversaw policies in 2011, which would later take affect in 2014, on Low Emission Zones (LEZ) throughout the city. Once those were implemented, then cars that did not meet certain efficiencies or pollutant regulations were banned from driving in certain parts of the city. These areas, starting in 2020, have been transformed into public realms without much of any allowed transportation, except for public transportation, or necessary/essential workers in the proximity.

PROCESS:

Drawing off of the Low Emission Zones from the past, the Lisbon City Council and Mayor Fernando Medina made the initiative to create a reduced emissions zone in downtown Lisbon, in the Baixa and Chiado areas. Learning from previous examples in other cities precedents, the implementation of LEZ in Lisbon is a simple way to limit occupation and pollution, while benefiting tremendously to the urban environment. To mitigate the displacement of transporation, the municipalities worked with the traffic police within PSP Lison in order to assess what areas offer sufficient opportunities to adapt the infrastructure for the required land area of the LEZ.

IMPACT:

The culmination of the efforts that the city has made has proven to show that the cities and infrastructure are not dependent on cars and transportation with harsh environmental effects. Instead, much like in many other European cities, cycling and pedestrian traffic are largely taking over these spaces and profiting off of them. This, in turn, is to the benefit of public health, while also re-characterizing the city in a new light that is quieter and more accessible to the public. These Low Emission Zones and their progression in the city may in fact lead to their expansion throughout the city, and into more cities across Europe, and across the world. The result were pedestrian and cyclist friendly corridors that eliminated vast amounts of air pollution in the city, and in particular downtown, projecting a decrease in 60,000 tons of CO2.

REF : https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/ low-emission-zones-european-success-story REF : https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/portugal/lisbon REF : https://www.lusa.pt/article/WwmXpRUNJB1_jO5TFv~QqTMSZM5iuSI1/lisboncreates-low-emission -zone-to-reduce-pollution REF : https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/265583813_Low_Emission_Zone_Lisbon%27s_Experience

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: LISBON, COORDINATES: 38.7223° N, 9.1393° W CLIMATE: HOT SUMMERMEDITERRANEAN OR CSA AUTHOR: LISBON CITY COUNCIL PARTNERS: FERNANDO MEDINA (MAYOR) AREA: 4 HECTARES

“We really need to take this step... [the] most striking of this municipal term of office... in favour of a better reduction.”

–FERNANDO MEDINA

IMPACT : 504,718

LEFT : HTTPS://URBANACCESSREGULATIONS.EU/COUNTRIES-MAINMENU-147/PORTUGAL/LISBON RIGHT : HTTPS://ECF.COM/NEWS-AND-EVENTS/NEWS/LOW-EMISSION-ZONES-EUROPEAN-SUCCESS-STORY

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CLIMATE READY BOSTON CHALLENGE:

Boston Harbor has a total of 47 miles of shoreline, along which lies immensely varied infrastructures, neighborhoods, systems, and economies tied to the greater city. In its current state, neighborhoods everywhere are at risk of flooding from tides and storm surges; by 2050 a 40” sea-level rise (SLR) is expected. During storms and regular flooding, 60% of income-restricted housing units could be exposed. In East Boston, around 4,800 daily trips on the MBTA blue line would be affected, along with the majority of highways, tunnels, and neighborhoods being completely overwhelmed and immobilized. In present day conditions, flood pathways- where water travels inland and disrupts infrastructures, systems, and services- and fringe flooding that impacts coastal sites are generally limited.

Even with reduction of carbon emisions moderately, SLR will multiply the frequency and severity of floods that already can be seen to paralyze entire districts and the city as large.

STRATEGY:

Simply put, the initiative creates “neighborhood solutions to coastal flooding from sea level rise and coastal storms.” Launched in 2016, Climate Ready Boston is an initiative by the city government to study the incoming effects of sea-level rise as it relates to the Charlestown and East Boston neighborhoods. Throughout the plan, the role of the shoreline is carefully considered both as an active site and a barrier. Flood pathways are reduced in number and a pathway barrier is anticipated to wall off the neighborhoods needing critical protection. In coastal sites that require access to the water for their efficacy, design protection at a district scale does not make sense. Instead, these areas are being approached with “building level” design plans- soft floors or sites intended for flooding in surges, this helps keeps their current functionality all the while contributing actively to flood protection.

PROCESS:

The process can be broken down into three steps: understanding flood risks, developing draft solutions, and listening to community priorities. By engaging the communities directly, the city wide plan can be designed in accordance with local needs in a mutually beneficial way. The project creates a comprehensive program of community involvement in the form of public meetings and panels, alongside a portfolio of maps, guidelines, and other educational resources. A balance is struck between easy-to implement near-term flood solutions and ones that will come with substantial regional level projects. Through the introduction of public amenities as laid out in this program, it will holistically benefit the whichever community it is designed for.

IMPACT:

This will save tens of thousands of residents from flood risks and preserve crucial infrastructures from the local area all the way to the regional scale. With elevated waterfront parks and plazas that block critical flood entry points, new open spaces are provided to communities that increase public health, prompt social interaction throughout the year, and raise the median shoreline. Ecological systems at the water’s edge are also carefully considered here to simultaneously remediate the shoreline and provide natural protections against severe waves.

REF: https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/c/ climatereadyeastbostoncharlestown_finalreport_web.pdf; https://www.boston.gov/sites/ 174default/files/embed/file/2018-06/imagine20boston202030_pages2.pdf

FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: BOSTON, USA, 2016 COORDINATES: 42.3N, -71.0W CLIMATE: CFA (HUMID SUBTROPICAL) AUTHOR: CITY OF BOSTON PARTNERS: ONE, STOSS, KLEINFELDER SURFACE: CITY OF BOSTON COASTLINE BUDGET: $154-262 MILLION

“This final plan identifies major initiatives that will expand opportunity for all Bostonians, support a vibrant economy, enhance quality of life, and prepare for climate change. It identifies key areas where we can take action to: enhance the vitality of our neighborhoods, encourage mixed-use growth in the commercial core, expand neighborhoods to provide space for new housing and jobs, create a sustainable waterfront for future generations, and improve access to opportunity in historically-underserved neighborhoods.”

COASTAL RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS FOR EAST BOSTON FINAL REPORT. CITY OF BOSTON.

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ECO-VIIKKI CHALLENGE:

About eight kilometres north of Helsinki, the town of Viikki was designated the site for a new campus of the University of Helsinki. Built on former farmlands in 1999, the introduction of economies, housing, and infrastructures needed for this challenge presented an opportunity for completely new development. In this challenge, it became an opportunity to test out a wholly sustainable lifestyle through architecture itself.

The challenge is to design a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city that creates an ecologically viable model for its inhabitants at all scales of living. While intentionally a building project, the real heart of the program lies in its ability to unite social cues and physical space for a totally sustainable cycle.

STRATEGY:

The project aims to create a series of housing typologies that are technologically advanced at their inception while embracing natural, passive solutions. With criteria aimed at pollution, natural resources,health, biodiversity, and food production, nearly all facets of life are engaged in a cycle of production and reproduction. Energy is conserved passively: “the orientation of the houses, the façade openings, and sheltering glazed balcony zones.” Nearly every building is oriented south to maximize solar gain, and each block is separated by an intricate green space. Here, collecting surface water is carefully managed to balance flooding peaks, improve its quality/ dispersion, and create a living environment for “plants, birds, small animals, and insects.” The scale of the buildings ranges from individual homes to townhouse complexes to apartment blocks all intended to lowering the carbon footprint. Walking-scale neighborhoods, community saunas and gardens, and generally amicable shared urban fabric are intended to associate sustainable architecture to a naturally acclimated living experience.

PROCESS:

The whole project is monitored by an intricate series of technological interventions that record data and usage by each user. In accordance with Ecological Building Criteria (PIMWAG), it creates a baseline to compare against andgauge efficacy. After an initial period of observation revealed nonoptimal usage, housing managers were instructed to inform residents individually and address adjustments as they could. Issues beyond a fixture level were reworked in the building construction phase.

IMPACT:

This model serves as a studiable example for this sort of sustainable architectural typology. In passive design choices- such as heat recovery, co-generation, and districtingits maintenance and energy usages are significantly lower than other communities of its size, not to mention lowering water consumption through metering, separation of water types, and stormwater retention and filtration. Access to nature is increased to promote an ecologically cognisant populace. It’s inception demands it be both a destination neighborhood and an outskirt community to Helsinki. In light of this challenge, it provides a passive framework for sustainable living where ecological consideration is at the forefront of every design decision so that it can be considered a norm.

REF:https://www.upv.es/contenidos/CAMUNISO/info/U0511280.pdf; https://www. integratedstormwater.eu/sites/www.integratedstormwater.eu/files/materials/files/ viikki_-_ecological_housing_and_planning_in_helsinki_eskola_t.pdf; integratedstormwater.

176 eu/files/materials/files/viikki_-_ecological_housing_and_planning_in_helsinki_eskola_t.

FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: HELSINKI, 1999 COORDINATES: 60.2N, 25.0E CLIMATE: DFB (WARM SUMMER HUMID CONT.) AUTHOR: CITY OF HELSINKI PARTNERS: MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT SURFACE: 23 HECTARE

“As a residential area and forum for practical building, Viikki has offered the opportunity to implement applied research and development as well as to test ecological solutions immediately in the field. It is important to discuss and learn from the ten-year long development project and its results and to take up the best applications into general building practice” –City of Helsinki, Ministry of the Environment

GOOGLE IMAGES

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TORONTO GREEN CHALLENGE:

Toronto suffers from the urban heat island effect, preventing it from effectively cooling off when heat becomes trapped between large buildings with no channels for it to escape through. As Toronto’s water runoff drains into Lake Ontario, it is important for it to be of clean quality to preserve the integrity of the lake. Greenhouse gas emissions are always an issue when discussing a major city, and power disruptions along the outdated energy grid have become increasingly common.

STRATEGY:

The Toronto Green Standard aims to improve the city’s air quality while reducing the urban heat island effect, as as well as reduce energy usage and emissions. Additionally, this standard is prioritizing the protection of ecological systems and the integration of landscapes and habitats that allow safe travel for birds migrating through the city.

Residential and construction waste will be diverted away from landfill sites, and as the city continues to grow at a rapid rate it is crucial to ensure that it does so in a sustainable way.

The key to achieving these goals is interconnectivity; the city must be consistently green in order for the impact to be significant.

PROCESS:

In 2006, the Toronto Green Standard was introduced by the city as a voluntary standard that could be met by new developments; by 2010 it was separated into two levels, one of which was mandatory and the other presented financial incentives. Projects that successfully meet low emission standards are eligible for refunds on city charges. As of 2015, 1,500 new developments were required to meet Green Standard emission goals. By 2018 all new planning applications were required to meet emissions reduction targets and certain performance requirements.

IMPACT:

In cities especially, it is vital to not only maintain green standards but also to continuosly upgrade their requirements to prevent urban developments from destroying our planet.

On a short term scale, more green developments will increase the quality of life of the people of Toronto and serve as an inspiration to other cities around the world. 2050 goals will ideally reduce emissions by over 30 megatons, a huge contribution to Toronto’s overall goal of 80% emission reduction.

REF: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/official-planguidelines/official-plan/chapters-1-5/ REF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/8fd8-cp-official-planchapter-1.pdf

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ecomes er runoff the lake. ptions

effect, as f ng city hieving ant.

FACTS: Sustainable Requirements LOCATION, YEAR: TORONTO, ON, CANADA 2006

LOCATION, YEAR: Toronto, ON, Canada 2006 COORDINATES: 43.6532 N, 79.3832 W COORDINATES: 43.6532 N, 79.3832 W CLIMATE: CONTINENTAL CLIMATE: Continental AUTHOR: LISA KING, SENIOR POLICY OR:PLANNER Lisa King, Senior Policy Planner AUTH PARTNERS: Shayna Stott,STOTT, Environmental Planner PARTNERS: SHAYNA ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER SURFACE: 243.3 square miles

SURFACE: 243.3 SQUARE MILES BUDGET: N/A IMPACT : 2.93 MILLION IMPACT: 2.93 million

“The Toronto Green “The Toronto Green has proven to be Standard hasStandard proven to be an effective tool to achieve the City’s greenan effective tool to achieve house gas emission reduction targets. the green-house gas As of City’s 2017, over 1,500 developments were required to meet Tier 1 and 15 pertargets. cent of emission reduction residential projects participated in the Toronto AsStandard of 2017, overCharges 1,500 Green Development Refund Program. developments were The Toronto Green Standard Version 3 new required to meet Tier 1 and Zero Emissions Buildings Framework PDF, 15 perenergy cent of residential stepped efficiency targets will result in greenhouse gas reductions of 30.6 Megatonnes projects participated by 2050, contributing to Transform TO’s in the Toronto city-wide emissions reduction Green target of 80 per cent by 2050.

Standard Development That is the equivalent to taking more than Charges Refund Program.”

250,000 cars off the road each year!”

- Lisa King -Lisa King Senior Policy Planner Senior Policy Planner

met by er funds goals.

green er cities

REF: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/official-plan-guidelines/official-plan/chapters-1-5/ Case Study 8

REF: HTTPS://WWW.TORONTO.CA/CITY-GOVERNMENT/PLANNING-DEVELOPMENT/ OFFICIAL-PLAN-GUIDELINES/OFFICIAL-PLAN/CHAPTERS-1-5/

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RESILIENCE CHALLENGE:

As sea levels rise, flooding and erosion become increasingly prevalent in regions bordering large bodies of water. Maryland, USA has over 3,000 miles of coastline in need of protection from worsening conditions, and local government funding is essential in providing the capital necessary to counter the devastating effects of climate change.

Cumulative property damage could potentially exceed $3.5 trillion in this region within the next 40 years.

STRATEGY:

The Maryland Resilience Authorities are appointed to streamline government approvals for developing projects along the coast that react to increasingly detrimental climate conditions. These interventions will include flood barriers, increased green spaces, the elevation of buildings, and counter-stormwater infrastructure. Areas in close proximity to the coast will be revitalized with the purpose of softening the barrier between water and land. Tackling the widespread nature of this issue will be made possible by the high level of government involvement and financial support.

PROCESS:

The state of Maryland developed Resilience Authorities, which are permitted to utilize local, state, and nonprofit funding in any combination. They are also not restricted by county, which enables a multi-regional effort. The state of Maryland is already preparing to allow Resilience Authorities to use $50 million for the green renovation of City Dock , Annapolis (right), a coastal piece of land that hosts a variety of community events throughout the year. The dock space will be converted from a parking lot and loading area into large green spaces. The Authorities expedite processes such as this renovation by handling both the planning and funding, resulting in an efficient process that the local governments approve of and could not accomplish by themselves.

IMPACT:

In addition to their contribution to the global effort to counteract climate change, the Resilience Authorities have the potential to make a huge difference on a local level in Maryland. Not only will coastal communities be protected from imminent destruction, federal taxes are also anticipated to go down long term as a result of the aversion of physically destructive crises.

REF: https://efc.web.unc.edu/2021/03/10/funding-climate-change-adaptation-howmaryland-is-paving-the-way-in-resiliency-financing/ REF: Google Statistics

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FACTS: Climate Change Resilience

LOCATION, YEAR: MARYLAND, USA 2020

39.0458 N, 76.6413 W LOCATION,COORDINATES: YEAR: Maryland, USA 2020 CLIMATE: MARITIME COORDINATES: 39.0458 N, 76.6413 W

CLIMATE: AUTHOR: Maritime SARA HENSHAW, AUTHRO AT ENV. FINANCE BLOG

AUTH OR: Sarah Henshaw, Author at Env. Finance Blog PARTNERS: GAVIN BUCKLEY, SARAH ELFRETH

PARTNERS: Gavin Buckley, Sarah Elfreth

SURFACE: 12,407 SQUARE MILES

SURF ACE: 12,407 square miles

BUDGET: $50 MILLION +

BUDGET: $50 million +

IMPACT : 6.046 MILLION

IMPACT: 6.046 million

“...Resilience Authorities give these local jurisdic“Local governments are feelingto thecreate effects of tions the power climate change more and more each year, and their own, personal-ized Resilience Authorities give these local jurisdiccombat tionsprojects the power toto create their own, these personalissues in their areas. ized projects to combat these issues in their areas. The Authorities make The Authorities make the process of planning, the process of planning, funding, and completing resiliency projects funding, completing much quicker, and and efficient for local governresiliency ments, since they areprojects able to bypassmuch the state and quicker, federal red tape that usually confines these and efficient for types of projects. local governments, since Without these authorities, these projects would they are able be nearly impossible to fundto for bypass communities withthe a strong aversion to new taxes.” red state and federal tape that usually confines - Sarah Henshaw, these types of projects.”

Author at Environmental Finance Blog - Sarah Henshaw, Author at Environmental Fi-

d hysically

HTTPS://EFC.WEB.UNC.EDU/2021/03/10/ FUNDING-CLIMATE-CHANGE-ADAPTATION-HOW-MARYLAND-IS-PAVING-THE-WAY-IN-RESILIENCY-FINANCING/ https://efc.web.unc.edu/2021/03/10/funding-climate-change-adaptation-how-maryland-is-paving-the-way-in-resiliency-financing/

Case Study 12

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STOCKHOLM ROYAL SEAPORT CHALLENGE:

The city of Stockholm started planning of the Stockholm Royal Seaport in the early 2000s due to some challenges that the city was anticipating that they would face. Stockholm expects to significantly increase in population by 2030, with estimates suggesting that they will reach a million inhabitants by then. Beyond just the population increase, Stockholm is also a coastal city, which the city assumes will be an issue moving forward with rising sea levels worldwide. As the city faces these challenges they still wanted to be on target with their sustainability goals, this is what led them to ideate and create the Stockholm Royal Seaport.

STRATEGY:

To deal with the anticipated population and sea level rise in Stockholm, the city wanted to develop a livable city district fully marked by sustainability. Their goal was to develop a sustainable, resilient, low-carbon, and fossil fuel free society by 2040. To help them achieve their goals for the Stockholm Royal Seaport, the city outlined five strategies for sustainable urban development-- vibrant city, accesibility and proximity, resource efficiency and climate responsibility, let nature do the work, and participation and consultation. Each of these strategies was to be implemented through three core lenses-people, the city, and time.

PROCESS:

The city of Stockholm has laid out a plan known as “Vision 2040” which outlines the the sustainability goals and objectives for the city. This plan created starting points for the different processes required for the development of the Stockholm Royal Seaport. The City Planning Administration, the City Development Administration’s departments of Land/Agreement, Public Place, and Sustainability Management, and Property Developers worked together to plan, implement, and administer the development of the project.

These actors made a list of 21 sustainability targets that fall in the category of one of the five strategies which is known as the Sustainable Urban Development Programme. The Sustainable Urban Development Programme was applied on four different levels, the overaching level, subareas, building level, and during the development phase. Along with the city’s agencies and property developers, the city worked in tandem with international sustainability initiatives, like C40’s Climate Positive Development Program, to stay on track with their goals.

IMPACT:

Through the development of the Stockholm Royal Seaport, the city has allocated 236 hecatres of land along the seaport to be part of the Stockholm Royal Seaport project, this includes the areas of Gasverket, Hjorthagen, Ropsten, Sodra Vartahamnen, Frihamnen, and Loudden. On this land they have planned 12,000 new housing units, 35,000 new workplaces, 600,000 square meters of commercial space-- all set to be compliant with their Vision 2040 and Sustainable Urban Development Programme, and to be completed in 2030.

REF: https://www.norradjurgardsstaden2030.se/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ sustainable_urban_development_programme-1.pdf REF: https://www.c40.org/awards/3/profiles/70

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 2009-PRESENT COORDINATES: 59.35070, 18.10764 CLIMATE: TEMPERATE, HUMID CONTINENTAL AUTHOR: CITY OF STOCKHOLM PARTNERS: C40, VARIETY OF DEVELOPERS AND DESIGN FIRMS SURFACE: 236 HECTARES BUDGET: INITIAL INVESTMENT: $30 BILLION USD IMPACT : 100,000+ PEOPLE

“It is encouraging to see measured energy performance data reported for the first buildings in the Brofästet phase after one year of occupancy. It is with shared ambitions, collaboration, and exchange of experience that we can continue to move forward in building and developing more sustainable cities and communities.”

–Christina Salmhofer, Sustainability Strategist, Stockholm Royal Seaport, Stockholms City, Development Administration

HTTP://WWW.STOCKHOLMROYALSEAPORT.COM/

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TRIBORO ECODISTRICT CHALLENGE:

As the climate crisis becomes more prevalent, different private and public entities have sought different solutions to the problem. In 2011, the principal of the design firm evolveEA was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for ecodistrict funding to be used in the town of Millvale in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County.

The nonprofit New Sun Rising stepped in in 2016 to announce the creation of a Triboro Ecodistrict, which planned to expand Millvale’s ecodistrict model into the neighboring boroughs of Etna and Sharpsburg. New Sun Rising defines ecodistricts as “a community that is embedded in a holistic model of sustainable planning at the neighborhood scale that empowers people to take ownership over their individual and collective futures... focus[ing] on developing both the hardware and software of a community,”.

STRATEGY:

The three municipalities--Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg-- share zoning regulations and a joint comprehensive plan, making the inter-borough cooperation and ecodistrict network between them a straightforward collaboration. Together municipalities in the Triboro Ecodistrict have outlined a collective vision of the future, but the boroughs have also created individual plans of action specific to their communities. The strategy was to develop these boroughs as independent ecodistricts with networks connecting them to the other ecodistricts rather than creating one large ecodistrict with a shared vision. The strategy of creating independent ecodistricts within the boroughs allows each borough to develop as needed to address the specific needs of each community.

PROCESS:

In developing the Triboro Ecodistrict, the ecodistrict plan outlines six areas of focus: energy, water, food, air, mobility, and equity. To acheive their goals as an ecodistrict the Triboro Ecodistrict recieves its funding from different sources, from residents of the community, to private grants, to state funding. The three municipalities split the funding evenly to complete the variety of projects planned to develop the Triboro Ecodistrict.

With community collaboration with developing partners at the core of how the ecodistrict functions, the municipalities work on many projects at a time through their municipalities.

For example, Millvale is working on a DC Microgrid at their Food and Energy Hub, Etna is working on their Riverfront Park, and Sharpburg on their Sustainability and Civic Engagement Center. The Triboro is a continuous work in progress.

IMPACT:

The constantly evolving nature of the Triboro Ecodistrict has a continuous impact on the residents of the area by creating a more sustainable place to live, and strengthening community connections, making these communities more resilient. In 2019, Etna became the first certified ecodistrict in the United States. As the climate crisis surges, New Sun Rising sees ecodistricts being a vital mechanism in combating the crisis, and by developing networks like the Triboro Ecodistrict the organization hopes to inspire and create change within other communities worldwide.

REF: https://www.newsunrising.org/project/triboro-ecodistrict/ REF: https://nextpittsburgh.com/city-design/triboro-ecodistrict-will-expand-millvalesnationally-recognized-ecodistrict-model-sharpsburg-etna/

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FACTS: LOCATION, YEAR: BOROUGHS OF MILLVALE, ETNA AND SHARPSBURG, PA, 2016-PRESENT COORDINATES: 40.48256, -79.97057 CLIMATE: TEMPERATE, CONTINENTAL AUTHOR: NEW SUN RISING PARTNERS: ETNA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SHARPSBURG NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, EVOLVEEA

“That’s the beauty of the TriBoro. Even though we have a lot of the same issues and sometimes work together, we also have our own separate goals and leadership.”

–Robert Tunon, resident of Etna and Triboro EcoDistrict Advisory Board Member

SURFACE: 2.1 SQ.MILES BUDGET: SPORADIC FUNDING OVER TIME

EVOLVEEA: MILLVALE ECODISTRICT FACEBOOK: TRIBORO ECODISTRICT

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REFERENCES

Throughout this semester, there have been a multitude of guest speakers that have helped guide us through the impacts of climate change and the many projects that have come to fruition in batteling these climate challenges.

Through projects and new thinking there are a multitude of ways to batteling and talking about this climate crisis with the community.

Here is a short summurization of there work and a few of the projects presented to us.

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TIM MCPHEARSON CHRIS REED MATTHIJS BOUW JEFFREY RAVEN ERIC WILSON

ADRIANA CHAVEZ

NEW YORK CITY STORMWATER RESILIENCY GREENWORKS EAST HARLEM RESILIENCY STUDY COOL DISTRICT HOT CITY TRANSFORMING NYC’S BUILDINGS FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE RESILIENCY PAC

JANETTE KIM

RULES OF THE GAME

BELINDA TATO

ECOSISTEMA URBANO

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TIM MCPHEARSON - NEW YORK CITY STORMWATER RESILIENCY

Dr. Timon McPhearson is Professor of Urban Ecology, Director of the Urban Systems Lab, and Research Faculty at the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School. He is a Senior Research Fellow at The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in which his research examines cities as ecosystems to study social, ecological, and technical interactions to understand urban system dynamics.

Specifically looking into his work with the New School and the Urban Systems Lab, the Lab’s work advances cutting edge science, data visualization, and computation to develop systemic solutions to social 188

and environmental challenges driving inequity and injustice in urban areas. In a recent publication in 2020 called the Urban Transformation, research has found that within NYC and surrounding areas there are over 800,000 people that are living in both areas that are high risk environmental justice areas and at risk of being flooded. Overall, the Urban Systems Lab is trying to break down those who are at most risk and working on solution and interventions to combat against this.

CHRIS REED GREENWORKS

Chris Reed is Professor in Practice of Landscape Architecture and Co-Director of the Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He is also Founding Director of Stoss Landscape Urbanism. In his guest lecture of Greenworks, he discusses the underpinning of a climate based urbanism and how landscape should play a more prominent and formative role in imagining the future. In projects such as the Blue Way, the project aims to reconnect the people of Boston to its precious ecological and cultural resource of the harbor. It does this by expanding the pedestrian accessability while also taking

into consideration the increase of sea levels and storm surge that are caused by climate change.

The lowest walkway is designed to float as it will rise and fall with the tide allowing visitors to examine and get a closer look to natural sea life such as mussels along the piers. It also includes a boundary of stormwater gardens that help with storing rain water so that the highest promenade can remain the most safe. These plants are specific for withstanding against both fresh and salt water flooding.

Overall the project is intended to optimize landscape design to minimize the affects of sea level rise and serve as an adaptive and resilient design to.

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MATTHIJS BOUW EAST HARLEM RESILIENCY STUDY

Matthijs Bouw is a Dutch architect, founder of ONE Architecture, a architecture and Urbanism fim based in Manhattan. He is also the Director of the Urban Resilience Certificate Program for the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

Bouws introduced the East Harlem Resiliency study to the class. The East Harlem Resiliency Study was undertaken by NYC Parks and the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency in order to develop a vision plan for a climate-resilient East Harlem. This effort defined resilience as the ability of individuals, communities, and institutions to adapt, survive, and thrive in the face of shocks and stresses related to climate change. The vision plan for building

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a resilient East Harlem focuses on tackling the key issues of sea level rise, storm surge, extreme rain, and extreme heat. Some of the recommendations and solutions to help building a more resilient East Harlem include multipurpose programs to redirect storm water to additional green spaces for the area.

JEFFRY RAVEN COOL DISTRICT HOT CITY

Jeffry Raven is an architect who specialises in sustainable and resilient forms of urban design.

He is the owner of RAVEN A + U as well as the director of the graduate program, at New York Institute of Technology, in Urban and Regional Design. Projects which he has lead throughout his caree have included many which focus on low carbon communities, green buildings and smart growth.

Whereas, adaption to climate change means adjusting ones life to the current or expected future impacts of climate change. Cities of the future however need to find a balance between these two ways of approaching climate change.

One is not a better overall solution than the other but will need to work together in order for a better future for tomorrow.

In his publication called, Urban Planning and Urban Design he talks about the differences of climate mitigation and climate adaption. Mitigation meaning that there are ways to reducing the affects of climate change.

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ERIC WILSON TRANSFORMING NYC’S BUILDINGS FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE

Eric Wilson is the Deputy Director of Land Use and Buildings for NYC in the Mayors Office of Resilience.

Through his presentation, a lot of data was shown. This ranged from types of buildings within Manhattan to the median building age of an area. Much of the city’s work in the Office of Resilience aims to combat climate change, whilst analyzing past historical climate events (Hurricane Ida) and learning how to prevent something similar from happening in the future. But, this is not the only thing that the office focuses on.

Climate change affects more than just events that cause catastrophic damage, but also the damage which we do not notice on a day

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to day basis: carbon emissions, pollution, etc.

As the population density of NYC is expected to rise so will the carbon footprint meaning more carbon emmissions. In order to begin combatting that the city has started a program to incentivize people to become more energy efficient concious otherwise the building owner will have to pay a large sum. The city has already started implimenting this by making sure that building put up their energy efficiency scores in windows.

ADRIANA CHAVEZ RESILIENCE PAC

Resilience PAC is a Political Action Committee that focuses on finding elected officials that are specialized in ensuring that New York City will be prepared for increased changes in the urban climate. Adriana Chavez is part of a team that works to preserve healthy communities and natural ecologies that comprise New York’s resilient infrastructures.

Resilience PAC is dedicated to ensuring a healthy quality of life for New Yorkers, and reacting to imminent threats such as sea level rise, heavy storm surge, extreme heat, and other ecological disturbances.

Chaves focuses on urban landscape design, helping to create physical infrastructural developments that mitigate the risks of climate change. Members of Resilience PAC have experience with resilient architecture and urban planning, as well as specified areas of government operations that unite people under the concept of filling in the existing gaps between mitigation strategies at higher levels.

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JANETTE KIM RULES OF THE GAME

Janette Kim is an educator, architectural designer, and researcher from San Francisco who focuses on ecology and social equity within the built environment. Kim worked on the Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge as well as the Win-Win Board Games series, a game that allows participants to simulate the outcomes of different types and levels of climate threats through an interactive physical game.

This strategy is useful for both community engagement as well as efficient iterative studies that play out a variety of scenarios. Win-Win Board Games factor in elements such as economies, transportation and energy infrastructures,

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shelters, residential units, and community displacement.

Community members and advocates have used these games to initiate discussions among people within local governments to help inform their decision making processes.

BELINDA TATO ECOSISTEMA URBANO

Belinda Tato is a professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and a founding member of Ecosistema Urbano, a group of architects in Madrid focusing on urban ecosystems and sociology. Tato describes her approach as urban social design, a method by which she studies environments and their dynamics in an effort to improve communities’ abilities to maintain a collectively healthy living area. Focusing on aligning community members with their role in the environment, these bio-conscious design strategies are employed with the intention of reconstructing urban areas from the human scale to the most broad and interconnected green

ecosystem scale. Ecosistema Urbano has also recently developed fully digital platforms that help to create social networks through the management of online channels built around urban sustainability.

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COURSE READING Beekmans, Jeroen. Welcome to the X minute City, Pop Up City.

July 15, 2021.

Bhatia, Aatish, and Winston Choi-Schagrin. Why Are Record-Breaking Overnight Temperatures Are so Concerning? New York Times, July 9, 2021.

Bisker, Josh, Amy Chester, and Tara Eisenberg. Rebuild by Design.

New York, 2015.

Bouton, Shannon, David Newsome, and Jonathan Woetzel. Building the cities of the future with green districts. McKinsey, 2015.

Goodell, Jeff. Can New York City be Saved in the Era of Global Warming? Rolling Stone, 5 July 2016.

Hu, Winnie and Anna Barnard. Why the New York Subway Has a Water Problem. New York Times, July 9, 2021.

IDEO and Ellen McArthur Foundation. The Circular Design Guide.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5℃. 2019.

Klinenberg, Eric. Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.

Lister, Nina Marie, and Chris Reed. Projective Ecologies. Harvard Graduate School of Design – Actar, 2019.

Maas, Winy, and MVRDV. The Space Fighter. The Evolutionary City (Game). Actar, 2007.

Mayor’s Office of Climate Resilience. NYC Panel on Climate Change. 2019 New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual. 2015.

Raven, Jeffrey, Stone, B., Mills, G., Towers, J., Katzschner, L., Leone, M., Gaborit, P., Georgescu, M., and Hariri, M. Urban planning and design. In Rosenzweig, C., W. Solecki, P. Romero-Lankao, S. Mehrotra, S. Dhakal, and S. Ali Ibrahim (eds.), Climate Change and Cities: Second Assessment Report of the Urban Climate Change Research Network. Cambridge University Press. 2018. 139–172.

Remøy, Hilde, Alexander Wandl, Denis Ceric, and Arjan van Timmeren. Facilitating Circular Economy in Urban Planning in Urban Planning 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 1–4.

Vera, Felipe, and Jeannette Sordi. Ecological Design. Strategies for the Vulnerable City. Adapting precarious areas of Latin America and the Caribbean to Climate Change. IaDB, 2021.

Documentaries: The Class Divide, 2016. Directed by Marc Levin.

The Human Scale, 2013. Directed by Andreas M. Dalsgaard.

Hurricane Sandy 8th Anniversary, BIG U Community Conversation, 2020. New York Institute for Public Knowledge.

The West Side Highway from One World Trade Center in New York City. Author: MusikAnimal