Free Climate Adaptation Tools Workshop Set for Jan. 14

On Jan. 14, U.S. and Dutch experts in planning and design will meet for a free public workshop on tools and techniques for climate adaptation.

The morning program, which will take place from 8:30 to noon, at Montclair State University in New Jersey, features Justine Shapiro Klein, a planning expert from WXY Architecture + Urban Design, as well as forecasting specialists from Rutgers and Montclair State and Deltares USA, a flood defense expert, and presentations by U.S. and Dutch experts involved in planning, design and engineering.

"Greater resilience requires more interdisciplinary and sustained planning for communities at risk," says the group in a statement. "Now, more than three years into the process of redevelopment following Superstorm Sandy, there is both a need to share lessons learned from these events as well to keep learning from other places.

“As a society, we need reliable forecasting tools to show us what the future may hold. As citizens, we need visualization tools so that we can see what our communities will look like. As professionals, we need scenario planning and technical tools so that we can better understand performance characteristics as well as interconnections. As policymakers, we need economic tools to help us understand the costs and benefits of certain actions or inaction. As a civilization, we need design and development tools that can help us build and grow in physical ways that are more resilient to the stresses and risks we face. We have some tools already, but we know we need more.”

Tools for adaptation to be discussed in the free public presentation include technologies adapted for:

  1. Forecasting severe weather
  2. Visualization of community impacts
  3. Scenario planning and technical performance of protections
  4. Economic impacts (to assist policymakers)
  5. Design & development of new infrastructure, communities and buildings.

The program, hosted by the Passaic River Institute and the Consulate of the Netherlands, takes place at Montclair State University's Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, room 120. Breakfast will be served.

For more information, contact Carter Craft at [email protected].

Featured

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.