Rebuild by Design

Rebuild by Design is a design competition and planning initiative launched after Hurricane Sandy to develop resilient infrastructure and urban design solutions across the Northeastern United States. The program connected federal agencies, academic institutions, philanthropic organizations, and multidisciplinary design teams to produce site-specific proposals addressing flood risk, coastal resilience, and community recovery. It catalyzed collaborations among designers, engineers, policy makers, and local stakeholders to translate research into implementable projects.

Background and Origin

The initiative emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which followed precedents such as Hurricane Katrina, and drew on policy frameworks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was announced by the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force and coordinated with entities including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Trust for Public Land, and academic partners like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University. Planners referenced historical events such as Superstorm Sandy and coastal interventions like the Flood Control Act of 1968 while engaging civic groups including Community Board 1 (Manhattan) and regional authorities such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Competition and Selection Process

Organized as an international design competition, the process resembled other design-led initiatives like the Pritzker Architecture Prize juried exhibitions and partnerships similar to the Venice Biennale. A jury of experts from institutions such as the American Institute of Architects, the National Academy of Design, and the Urban Land Institute evaluated submissions. Teams combined expertise from architecture firms like BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), engineering consultancies like Arup Group, and nonprofits such as Design Trust for Public Space and New York City Economic Development Corporation. Selection criteria referenced resilience metrics used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and planning guidelines from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Design Proposals and Projects

Winning and shortlisted teams proposed interventions at sites including New York City, Jersey City, Hoboken, Far Rockaway, and the Hudson River Valley. Proposals ranged from landscape-scale strategies akin to the Big U concept to neighborhood interventions resembling projects by Urban Studio and the High Line. Notable teams included collaborations among firms and institutions such as SCAPE Landscape Architecture, MIT Senseable City Lab, ONE Architecture, and HR&A Advisors. Designs integrated elements like storm surge barriers reminiscent of systems used in Rotterdam, wetland restoration similar to efforts in the Mississippi Delta, and green infrastructure seen in Seattle and Chicago pilot projects. The program also produced research outputs in collaboration with centers such as the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Urban Land Conservancy.

Implementation and Funding

Implementation involved federal grants administered by HUD alongside state and local funding from authorities like the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Philanthropic contributions from organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kresge Foundation supplemented capital. Construction contractors and firms with portfolios including Jacobs Engineering Group and Turner Construction Company participated in project delivery. Funding mechanisms invoked programs related to the National Flood Insurance Program and disaster recovery frameworks tied to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, while partnerships with agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers supported technical implementation.

Impact, Criticism, and Legacy

The initiative influenced subsequent resilience planning in metropolitan regions, informing projects connected to Hurricane Maria recovery dialogues and international efforts such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives. It generated discourse among academics at Harvard University, Princeton University, and Yale University about equity and adaptation, and inspired community advocacy groups including New York Communities for Change and Make the Road New York to scrutinize outcomes. Critics compared outcomes to large-scale infrastructure programs like the New Deal and raised concerns about timeline, displacement, and maintenance, citing reports from organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and investigative coverage in outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian. Proponents pointed to implemented elements that intersect with public spaces and transit corridors overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and municipal planning departments in New York City and Jersey City. The program's model has been cited in later resilience competitions and planning curricula at institutions including Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design as a case study in design-driven policy making.

Category:Urban planning Category:Disaster recovery Category:Resilience planning