Coastal Resilience: Nags Head, NC

Nags Head Studio (2020)

Project Summary

CONTEXT
The Town of Nags Head, NC was the focus of the 2020 Coastal Dynamics Collaborative Design + Engineering Studio (ARC 503 + CE 497/596 + LAR 507). Structured in a highly collaborative format, the studio included 25 students from the disciplines of landscape architecture, architecture, and engineering. Interdisciplinary student teams 1) researched and developed innovative strategies and techniques to address known and anticipated future socio-environmental issues related to sea-level rise and 2) proposed design interventions capable of simultaneously promoting the health, safety, and well-being of both residents and coastal ecosystems. Students consulted with design professionals, planners, policy experts, and community leaders to inform the design dialogue necessary to frame new directions in coastal design.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this immersive student experience included, but were not limited to:

  • Facilitate conversations between the diverse interests affected by and concerned with climate adaptive policy, planning, design, and engineering strategies.

  • Research and disseminate best practices centered on coastal resilience.

  • Document needs, issues, and opportunities associated with the North Carolina coast, specifically the Outer Banks and Town of Nags Head.

  • Challenge students to design and visualize concepts for applying environmental, social, and economic best practices to regional and local community situations.

  • Model and evaluate alternative strategies and scenarios.

  • Develop and disseminate policy and economic pathways that are innovative, contextually appropriate, and strategic to operationalizing proposed design strategies.

Awards

2021 Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten for Students Competition: Nags Head Coastal Discovery Museum (Ryan Cooper), American Institute of Architects. Instructors of Record: A. Fox, D. Hill, and R. Ranjithan.

2021 Student Merit Award in General Design: Living on the Edge — The Future and New Look for Nags Head (Ruixin Mao), North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Instructors of Record: A. Fox, D. Hill, and R. Ranjithan.

2020 Student Honor Award in General Design: Sound Design: Reconnecting the Coastal Edge (Xinyu Li and Xinyi Liu), American Society of Landscape Architects.Instructors of Record: A. Fox, D. Hill, and R. Ranjithan.

2020 Student Award Winner: Nags Head Coastal Discovery Museum (Ryan Cooper), American Institute of Architects | South Atlantic Region. Instructors of Record: A. Fox, D. Hill, and R. Ranjithan.

 

Project Start Year

2020

Location

Nags Head, NC

 

Sample Images