CPLN701-001: Keep Austin Resilient

Residents of Austin, Texas, located in “flash flood alley,” are accustomed to dry landscapes and intermittent rising waters. Similar to other cities along inland waterways, Austin has long battled periodic inundation. However, the intensity and frequency of flooding events in Austin’s creeks are increasing as climate change impacts grow worse.

This studio sought to explore the watersheds and creeks in Austin as the backbone of the community and unearth how these natural features can be an asset instead of a liability and tie the Austin community and its future development together. Utilizing a systems planning approach, we investigated the interconnectedness of several of Austin’s systems and discovered cross-system pressures: extreme weather, rapid growth, and a stark east-west racial and economic divide.

Read the studio book.