The studio’s primary focus is on advancing climate resilience in Central Vermont, specifically identifying flood mitigation strategies for Montpelier, Barre, and Plainfield. Though each city presents unique challenges and operates at different scales, they are united by a shared watershed, the Winooski, and the existential threat posed by increasingly severe flooding events.
The studio aims to develop adaptive solutions that stimulate new ideas around resilience, enhance the vision for long-term sustainability, and create models for other flood-prone Vermont towns facing similar issues.
An October trip to Central Vermont allowed the team to survey sites of interest and learn first-hand from stakeholders on the ground. Meetings and walking tours with municipal staff, Vermont state departments, and community members provided the team with essential information. The trip culminated with an existing conditions analysis presentation and facilitated conversation with stakeholders at the State Capitol.
