Urban Resilience Lab (URL)

The Urban Resilience Lab (URL) collaborates across academia, public government, and private industry to advance a sustainable and resilient built environment able to adapt and respond to the critical environmental and social equity challenges of cities.

Now more than ever, the climate emergency calls on researchers and designers in the built environment to lead on adaptive solutions for resilient, sustainable, and equitable cities.

What URL Does

Support cities in transitions to water, energy, carbon neutral and net positive balances
Infrastructure optimization through multi objective modeling and decision support tools

Collaborate across University of Arizona Institutes and Centers
Address social equity issues through the planning and design of cities (infrastructure, landscapes, buildings)

Advance urban climate adaptation with community engagement
Support curriculum across architecture, planning, and landscape architecture in the areas of sustainability, resilience, and adaptation of the built environment to graduate adept emerging professionals

URL’s Tools for Change

Policy memos (research-based)
Exhibits

White papers
Planning documents

Conceptual designs (current and future conditions)
Workshops

Policy briefs
Research and research-design

City of Tucson’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

Downtown Tucson 2050

Net Zero Urban Water National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network

National Awards

2018 ACSA/AIA Practice + Leadership Award (blind peer reviewed)
Association for Collegiate Schools of Architecture and American Institute of Architects National award to recognize highly effective teaching, scholarship, and outreach
2017 AESS President’s Award
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS)
President’s Award for Educational and Environmental Collaboration and Excellence

State and Local Awards

2019 AIA Community Education Award (blind peer reviewed)
American Institute of Architects (AIA) | Arizona State Chapter
2019 AIA Community Design Award (blind peer reviewed)
American Institute of Architects (AIA) | Arizona State Chapter
2017 AIA Urban and Regional Planning State Design Award, citation (blind peer reviewed)
American Institute of Architects (AIA) | Arizona State Chapter
2017 Crescordia Award (first place) (blind reviewed)
Arizona Forward | Environmental Excellence Awards
Environmental Educator Excellence State Award | Recognized Tucson 2050 Project
2017 Common Ground Award | Finalist (blind reviewed)
Metropolitan Pima Alliance | Recognizes outstanding collaboration in the community
2016 AIA Pedagogy Award (blind peer reviewed)
American Institute of Architects| Arizona State Chapter