My time at ONE Architecture & Urbanism was split between two projects: The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project in Lower Manhattan, and the Breezy Point Resiliency Project in Queens.

The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project is the first major urban resiliency project for the United States that integrates coastal protection within public spaces such as parks, waterside promenades, and athletic amenities. When completed, it will protect communities all along the lower east side of Manhattan. My main involvement in this project included designing and presenting a shelter structure for an outdoor public performance space as part of a greater feasibility study. As well, I worked on preparing graphic materials for several elements of the flood protection system to streamline communication between consultants and various city agencies.

The Breezy Point Resiliency Project involves coastal protection for two co-op communities that are located on a vulnerable point of Rockaway peninsula and previously experienced extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2010. I carried out urban design studies to integrate a flood protection wall into the community and existing beach. I was also fortunate enough to participate in public engagement meetings and interact directly with community members.

As per the ONE’s mission, both projects focus on urban design and planning to counter climate-related risks. As well, both projects continually seek input from a series of user and community group meetings so that design solutions can develop based on local input and needs.

The skillsets I have gained while pursuing my Master of Architecture degree has proved advantageous in many situations due to the program’s generalist objectives. During my fellowship, I was able to apply a range of technical and soft skills to carry out complex tasks.

For example, with my design skills, I focused on developing solutions that were appropriate for the site and context as well as for a human scale. All the while keeping in mind the feasibility of construction techniques, materials, and budget. I was able to communicate these ideas using presentation skills and graphics made with digital software.

Additionally, the resources I have been exposed to during my degree were useful in navigating the very complex web of stakeholders and understanding where to turn for particular information. For example, knowing how a project is sequenced from design to construction allowed me to break down complex projects into understandable portions and know where to seek clarification.

Flood protection and coastal resiliency planning was a new realm so I had to quickly become familiar with the technical aspects which included both physical components of the flood barrier systems as well as codes, standards, ideologies, and precedent projects. Flood protection design is also an intergovernmental process highly reliant on multidisciplinary action so I went through a difficult process of quickly learning about all the stakeholders and the jurisdiction, responsibilities, and relationships between each.

Similarly, the complexities of public engagement became immediately apparent and it was a challenge to figure out how to most effectively communicate very large-scale and technically complex portions of the projects to the public and then productively transfer the information received into a design solution.

The major takeaway from the fellowship experience is definitely gaining insight into the design and implementation of major public infrastructure projects. It was an eye-opening introduction to resiliency projects. Not only was my technical knowledge expanded but it even re-aligned my priorities to focus more on projects dealing with climate-related risk.

The public engagement experience also provided valuable insight into how large projects with technical complexities can be conveyed to the communities. It is a set of skills that, as an aspiring architect, I plan on honing into so that I can continue to pursue projects in the public sector.