Design Process

FRI-D05: Meeting Waters: Interdisciplinary Design for Urban Resilience

Friday, September 18, 2026

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Anna Beheshti-Rhodes, PE, ENV SP

Senior Civil Engineer | Project Manager
Arup
Medford, Massachusetts
Zoe Holland, ASLA (she/her/hers)

Associate
STIMSON
Brooklyn, New York
Chris Martin (he/him/his)

Director of Special Projects
Providence Department of Planning & Development
Providence, Rhode Island

How can designers transform a flood-prone urban waterfront into a resilient, inclusive public realm? This session explores the Providence Riverwalk Resilience project, highlighting research-driven design, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Attendees will gain practical insights into participatory strategies and climate-adaptive approaches shaping equitable waterfront development.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe how data-driven approaches and site documentation inform resilient, context-sensitive design solutions for complex urban waterfronts.
Identify best practices for inclusive, participatory engagement that meaningfully involve diverse stakeholders and community members.
Explain how analog and digital design workflows support iterative exploration, coordination, and interdisciplinary collaboration on complex urban projects.
Apply strategies for integrating accessibility, universal design, and equity as foundational principles in landscape architecture projects.