Grants Program

The Design Interventions Grant

2024 Grant Awardees:

Addressing Climate Change and Tourism on the Southeastern Barrier Islands
Clemson University Master of Architecture Program
Co-directors Andreea Mihalache and David Franco
Brief summary: The project explores sustainable alternatives to tourist developments on the East Coast Barrier Islands
In their own words: “Our project addresses two of the major challenges that affect disadvantaged coastal communities in the Southeast: the double threat of climate change and tourist development. In this context, our main goal is to empower and give agency to local communities in a two-step approach: to educate the public about these threats, and to create and distribute materials that offer practical assistance and design guidelines for future development.” – Andreea Mihalache

Building for Wellbeing
North Carolina State University College of Design
Associate Professor of Architecture Traci Rider
Brief summary: The project seeks to inform design strategies that position schools as intentional resources for community disasters planning and mitigation, particularly in the Southeastern US.
In their own words: “Because little research exists on how community schools provide resiliency support during and after disasters, this research explores developing an applicable framework for designing for community resilience inK-12 schools through lenses of both resiliency and community support.” – Traci Rider

Blueprint: Sea Level Rise on Georgia’s Coast
Georgia Conservancy – Georgia Institute of Technology Urban Design Coastal Studios
Brief summary: The project seeks to envision urban designs for flood-prone and climate-vulnerable coastal communities undergoing growth planning and development.
In their own words: “Coastal communities in Georgia impacted by stormwater flooding, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion will suffer increased risk in the face of sea level rise and intensifying climate pressure, yet coastal cities and towns continue to attract new growth and development by virtue of their natural assets, community charm, and potential for urban expansion. In its first phase, urban design students will conduct research on best practices for flood-prone and climate-vulnerable coastal developments from around the world. Then, under the coordination of design professionals in the Master’s in Urban Design program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, teams of architecture and urban design students will create site-specific design proposals that envision the future of the built environment in select coastal communities in Georgia.” – Luban Raytchev