PIERMONT, N.Y. – The Cornell University Landscape Architecture Department Climate Adaptive Design Studio (CAD) Open House will feature student project designs that envision a more flood-resilient waterfront for the Village of Piermont, a Hudson riverfront community that faces increasing risks from sea level rise, storm surge and extreme precipitation events due to climate change.

This fall, design teams – which include students from Cornell University’s Landscape Architecture, Biological & Environmental Engineering and Urban & Regional Studies departments – examined climate-related issues and interacted with Village of Piermont stakeholders. The resulting alternative design strategies provide Piermont with innovative approaches to flood resiliency that may increase the village’s capacity to adapt to climate change-related hazards.

The open house provides an opportunity for student teams to showcase their designs and discuss their work with Piermont stakeholders. More than 70 people have indicated plans to attend the open house, including representatives from the Village of Piermont, the Chamber of Commerce, the Piermont Civic Association, and the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance.

The Climate-Adaptive Design (CAD) Studio links Cornell University students with Hudson riverfront communities faced with flooding and sea-level rise to explore design alternatives for more climate-adapted and connected waterfront areas. In the past, CAD Studios have been held in the communities of Catskill, Hudson and Kingston. A CAD Studio design developed for the Kingston Point waterfront received an honor award from the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) in October. The ASLA awards recognize top work of landscape architecture students around the world.

To learn more about the Cornell Landscape Architecture program, including details on the ASLA award, click this link. For specific questions about the projects, contact associate professor Joshua F. Cerra or Elizabeth LoGiudice.