The Gulf Coast Climate Futures Research Studio, funded by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (NASEM-GRP), is a multi-year design research initiative that explores strategies for climate adaptation in the Gulf Coast region, spanning from Houston to Mobile. The studio adopts a methodology for territorial analysis, diagnosis, and generating hypotheses for transformation at regional, metropolitan, and architectural scales.

Through interdisciplinary collaborations with specialists from various fields and collective ways of working, students engage in map-based analysis and synthesis of regional systems related to energy, water, ecosystems, and urbanization. Utilizing GIS mapping techniques, students investigate the complex interdependencies between these systems and their impact on the built environment.

The studio aims to imagine equitable and ecologically sustainable futures for the Gulf Coast, grounded in the region’s historical and contemporary realities. By examining the legacy of extractive practices and environmental degradation, students develop critical perspectives on the challenges facing the region and propose innovative strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation. 

Throughout the course, students cultivate skills in regional scale map-based analysis, verbal and visual storytelling, teamwork, and design thinking to address complex challenges at the intersection of climate change, social equity, and the built environment. 

The course culminates in multi-scalar design proposals that envision transformative interventions for specific sites within the broader regional context. These proposals serve as a foundation for further research and collaboration, contributing to ongoing efforts to build resilience and promote sustainable development in the Gulf Coast region.