A (UHCDC) reimagined Ala Wai Harbor project that addresses the harbor’s everyday functions while ensuring adaptability to long-term sea-level rise was honored with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Chapter of the American Planning Association¡¯s Urban Design Award.
The project was led by Principal Investigator Phoebe White, an assistant professor of landscape architecture in the , and Co-Principal Investigator Priyam Das, chair and associate professor in the housed in the .
“We are honored that the Urban Design Award recognized our concept, which envisions the harbor as a vibrant and resilient public space that considers the projected impacts of sea level rise and respects its past. We are excited that the project will guide the future RFP [request for proposals] for the harbor,” said White and Das.
Features of the project
The project features a multi-modal promenade, wayfinding elements, watercraft amenities, mixed-use spaces and public comfort stations. Adaptive strategies include diverse plants to filter stormwater runoff, living shorelines, elevated structures to mitigate the impacts of sea-level rise, and a living seawall that doubles as seating and protection for the harbor’s edge.
The comprehensive plan also includes features like small watercraft storage, boaters¡¯ markets, caf¨¦s, surf community centers, and educational marshes for habitat restoration and sea-level rise adaptation.
The collaborative effort between the School of Architecture and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning has been facilitated by UHCDC, which actively supports university-community partnerships for the implementation of public interest projects. The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor project has played a crucial role in providing applied learning, leadership and mentorship opportunities for students and young professionals, effectively connecting education with community-oriented projects.
The project was commissioned by the Â鶹´«Ã½ Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.