"Living With Water" Design Competition Launch at ABX in Boston

Boston's Mayor Walsh kicked off a new design competition today at ABX - the Boston Society of Architects' (BSA) annual convention at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. 

"Boston Living with Water" will draw on the collective talent of architects and planners globally to explore how rising sea level can be an opportunity rather than a threat to Boston. Three types of scenarios are in the contest: mid-size multifamily building on the waterfront, a vacant lot area in the Seaport, and Morrissey Boulevard on the Dorchester waterfront which already floods regularly. 

More info on the contest is here.

Hundreds of people attended to hear the announcement, which also included remarks by Brian Swett, Chief of Environment for the City, describing a leadership summit on climate resilience to be hosted at UMass Boston in the spring.

The Mayor was joined City Manager Rossi of Cambridge, Manager Ash of Chelsea and Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to announce a new regional effort to help prepare Boston and the metropolitan area for the impacts of climate change. 

Also in attendance (below) were the leaders of the BSA Eric Wilson (Executive Director) and Emily Grandstaff-Rice (current President of the BSA) among other state and local officials.

Chapter all-stars included Phoebe Beierle (Boston Public Schools), John Dalzell (Boston Redevelopment Authority), [Grey Lee], and Brian Swett (City of Boston).