University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design professors Dalia Munenzon and Matthew Johnson are launching the Adaptive Ecofutures: Shaping the Gulf Coast of Tomorrow studio, an ambitious new program dedicated to addressing the complex environmental and urban challenges facing the Gulf Coast. Developed in partnership and funded with a $748,848 research grant from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), this program focuses on equipping future designers with the tools necessary to build sustainable, resilient communities.

Through Shaping the Gulf Coast of Tomorrow, Johnson and Munenzon will explore interdisciplinary approaches to climate adaptation, urban resilience, and ecological restoration. Students participating in the studio will have the opportunity to address pressing local issues, including watershed management, coastal planning, and energy transition, with the goal of reimagining the built environment of the Gulf Coast.

“The next generation of designers must grasp the complex interplay of natural systems, economic forces, built infrastructure, and community needs to envision long-term, resilient strategies. This program provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, combining scenario planning and community involvement to address pressing environmental and social challenges along the Gulf Coast,” said Munenzon. “The potential outcome of this exploratory framework is to enhance the capacity of next-gen designers to narrate and create tools that share thoughtful, contextual, and time-bound stories—building social and environmental awareness and fostering sustainable, equitable design, with a significant focus on urbanism and the environment as key levers for climate adaptation. Additionally, the program offers a limited number of scholarships and research assistantships for highly qualified and motivated students.

Shaping the Gulf Coast of Tomorrow takes an innovative, multi-scalar approach spanning large-scale watershed planning to detailed architectural interventions. Throughout the course, students will engage with experts across environmental science, engineering, public health, and urban advocacy, working collaboratively on projects addressing the intersection of climate change, industrial development, and community health.

“Houston grew up around the industrial Ship Channel, one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world," explained Johnson. "As we look to the future, Houston needs to consider the ecological possibilities of an energy transition and the transformation of our industrial landscape. What will that evolution mean for Houston’s urban systems, its infrastructure, and its architecture? How can we plan for an adaptive and resilient future for the city, given the compounding crises of climate change, sprawl, pollution, and habitat loss? These questions are the focus of our program."

The Lower Galveston Bay Watershed serves as the studio's focal point. This 4,000-square-mile region, home to the nation’s second-largest port and one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes, presents opportunities and challenges. With a history shaped by rapid growth and industrialization, the watershed faces critical issues, including flooding, pollution, and the impacts of climate change. Students will explore how thoughtful design interventions can balance ecological preservation with sustainable urban development.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the program leverages partnerships with local community organizations like the Hurricane Resilience Research Institute (HuRRI), Bayou City Waterkeepers, Air Alliance Houston, and others. Students will also connect with experts from the University of Houston’s Climate Health Research team, gaining insights into the links between climate drivers and public health.

In addition to studio work, the program will foster broader conversations on urban resilience and environmental justice through two initiatives – the Adaptive Urban Systems Research Lab and the Climate Adaptation Club, a student-led organization promoting interdisciplinary dialogue on Gulf Coast issues. Johnson and Munenzon also plan to host public exhibitions, symposia, and publications, encouraging community engagement and knowledge sharing.

“Houston and Gulf Coast communities are at the forefront of climate change impacts, grappling with rising flood risks, extreme heat, and the environmental challenges posed by industrial activity. Along the Gulf Coast, we see communities repeatedly recovering from extreme climate events, while encountering new challenges exceeding the direct impacts of any one event,” shared Munenzon. “Recent years have shown how infrastructure failures, like power blackouts, expose even deeper vulnerabilities, particularly when extended outages during extreme heat conditions lead to serious health issues. Extended power outages following hurricanes not only affect physical health but also contribute to increasing mental health concerns, including PTSD, due to the compounded stress of infrastructural collapse. This program is designed to address these multifaceted challenges by equipping the next generation of designers to rethink not just infrastructure but also architectural design, building codes, urban planning, and policy, ensuring that the urban realm is built to be more resilient, equitable, and adaptive to future climate risks.”

This opportunity represents the Hines College’s long-standing commitment to engaged scholarship in the Gulf Region. With its three-year research cycle, the program aims to produce actionable design strategies while creating a foundation for future growth in sustainable urban systems education.

“A core interest of all of our work is the future of the Gulf Coast and the greater Houston megaregion,” said Johnson. "In numerous books, projects, and exhibits, we have speculated on adaptive ecofutures for our city and its architecture and infrastructure. We want to imagine a resilient Houston that not only plans for the future but can embrace its own evolution.”

View the official press release from NASEM.