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Water Wise: Strategies for Drought-Resilient Development
Developing Resilience Toolkit: Protecting Buildings and Sites
Created by the ULI Urban Resilience program in partnership with Mill Creek Residential, this tool compiles information about over 140 resilience strategies and can be sorted to see operations and maintenance considerations, applications across development types, asset-type specific considerations, co-benefits, examples of strategies in use, and more. Download the full toolkit on ULI's Knowledge Finder.
Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate
Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate, a 2020 report, details the implications of wildfires for the real estate industry and explores best practices in building design and land use policy that can reduce the damage caused by wildfires and help set communities up to thrive in the long run. Download the full report on ULI's Knowledge Finder.
Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate
Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate, a 2019 report, outlines how extreme heat will affect the real estate and land use sectors and highlights the leadership and the potential positive impact of the real estate sector in implementing “heat-resilient” building designs and land uses. Download the full report on ULI's Knowledge Finder.
Resilient Parks and Open Spaces
Parks present an important opportunity to enhance community resilience, as well as improve the local quality of life, access to recreation, and public health. This collection showcases real estate projects that leverage parks and open space to help address the effects of climate change, from protecting against water-related events to mitigating heat island effects.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure manages water through natural processes, slowing water so it can be absorbed and filtered on site. These briefs introduce real estate projects and parks incorporating green infrastructure best practices that introduce operational efficiencies, improve the building user experience, enhance aesthetics, and generate opportunities for improved public health, among other benefits.
Buildings Prepared for Sea Level Rise
Coastal communities are already feeling the pressures of rising sea levels. This collection highlights best practices in preparing for and mitigating the impacts of rising seas. Briefs provide an overview of resilient design strategies, including elevated mechanical systems and building grades, green infrastructure, and more.
Policies Enhancing Resilience
In cities across the United States, investments in community resilience are climbing through both public sector programs and private sector involvement. This collection highlights innovative city policies that respond to climate risk and create new mechanisms for private sector participation in adaptation and mitigation.
project
Harris County, Texas

Stonebrook Estates

Stonebrook Estates

Master planned community, Bioretention swales, Detention basin, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Natural drainage system
project
Scottsdale, Arizona

SkySong

SkySong

Commercial & office, Master planned community, Mixed use, Park, Residential, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Heat prepared exterior, Native plants & trees
project
San Francisco, California

181 Fremont

181 Fremont

Mixed use, Seismic resistance
project
Fort Worth, Texas

Sundance Square Plaza

Sundance Square Plaza

Park, Cool surfaces, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Permeable pavement
policy
Seattle, Washington

Seattle Green Factor

Seattle Green Factor

Green infrastructure & landscape features
policy
Cincinnati, Ohio

Urban Canopy Policy

Urban Canopy Policy

Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees
project
Arlington, Virginia

National Landing

National Landing

Commercial & office, Mixed use, Cool surfaces, Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
Denver, Colorado

Central Park Redevelopment

Central Park Redevelopment

Master planned community, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Parks and open spaces, Strategic density
project
Oak Park, Illinois

District House

District House

Multi-family, Residential, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees
project
Orange County, California

Rancho Mission Viejo

Rancho Mission Viejo

Mixed use, Climate/ hazard modeling, Defensible space, Fire-resistant landscape, Ignition resistant materials, Native plants & trees, Strategic density
project
Washington, D.C.

The Avenue

The Avenue

Mixed use, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Rainwater cistern, Retention pond or ice rink, Reuse systems
project
Boston, Massachusetts

Atlantic Wharf

Atlantic Wharf

Mixed use, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees, Rainwater cistern, Reuse systems
project
Atlanta, GA

Cook Park

Cook Park

Park, Bioretention swales, Detention basin, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Rain gardens
policy
New Jersey

New Jersey Blue Acres Buyout Program

New Jersey Blue Acres Buyout Program

Green infrastructure & landscape features, Strategic density
project
Houston, Texas

Bagby Street

Bagby Street

District, Transit-oriented development, Cool surfaces, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens
project
Phoenix, Arizona

Edison Eastlake

Edison Eastlake

Mixed use, Park, Residential, Backup power, Cool surfaces, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Heat prepared exterior, Native plants & trees, Permeable pavement, Resilience hub
policy
Austin, Texas

Austin's Wildland-Urban Interface Code

Austin's Wildland-Urban Interface Code

Climate/ hazard modeling, Defensible space, Fire-resistant landscape, Ignition resistant materials
project
South Florida

South Florida Resort

South Florida Resort

Resort, Elevated mechanicals, Renewable & distributed energy, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Brooklyn, New York

Empire Stores

Empire Stores

Mixed use, Backup power, Elevated mechanicals, Flood walls, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Renewable & distributed energy
project
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Penn Park

Penn Park

Park, Bioretention swales, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Monitoring systems, Native plants & trees, Rain gardens, Rainwater cistern, Reuse systems
project
Tucson, Arizona

Meander Bend Park

Meander Bend Park

Park, Climate/ hazard modeling, Green infrastructure & landscape features
policy
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Green City, Clean Waters

Green City, Clean Waters

Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Brock Environmental Center

Brock Environmental Center

Community facility, Grade elevation & access, Renewable & distributed energy, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Portland, Oregon

Meier & Frank Delivery Depot

Meier & Frank Delivery Depot

Commercial & office, Bioretention swales, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Monitoring systems, Rainwater cistern, Reuse systems
project
Boston, MA

Clippership Wharf

Clippership Wharf

Mixed use, Residential, Bioretention swales, Filtration systems, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Renewable & distributed energy, Strategic access/evacuation routes, Strategic building orientation
project
Raleigh, North Carolina

Market at Colonnade

Market at Colonnade

Commercial & office, Bioretention swales, Detention basin, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Monitoring systems, Rainwater cistern, Reuse systems
policy
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids River Corridor Redevelopment Plan

Cedar Rapids River Corridor Redevelopment Plan

Flood walls, Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
Boston, Massachusetts

The Eddy

The Eddy

Mixed use, Elevated mechanicals, Grade elevation & access, Native plants & trees
project
Tampa, Florida

Encore!

Encore!

Master planned community, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Permeable pavement, Reuse systems, Stormwater vault
policy
Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Floodplain Buyout Program

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Floodplain Buyout Program

Green infrastructure & landscape features, Strategic density
project
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

Resort, Native plants & trees, Renewable & distributed energy
project
Bridgeland, Texas

Bridgeland

Bridgeland

Master planned community, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Retention pond or ice rink, Reuse systems, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Seattle, Washington

High Point

High Point

Residential, Bioretention swales, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens, Retention pond or ice rink
policy
Paradise, California

Paradise Long-Term Recovery Plan

Paradise Long-Term Recovery Plan

Fire-resistant landscape, Ignition resistant materials
project
Nashville, Tennessee

Gaylord Opryland / Grand Ole Opry

Gaylord Opryland / Grand Ole Opry

Resort, Flood walls
policy
Alabama

FORTIFIED Home Building Standards

FORTIFIED Home Building Standards

Impact-resistant and hardened materials
project
Boise, Idaho

Central Addition LIV District

Central Addition LIV District

District, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Permeable pavement, Renewable & distributed energy, Tree boxes
project
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bayshore Villas

Bayshore Villas

Residential, Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Park, Bioretention swales, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Parks and open spaces, Rain gardens
project
South Florida

Babcock Ranch

Babcock Ranch

Master planned community, Backup power, Detention basin, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Impact-resistant and hardened materials, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Parks and open spaces, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens, Renewable & distributed energy, Retention pond or ice rink, Reuse systems, Wind-resistant construction
project
Boston, Massachusetts

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Medical institution, Bioretention swales, Elevated mechanicals, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Natural drainage system, Renewable & distributed energy
policy
Washington, D.C.

Stormwater Retention Credit Trading Program

Stormwater Retention Credit Trading Program

Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
San Antonio, Texas

The Residences at La Cantera

The Residences at La Cantera

Master planned community, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Monitoring systems, Native plants & trees, Rainwater cistern, Water harvesting & recycling
policy
Los Angeles, California

Cool Surfaces: Roofs and Roads

Cool Surfaces: Roofs and Roads

Cool surfaces
project
San Antonio, Texas

Credit Human Federal Credit Union Building

Credit Human Federal Credit Union Building

Commercial & office, Air barriers and sealing, Energy efficiency, Enhanced insulation, High-performance windows, Rainwater cistern, Renewable & distributed energy, Reuse systems, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Washington, District of Columbia

District Wharf

District Wharf

Master planned community, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Elevated mechanicals, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens, Rainwater cistern, Tree boxes
project
Lancaster, California

KB Homes Double ZeroHouse

KB Homes Double ZeroHouse

Residential, Native plants & trees, Renewable & distributed energy, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Austin, TX

The Waller Creek District and Tunnel

The Waller Creek District and Tunnel

Community facility, District, Park, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Reuse systems, Stormwater vault
project
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Promenade Park

Promenade Park

Park, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees
project
Houston, Texas

Buffalo Bayou Park

Buffalo Bayou Park

Park, Detention basin, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Retention pond or ice rink
policy
Prescott, Arizona

Prescott Area Wildland-Urban Interface Commission

Prescott Area Wildland-Urban Interface Commission

Defensible space, Fire-resistant landscape
project
Boise, Idaho

Avimor

Avimor

Mixed use, Climate/ hazard modeling, Defensible space, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Fire-resistant landscape, Ignition resistant materials, Native plants & trees, Strategic density
policy
Toronto, Canada

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw & Eco-Roof Incentive Program

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw & Eco-Roof Incentive Program

Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs
project
Detroit, Michigan

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

Community facility, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs
project
Seattle, Washington

Aurora Bioswales

Aurora Bioswales

Commercial & office, Mixed use, Park, Backup power, Detention basin, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Impact-resistant and hardened materials, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Parks and open spaces, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens, Renewable & distributed energy, Retention pond or ice rink, Reuse systems, Wind-resistant construction
project
San Francisco

Maceo May

Maceo May

Residential, Backup power, Grade elevation & access, Heat prepared exterior, Renewable & distributed energy, Resilience hub, Seismic resistance
image
project
Queens, New York

Arverne by the Sea

Arverne by the Sea

Master planned community, Mixed use, Transit-oriented development, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features
project
Philadelphia, PA

FDR Park Master Plan

FDR Park Master Plan

Park, Detention basin, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system
project
Charleston, South Carolina

Church Creek Flood Storage and Resiliency Project

Church Creek Flood Storage and Resiliency Project
project
Caldwell, Idaho

Indian Creek Daylighting

Indian Creek Daylighting

Park, Bioretention swales, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Permeable pavement
project
Sonoma County, California

Pepperwood

Pepperwood

Academic, Mixed use, Park, Climate/ hazard modeling, Defensible space, Fire-resistant landscape, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Ignition resistant materials, Non-toxic materials
project
Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Rose

The Rose

Residential, Efficient fixtures or irrigation, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees, Rain gardens, Rainwater cistern, Reuse systems, Stormwater vault
Tom Harris Courtesy of Studio Gang
project
Chicago, Illinois

Studio Gang

Studio Gang

Commercial & office, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system
project
Washington, District of Columbia

Canal Park

Canal Park

Park, Bioretention swales, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Rain gardens, Rainwater cistern, Retention pond or ice rink, Reuse systems, Tree boxes
project
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cira Green

Cira Green

Park, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Permeable pavement, Rain gardens, Water harvesting & recycling
policy
New York, New York

Cool Neighborhoods

Cool Neighborhoods

Cool surfaces, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees
project
New York, New York

Governors Island

Governors Island

Park, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Native plants & trees
project
Walton County, Florida

Alys Beach

Alys Beach

Master planned community, Bioretention swales, Cool surfaces, Detention basin, Filtration systems, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Heat prepared exterior, Ignition resistant materials, Impact-resistant and hardened materials, Native plants & trees, Natural drainage system, Parks and open spaces, Permeable pavement, Preserved natural features, Rain gardens, Renewable & distributed energy, Retention pond or ice rink, Seismic resistance, Strategic building orientation, Strategic density, Wind-resistant construction
project
Missouri City, Texas

Park 8Ninety

Park 8Ninety

Commercial & office, Detention basin, Grade elevation & access, Green infrastructure & landscape features
policy
San Francisco, California

Building Occupancy Resumption Program

Building Occupancy Resumption Program
project
Miami, Florida

1450 Brickell

1450 Brickell

Mixed use, Grade elevation & access
project
Burbank, California

Burbank Water and Power EcoCampus

Burbank Water and Power EcoCampus

Community facility, Detention basin, Filtration systems, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Green roofs, Native plants & trees, Permeable pavement, Reuse systems, Tree boxes
project
Tucson, Arizona

ENR2

ENR2

Academic, Backup power, Elevated mechanicals, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Heat prepared exterior, Native plants & trees, Renewable & distributed energy, Water harvesting & recycling
project
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Finch Cambridge

Finch Cambridge

Residential, Backup power, Cool surfaces, Elevated mechanicals, Green infrastructure & landscape features, Heat prepared exterior, Impact-resistant and hardened materials, Resilience hub

Submit your project or resource

Nominate resilient projects, policies or resources to be included in the Developing Urban Resilience brief library. ULI welcomes new submissions and will provide some support with research and writing.