The Miami Baywalk Design Guidelines was conceived to transform 4.5 miles of often hidden, publicly accessible waterfront into a vibrant, safe, and connected Baywalk. A lengthy analysis and public outreach process led to the creation of a family of unifying design elements that adopt the latest approach in sustainability and resiliency strategies. The project guidelines re-imagine the 25 feet wide waterfront easement through the creation of unified design elements and linkages that provide a continuous waterfront promenade experience, as well as spatial strategies to adapt to future private and public development. An important goal of the Guidelines is to create a brand, inspired by the mangrove, to raise awareness of the waterfront and its importance to Miami’s history, ecology and economic growth. The City’s is now working to codify the Guidelines to govern future development along this important public space.

The Bok Tower Gardens Viewshed Analysis was implemented to identify and protect the Garden’s iconic views and ecological sanctuaries from the threat of incompatible development. The landscape architect teamed with a local planning group to develop a guiding document that outlines existing and potential threats, evaluates current preservation initiatives, makes recommendations for strategic partnerships, and provides an action plan for future acquisition of parcels. Since completing the Viewshed Analysis document, Bok Tower has successfully purchased 40 acres of land identified as a priority in this report and is in the process of purchasing another 50 acres of land identified as a top priority. With the guidance provided in this document, Bok Tower Gardens can continue its mission to protect the cultural and ecological landscape of this National Historic Landmark. .

To augment several recent planning efforts, the University of Florida retained GAI’s Community Solutions Group and IBI Placemaking to prepare a Landscape Master Plan for the 2000 acre campus. The plan provides direction for transformation of the University into a visually cohesive and sustainable pedestrian, bicycle, and transit friendly campus. It establishes a vision for the UF landscape through the adherence to 5 design principles creating welcoming edges; strengthening the campus core by expanding the pedestrian realm; assuring an interconnected campus of attractive multi-modal corridors; protecting and restoring natural areas of the campus; and providing a cohesive campus image through the creation of standards for hardscapes, furnishings and plant material. Further, it establishes specific requirements for the design of 15 landscape typologies, as well as creates detailed designs for 13 transformative Priority Projects.

The Barnacle Historic State Park Master Plan addresses sea-level rise and resiliency issues for a five-acre property on Biscayne Bay, where the oldest house in Miami stands within a native Rockland Hammock forest. This property was owned by Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of the founders of Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood. He left a legacy of ecological preservation, innovative design and a photography portfolio that tells Miami’s story in the late 19th century. To protect and preserve this legacy and unique native ecology, the master plan addresses improving the user experience, solving an existing erosion problem, raising vulnerable structures, and “retreating” from the existing shoreline to create a living shoreline within the property. The master plan is being implemented in two phases, with phase one currently in process. The resulting improvements will ensure the property is enjoyed for generations to come.

This project is located at the Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus, a scenic campus located on the coastal edge of North Miami. Due to its adjacency to the bay, it is prone to high risks due to sea-level rise. The goal of the project is to develop a model resiliency approach that would be utilized by the coastal communities facing similar challenges. The project addresses three key issues that will mitigate flooding and stormwater pollution, reduce heat-island effect, and conserve water while adding recreational, educational, and aesthetic values into the campus. The proposed solution consists of sustainable stormwater management practices through green infrastructure. Interventions include five interconnected permeable wetlands, bioswales, green roofs, vertical gardens, urban tree canopy, rainwater harvesting tanks, and a lined storage wetland for irrigation via an automated siphon system, which was also developed by the Coastal Eco Water team. Project Faculty Advisers: Ebru Ozer and Arturo S. Leon, Students: Catalina Dugand, William Callahan, Alain Carrazana, Vivek Verma, Rutusha Nagaraj, Angeluz Lozada, Linlong Bian, Sumit Zanje, Dogukan Ozecik, Ana-Maria Dimand, and Gasndy Damus.

The Miami [Re]Solution project, located in Downtown Miami, Florida, aims to answer the question in Miami of whether to focus on preserving local culture and creating new developments in the Downtown area. This is based off the premise that when you invest in a space, you invest in the people; and when the people thrive, so too does the city. With Miami River and cultural hotspots located around the site, this project aims to create a sustainable environment along the river as well as tourist destination while promoting local employment opportunity and economic development through a mass transit hub. The Miami [RE]Solution aims to reconnect people to nature and community, repurpose underused areas, and rethink government center as something new. Project Faculty Advisors: TJ Marston and Roberto Rovira Students: Josandra Castillo, Ryan Rodriguez and Rutusha Nagaraj