Van Alen Climate Council S E AT TLE , WA
JULY 2019
Designing the Future of Food: An exploration of climate change and fisheries in the Seattle, Washington region 30 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010 (212) 924-7000 https://www.vanalen.org
ABOUT THE CLIMATE COUNCIL an Alen Institute’s Climate Council is a unique group of systems thinkers spanning the design professions who are collectively dedicated to tackling the most critical climate-related issues. Through regional explorations, the Council seeks to establish a common language of resiliency across disciplines, counter the urban-rural divide, and inspire change-making dialogues. The outcomes are new approaches and alternative strategies for improving the environment and promoting healthy, resilient communities.
WHERE WE'VE BEEN s climate change compromises food production and access across the world, the Climate Council ambitiously took on food systems as the topic of their inaugural exploration this past year. In partnership with UC Davis, the Council traveled to California’s Central Valley to delve into the complex interplay of structural, social, and environmental issues that underpin the agricultural system. Their investigation revealed many critical vulnerabilities resulting from the clash between human systems and climate conditions and led to a range of ideas for ways that planning and design could intervene to optimize the industry and enhance food security for urban and rural communities alike.
CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY
WHERE WE'RE GOING n traveling to Seattle, Washington, the Climate Council seeks to build upon these learnings by pivoting to another critical facet of the food and climate nexus spanning land and water—fisheries—as the basis of their continued exploration. Seafood is promoted as a healthy and environmentallysustainable food source, central to meeting the future food needs of a growing global population. Changing ocean conditions and inefficiencies within the seafood supply chain, however, compromise this key pillar of the food system, on which billions of people depend for their health and livelihoods. Solutions proposed to date are relatively 'boutique,' feel-good fixes for foodies that don't have transformative impacts. What are the strategies for connecting local food systems and supporting sustainable practices that also have the potential to feed all of us, affordably? Mounting urgency to address these challenges calls for out-of-the-box, future-oriented approaches to support sustainable seafood by design. The Seattle coast is home to some of the most diverse wild fisheries on the planet and has historically served as a key node for the industry. As its waters experience the full range of climate impacts, the city is leading the charge as a hub for research, policy, and advocacy. It is also home to a growing movement to re-frame fish in the public discourse as a food system issue as well as one about conservation. On July 17–19, 2019, Van Alen’s Climate Council will convene in Seattle for an intensive three-day exploration of the fish and climate convergence, in partnership with socio-ecological systems expert and Professor at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, Edward Allison, and accompanied by Alaska-based sustainable seafood consultant and commercial fishing outreach specialist, Amy Grondin. Engaging in a systems assessment of the seafood supply chain from ocean to city, through a range of site visits and cross-discipline conversations, the Council will seek to smoke out opportunities where the design community can intervene to support sustainability and foster a food system capable of carrying us into the future. Special thank you to our partners at the University of Washington and the many program participants, for contributing their time and expertise to the richness of this program.
PARTICIPANTS Johnson (Co-Chair) Climate Mark President, Civitas Council Claire Weisz (Co-Chair)
Principal-in-Charge, WXY Studio Steven Baumgartner Principal and Urban Systems/Infrastructure Strategist SmithGroup Pamela Conrad Principal CMG Landscape Architecture S. Bry Sarté Principal and Founder Sherwood Design Engineers
Devick Guests Chris Coastal Engineer, SmithGroup Greg Otto Principal, Structures, Walter P Moore Stacey Pennington Principal, SLP Urban Planning
Gary Sorge Vice President and Discipline Leader for Landscape Architecture, Stantec Kishore Varanasi Principal, Director of Urban Design CBT Architects Erik Verboon Principal and Managing Director Walter P Moore Barbara Wilks Principal and Founder W Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Amy Whitesides Studio Director Stoss Landscape Urbanism Mark Yoes Design Principal, WXY Studio
Black Van Alen Elissa Interim Executive Director Staff & Stacey Anderson Associate Director of Business Board Development and Special Initiatives
Marina Piedade Development Associate
Allison Partners Edward Professor, School of Marine
Brittany Hoedemaker MMA Candidate, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, UW
and Environmental Affairs, UW
Ray Quinn Principal, Arup & Van Alen Board Member
Amy Grondin Commercial Fisherman & Sustainable Seafood Consultant
WHERE WE'RE STAYING Hotel Vintage Seattle Lodging Kimpton 1100 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Room Block Van Alen Institute
CLIMATE COUNCIL 2018
The first day of the program is designed to set the context for the Council’s exploration and will take place within Seattle’s city limits. Kicking off at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, the Council will hear from various experts about the physical, biological, and human dimensions of climate change and fisheries. Dr. Cecilia Bitz and Meg Chadsey will provide an overview of how the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is experiencing—and projected to experience—climate change and ocean acidification. Dr. Parker MacCready will introduce the LiveOcean model, a tool for forecasting and managing changing ocean conditions, while Dr. Alan Haynie and Dr. Eddie Allison will address the vulnerabilities of both fish and humans to climate change. From there, the Council will head to the city’s maritime hub, the Fisherman’s Terminal at the Port of Seattle, to learn about the commercial industry’s historic roots and evolution. They will also hear about the important role that the tribal presence plays in the industry, with PNW fisheries co-managed by state and tribal actors. The Council will then follow the boat-to-plate movement, heading from the Port to Pike Place Market, a nerve center of Seattle’s fishmonger community, for a discussion led by Amy Grondin, alongside local fish traders and chefs, about efforts to improve the seabased food supply chain and respond to changing climate conditions. The Council will conclude the day in West Seattle, to experience the sustainable seafood movement in practice at Mashiko, where renowned sushi chef and owner, Hajime Soto, will share his radical approach to disrupting culinary tradition in favor of sustainability.
FISHERMAN'S TERMINAL
PIKE PLACE MARKET
WEDNESDAY JULY 17 7:45 A.M. MEET IN KIMPTON VINTAGE HOTEL LOBBY 1100 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
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8:00 A.M. BOARD BUS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 8:30 A.M. CONTEXTUAL PRESENTATIONS University of Washington
2 Fishery Sciences Building , 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105 Climate Change; Ocean Acidification; Fisheries & Ecosystem Assessment; the Marine Food Web Eddie Allison | Professor, UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs Cecilia Bitz | Professor, UW Atmospheric Sciences; Director of UW Program on Climate Change Meg Chadsey | Ocean Acidification Specialist, Washington Sea Grant Dr. Parker MacCready | Professor, UW School of Oceanography; Lead on LiveOcean Mapping Dr. Alan Haynie | Economist, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center
12:00 P.M. LUNCH Chinook's at Salmon Bay 1900 W Nickerson St #103, Seattle, WA 98119
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1:30 P.M. TOUR & PRESENTATION Fisherman’s Terminal
4 3919 18th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119 The Evolution of Seattle’s Fishing Industry Tanya Eison | Legislative Aide, Quinault Tribe of Indians Fred Felleman | Commissioner & Tribal Liaison, Port of Seattle Kelli Goodwin | Manager, Maritime Operations, Fishermen’s Terminal Port of Seattle Delmas Whittaker | Senior Manager of Fishing & Commercial Vessels Port of Seattle
3:30 P.M. COFFEE BREAK Pike Place Market Orfeo 2107 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
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3:45 P.M. ROUNDTABLE Pike Place Market
6 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 From Boat to Plate: Seattle’s Sustainable Fish Movement Eddie Allison | Professor, UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs Amy Grondin | Commercial Fisherman & Sustainable Seafood Consultant, Producers Cooperative Chef Kevin Davis | Orfeo, Pike Place Market Jack Cheney | Sourcing Manager, Real Good Fish Chef Kristi Brown | That Brown Girl Cooks!
5:15 P.M. TOUR Pike Place Market 5:45 P.M. FERRY TO WEST SEATTLE
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6:30 P.M. 6 COURSE DINNER & DISCUSSION Mashiko Japanese Restaurant
8 Transcending Culinary Tradition Towards Radical Sustainability Hajime Sato | Owner, Mashiko Japanese Restaurant Mariah Kmitta | Sushi Chef and Apprentice, Mashiko Japanese Restaurant 4725 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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Maps are not exact or to scale. Original map files provided by Point Two Design.
On day two, the Council will venture beyond Seattle proper to Hood Canal, the westernmost basin of Puget Sound, east of the Olympic Mountains. The area’s incredible biodiversity, including its salmon and steelhead populations and prime growing conditions for oysters and other shellfish species, has made it both the source of Seattle’s seafood culinary scene and of great local pride. With the Puget Sound region warming and acidifying at a rate greater than the global trend, climate change is projected to have severe consequences on the natural and human resources in Hood Canal. Ocean acidification caused by warming waters, for example, has already begun to affect the shellfish industry, while valuable commercial species such as geoduck clam and Dungeness crab have been adversely affected by hypoxic conditions and toxic algal blooms associated with warmer water. The Council will hear firsthand about the climate impacts and strategies for adaptation, through touring the prominent shellfisheries and aquaculture sites that serve the Puget Sound markets, interfacing with key industry stakeholders operating at a range of scales. Starting south and progressing northward, the council will visit Taylor Shellfish’s processing center and hatcheries, a fifth generation business and titan in the shellfish industry. They will also make a stop at Long Live the Kings Finfish Hatchery, an important stewards of the region’s endangered salmon population, as well as tour the growing flats at the family-owned Hama Hama Oyster Saloon at low tide.
HOOD CANAL
DUNGENESS CRAB
THURSDAY JULY 18 7:30 A.M. MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY 7:45 A.M. BOARD BUS TO HOOD CANAL VISIT Taylor Shellfish Processing Plant 9:30 A.M. SITE 130 SE Lynch Rd., Shelton, WA 98584
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Bill Dewey | Director of Public Affairs
11:15 A.M. SITE VISIT Long Live the Kings Finfish Hatchery
2 North 601 Lilliwaup St., Hoodsport, WA 98548 Richard Endicott | Facility Manager LiIliwaup Field Station Joy Lee Waltermire | Steelhead Fisheries Biologist Jacques White | Executive Director
12:30 P.M. SITE VISIT Hama Hama River/Long Live the Kings Release Site 1:15 P.M. LUNCH & TOUR Hama Hama Oyster Saloon
3 35846 US-101, Lilliwaup, WA 98555 Lissa Monberg | Marketing Director, Hama Hama Company Adam James | Operations Manager and Oyster Farmer, Hama Hama Company Kendra James | Board President, Hama Hama Company
3:30 P.M. SITE VISIT Taylor Shellfish Hatchery 701 Broadspit Rd, Quilcene, WA 98376
5:30 P.M. STUDIO VISIT David Eisenhour
220 Curtis Street, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
6:15 P.M. DINNER FinnRiver Cidery
124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA. 98325
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7:00 P.M. MEET & GREET Organic Seed Alliance Team 7:45 P.M. DEPART FOR BAINBRIDGE ISLAND FERRY 270 Olympic Dr. SE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
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FRIDAY JULY 19 The third day is dedicated to debriefing on all the Council has seen and heard during their system’s assessment and charting out next steps. The morning will bring the Council back to Seattle’s center, where they will kickoff with a tour of the waterfront’s drastic redesign, co-led by the City’s Waterfront Director, Marshall Foster, and activist Cary Moon. After hearing about the city’s efforts to restore its physical and psychological connection with the water, the Council will make their way back to the University of Washington for the duration of the afternoon. Through a facilitated discussion by Professor Edward Allison, the Council will seek to distill their learnings down to areas of impact and map out a strategy for their return trip to the region that focuses on outputs. 7:45 A.M. MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY 8:00 A.M. BREAKFAST Downtown Seattle Seattle’s Evolving Waterfront 8:30 A.M. TOUR 1400 Western Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 Restoring the City’s Connection to the Ocean Marshall Foster | Director, Office of the Waterfront, City of Seattle Cary Moon | Co-founder, People's Waterfront Coalition
10:30 A.M. DESIGN WORKSHOP University of Washington Mary Gates Hall, University of Washington Identifying Opportunities & Charting Next Steps for the Council
12:30 P.M. LUNCH 1:30 P.M. WORKING SESSIONS CONTINUED 2:30 P.M. PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSION 4:30 P.M. EVENT CONCLUDES
MORE ABOUT VAN ALEN AND THE CLIMATE COUNCIL Van Alen Institute is a 125-year-old not-for-profit based in New York City that uses design to catalyze positive change in cities, landscapes, and regions. We collaborate with communities, scholars, policymakers, and professionals on local and global initiatives that rigorously investigate the most pressing social, cultural, and ecological challenges of tomorrow. Van Alen believes that a resilient environment is key to human well-being and the protection of critical natural systems. The Climate Council, therefore, looks beyond cities to our continent’s rapidly changing landscapes and ecosystems. By combining three primary tools—provocative public programs, cross-disciplinary research, and inventive design competitions—Van Alen brings the analytical, creative, and communicative power of design to bear on pressing challenges. Together, our initiatives are greater than the sum of their parts.
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mark Johnson (Co-Chair) Gary Sorge Civitas
Stantec
Claire Weisz (Co-Chair) Kishore Varanasi WXY Studio
CBT Architects
Steven Baumgartner
Erik Verboon
Pamela Conrad
Barbara Wilks
SmithGroup
CMG Landscape Architecture
S. Bry Sarté
Sherwood Design Engineers
Chris Reed
Stoss Landscape Urbanism
Walter P Moore
W Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Mark Yoes
Design Principal, WXY Studio
EXTERNAL PARTICIPANT BIOS Dr Eddie Allison
Professor, University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Affairs Eddie’s research centers on the human connection to natural resources. He has held positions in the field of fisheries and aquaculture management and development across the globe, and also acted as a researcher or technical and policy advisor for various international organizations. He currently is a faculty member at the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington.
Dr. Cecilia Bitz
Professor, University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences Cecilia Bitz, professor and chair of Atmospheric Sciences and director of the Program on Climate Change at the University of Washington, has a research focus on polar climate change. She is an expert on climate prediction and works with models and observations of the earth system. She has testified before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Arctic climate change, and she was a Fulbright Senior Scholar to New Zealand, during which time she did field work in Antarctica. Last year she was invited to write an op-ed in the New York Times titled "Hot Times in the Arctic" that was published in March 2018.
Chef Kristi Brown
That Brown Girl Cooks! Chef Kristi Brown started her cooking career in the late 90’s at Seattle Central College’s culinary school. After working in both fine dining and casual restaurants for years, Kristi went on to launch her own catering business, That Brown Girl Cooks!,where she developed her famous blackeyed pea hummus. She now partners with her son, Damon, and the two are gearing up to open a restaurant in Seattle and expand the That Brown Girl brand.
Meg Chadsey
Ocean Acidification Specialist, Washington Sea Grant Meg’s dual role as a Washington Sea Grant specialist and Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory liaison allows her to work on a variety of ocean acidification-related projects with diverse partners. She has participated in state efforts to address Ocean Acidification and is part of a scientific team that is evaluating the potential of kelp aquaculture to mitigate local acidification in Puget Sound.
Jack Cheney
Sourcing Manager, Real Good Fish Jack earned a Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. While pursuing that degree he contracted with Future of Fish, partnering with Vulcan Inc. to create the Smart Catch sustainable seafood certification program. After earning his masters, Jack worked for Sea to Table where he was in charge of national business development. He is currently the Sourcing Manager at Real Good Fish.
Kevin Davis
Executive Chef and Partner, Orfeo Born in New Orleans, Kevin began restaurant work in 1984 at the World's Fair and knew instantly that he had found his calling. After working in restaurants across America for 24 years, he and his wife and partner Terresa began to open their own restaurants; the wildly popular Steelhead Diner in 2007, the sustainably focused Blueacre Seafood in 2010, followed by Orfeo Woodfire in 2015, and Zane & Wylie’s Seattle Steakhouse in 2018.
EXTERNAL PARTICIPANT BIOS Bill Dewey
Director of Public Affairs, Taylor Shellfish Company Bill is Director of Public Affairs for Taylor Shellfish Farms, the largest producer of farmed shellfish in the United States and has owned and operated his own shellfish farm in Samish Bay for 20 years. Mr. Dewey works on environmental, human health, aquaculture and regulatory policy issues at the local, state and federal levels on behalf of Taylor Shellfish and the broader shellfish industry.
David Eisenhour
Artist David Eisenhour is an artist living and working on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Eisenhour portrays and interprets organic forms, and through his artistic processes tells stories of natural history and human experience. His artistic vision reflects his lifelong inquiries and documentation of the forms and beauty in nature, as well as issues related to the environment.
Tanya Eison
Legislative Aide for Quinault Indian Nation Vice President Tyson Johnston Quinault tribal member and Yurok descendant Tanya holds a B.A in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Washington, Tacoma. Her areas of focus for projects at Quinault are: food sovereignty, carbon credits, climate change, natural resources, Chehalis Basin Partnership, and succession planning for future generations of Quinault leaders and professionals.
Richard Endicott
Facility Manager, Lilliwaup Field Station, Long Live the King A lifelong resident of the Hood Canal region, Rick has been with Long Live the King since 1993. Before that, he was a hatchery manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for more than 15 years. In 2008, Rick was one of five finalists for the Wild Salmon Center’s “Salmon Hall of Fame” award.
Fred Felleman
Commissioner, Port of Seattle Fred is an elected Commissioner for the Port of Seattle. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and his Master of Science degree in Fisheries Biology from the University of Washington where he studied the feeding ecology of Southern Resident killer whales.
Marshall Foster
Director, Office of the Waterfront, City of Seattle Marshall Foster is the Director of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects (OWCP). OWCP leads the “Waterfront Seattle” program, which will create 20 acres of new parks and public spaces on Seattle’s Central Waterfront, and is supporting the Pike Place Market and Seattle Aquarium in completing major expansions. Prior to that Marshall served as the City’s Planning Director from 2009 through 2014.
EXTERNAL PARTICIPANT BIOS Kelli Goodwin
Manager, Maritime Operations, Port of Seattle For 12 years Kelli worked in banking and investments before making a career switch and obtaining her captain’s license. A friend of a friend who owned a tugboat company hired her as a deckhand and from there she obtained a 1600-ton Master’s License, Master of Towing and AB Limited. She now works for the Port of Seattle as the Maritime Operations Manager where she and her team manage Terminal 91.
Amy Grondin
Commercial Fisherman; Sustainable Seafood Consultant Amy is a commercial salmon fisherman, alongside her husband Greg she spends part of the year fishing in Washington waters, and the summer months fishing in Alaska. When not fishing on F/V Duna she works in Commercial Fisheries Outreach with a focus on sustainable food systems.
Dr. Alan Haynie
Economist, NOAA - Alaska Fisheries Science Centers Alan’s climate-related work has included being a PI in the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program and the Alaska Climate Integrated Modeling (ACLIM) Project, co-authoring the National Climate Assessment Oceans Chapter and the Alaska Regional Action Plan. Alan is the co-chair of the ICES Strategic Initiative on Human Dimensions and is part of NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment team. Alan received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and is an affiliate faculty member at UW.
Joy Lee Waltermire
Steelhead Fisheries Biologist, Long Live the King Joy has been with Long Live the King since 2001. She serves as the staff lead for field activities in association with the Hood Canal Steelhead Project. She manages data collection, volunteer coordination, and community education programs based at our Lilliwaup Hatchery. Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Evergreen State College
Dr. Parker MacCready
Professor, University of Washington School of Oceanography; Lead, LiveOcean Parker works to advance fundamental understanding of estuarine and coastal physical oceanography. He works closely with biologists and chemists to link patterns of circulation and mixing to biogeochemical processes such as ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms. He is part of the faculty at the University of Washington.
Jess McCluney
Owner, Algrano Fish; Consultant Jessica works within the seafood industry to help suppliers meet the sustainability requirements of their customers. She also liaises regularly with the NGO community to provide businesses strategic direction and internal program management. Jessica has worked on-site with harvesters, processors, fishing communities, and research institutions across 6 continents in her career span.
EXTERNAL PARTICIPANT BIOS Lissa Monberg, Adam James, and Kendra James
Hama Hama Oysters Hama Hama Company is a 5th generation family-owned farm on the Olympic Peninsula that specializes in shellfish and sustainably-grown timber and dabbles in kelp farming and culinary tourism. Currently the oyster division is managed by siblings Adam James and Lissa James Monberg, together with their sister-in-law Kendra James.
Cary Moon
Co Founder, People’s Waterfront Coalition Cary Moon is an operations engineer, civic activist, and urban planner who has spent the last 20 years working with the City of Seattle to build a city that’s accessible and affordable to all. She is the co-founder of the People’s Waterfront Coalition, leading a campaign to re-open Seattle's waterfront after the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. In 2017 Cary ran for Mayor of Seattle, finishing second in the primary.
Hajime Sato
Owner, Mashiko Japanese Restaurant Originally born in Japan, Hajime completed an exchange program in America in high school and returned to America, settling in Seattle, promptly after graduation. He opened Mashiko in 1994 and in 2009 Hajime decided the restaurant would serve only sustainable seafood, the first in the city to do so. He is a Sustainable Seafood Advocate, Sushi Chef, Certified Saké Advisor, and Sushi Making Teacher.
Jacques White
Executive Director, Long Live the King Prior to becoming Long Live the King’s Executive Director, Jacques served as Director of Marine Conservation at the Nature Conservancy of Washington and Director of Science and Habitat Programs at People for Puget Sound. He has received several awards for his scientific research; authored more than 20 scientific and policy articles and publications, and frequently speaks at regional and national environmental conferences.
Delmas Whittaker
Senior Manager of Fishing and Commercial Vessels, Fisherman’s Terminal Delmas is the Senior Manager of Fishing and Commercial Vessels at the Fisherman’s Terminal. Previously to this position, he spent ten years at the Sea-Tac Airport, where he served as manager of the Airport Distribution Center. Prior to joining the Port of Seattle, Delmas spent 25 years in the US Navy with the last 13 years as a commissioned officer.
COUNCIL & GUEST BIOS STEVEN BAUMGARTNER
Principal, Urban Systems Strategy, SmithGroup
CHRIS DEVICK
Coastal Engineer, SmithGroup
Steven Baumgartner is a Principal at Chris Devick is currently the Coastal EngiSmithGroup, leading Urban Systems and neer for SmithGroup. Prior to this he worked Infrastructure Strategy. He specializes in as the Coastal Engineer for Moffatt & Nichol integrated infrastructure planning, energy for 9 years. His work has focused on managstrategy, and sustainability framework ing public and private marina development development and implementation. Steven projects, conducting regional sea level rise teaches and lectures at colleges and vulnerability assessments to identify vulneruniversities throughout the country and has able waterfront assets and providing sea supported sustainability and performance level rise adaptation strategies to address curricula at Cornell, Columbia, Yale, and near term and long-term risk. Carnegie Mellon University.
MARK JOHNSON
President, Civitas, Council Co-Chair
Since co-founding Civitas in 1984 Mark Principal, CMG Landscape Architects has led major public space projects, urban Pamela Conrad applies over 15 years design plans and strategies, and has of experience as a landscape architect become widely known for his impact on transforming challenged urban areas into several cities, on education, and on the role highly valued public realm open spaces. that landscape architects can play in leading Pamela is a CMG leader, managing two complex projects to successful results. He of the largest environmentally innovative has been on many design juries for national projects in the Bay Area responding to awards and competitions, was Chair of Climate Change—Treasure Island and the Editorial Committee of Landscape the San Francisco Seawall Project. She Architecture Magazine, and is a founder brings a strong ecological background to of the CEO Roundtable, an independent her projects and work on resiliency and association of the leaders of the top climate change solutions, which is rooted in landscape firms in the world that has met her passion for the environment, degrees bi-annually for more than 15 years to assess in Plant Science and regenerative focused impacts and trends in the profession. landscape architecture, and experience restoring waterways at the US Army Corps of Engineers.
PAMELA CONRAD
COUNCIL & GUEST BIOS GREG OTTO
S BRY SARTÉ
Having practiced both architecture and engineering, Greg brings a distinctive perspective to design. As the Regional Aviation Leader and Manager for the West Coast, he has developed a significant portfolio of work that ranges from small, art-centric projects to large-scale commercial, stadia, cultural, airport, and mixed-use projects. His specialties include long-span structures, tensioned fabric/ membrane structures, and building façade engineering and design.
S. Bry Sarté is an author, engineer, entrepreneur, artist, and humanitarian. His work significantly influences contemporary global urban transformation around issues of infrastructure, urban design, and ecological systems. Mr. Sarté regularly serves as lecturer at top universities and conferences around the world, where he discusses applications of ecological engineering to planning, design, and construction. He is currently serving on the faculty of Columbia University’s Architecture and Urban Design Program, where he lectures on infrastructure, resiliency, and public space.
Principal, Structures, Walter P Moore
Founder, Sherwood Design Engineers
STACEY PENNINGTON Principal, SLP Urban Planning
Stacey’s current focus is on the urban GARY SORGE planning and design, community Vice President, Director of Landscape Architecture, Stantec engagement, activation and marketing of Makers Quarter™, a 6-block neighborhood Gary is an integral part of Stantec’s resiliency team. As discipline leader for planning and located in the Upper East Village of downtown San Diego. SLP Urban Planning landscape architecture, he understands that is also working with The Koman Group in St. resiliency is about public safety and fiscal Louis on a placemaking initiative to connect responsibility, as well as sustaining commerce, culture and innovation along Sarah Street. recreation, transportation, and environmental infrastructure. Gary brings a comprehensive As a recipient of the Harvard University approach to resilient public space and site Frederick Sheldon Traveling Fellowship, development, an understanding of sea-level she spent a year in Europe researching rise impacts, a sensitivity to natural habitat sustainable innovative housing delivery sustainability, and an in-depth knowledge of systems in urban environments. storm preparedness. Over his nearly 30 years of experience, Gary has led the restoration and design of prominent and highly vulnerable landscapes throughout the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada.
COUNCIL & GUEST BIOS KISHORE VARANASI
Director of Urban Design, CBT Architects
CLAIRE WEISZ
Principal-in-Charge, WXY Studio, Council Co-Chair
Kishore Varanasi is an award-winning urban Claire Weisz is an architect and urbanist, designer, strategist, innovator, teacher, and and a founding principal of WXY. With her writer, and brings over 15 years of professional partners Mark Yoes, Layng Pew, and Adam experience in architecture and urban design. Lubinsky, Claire focuses on innovative The Director of Urban Design at CBT, his work approaches to public space, structures, in both the public and private sectors has and cities. With Andrea Woodner, Claire shaped countless cities and communities lo- co-founded The Design Trust for Public cally, nationally, and internationally. Kishore’s Space, and has recently been on faculty innovative contributions stem from his ability at New York University’s Wagner School of to create viable and sustainable mixed-use Public Service and a Visiting Critic of Urban neighborhoods, converging the interests of Design at Cornell’s College of Architecture, residents, government entities, and develop- Art and Planning in NYC. ers by inspiring creative collaborations and fresh approaches to community building.
AMY WHITESIDES
Director, Stoss Landscape Architects
With over 10 years of landscape design Principal, Managing Director, Walter P Moore and a focus on climate resiliency, Amy also Erik Verboon is the Co-Founder and informs her project work with an academic Managing Director of the Walter P Moore background in environmental sciences. As New York office. Trained in both architecture Director-in-Charge she has led numerous and engineering, Erik brings a deep global award-winning projects including the experience with a focus on the design of Trinity River Waterfront in Dallas as well as complex and high performance building multiple waterfront design and planning envelopes for a wide range of building types. efforts focused on the design of resilient His experience in digital design, geometric public and private open space in Boston. rationalization and environmental analysis allows him to bring the highest level of value to his clients, helping designers deliver projects to the highest level of design sophistication while maximizing performance and minimizing cost. Erik is currently working to develop resilient building enclosure strategies for flood-prone buildings and master-plans.
ERIK VERBOON
COUNCIL & GUEST BIOS BARBARA WILKS
Principal and Founder, W Architecture and Landscaping
Barbara Wilks, principal and founder of W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is a leader in the field of design. As an architect and a landscape architect, Barbara uses her leadership skills to realign nature and the city. Her projects range from urban public spaces, to infrastructure, to architecture, to parks, with her goal being to use design to create access and a means of participation—a public route to discovery, engagement, and stewardship.
MARK YOES
Design Principal, WXY Studio
Mark Yoes is a founding principal of WXY and has over 25 years of experience in architecture and urban design. With WXY, Mark focuses on innovative design approaches that benefit public space, structures and cities. Mark and partner Claire Weisz received the League Prize in 1993 and more recently the Emerging Voice Award in 2011 from The Architectural League.