As part of the Bionic Team, WXY brought its previous experience working on the Rebuild by Design competition in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. WXY led the urban design strategy for immediate and long-term planning for San Rafael, where one in five residents lives below sea level today. 

Resilient by Design – Bay Area Challenge engaged ten interdisciplinary design teams to collaborate with local municipalities, organizations, and residents on ambitious strategies and projects to advance climate change adaptation. The goals of the Challenge also included increasing storm and flood resiliency, reducing seismic risk, and addressing the area’s affordable housing shortage and transit challenges. 

WXY conducted extensive mapping of at-risk buildings and jobs in flood zones to create an economic impact and land use analysis, in addition to creating strategies for infrastructure investment that would strengthen local urban design and public space.

WXY developed site-specific architectural concepts for the transformation of a long-vacant 80-acre site as an opportunity to facilitate resilient housing and commercial development. Additionally, a reimagine Pickleweed Park and Community Center would serve as a hub for both everyday activity and emergency operations.

Recommended interventions range from targeted infrastructure improvements, including upgrading pumps and creating a raised bikeway that would serve as a flood wall, to near-term policies that would enable the relocation of residents out of the flood zone.