EES Seminar: Florida Futures: Design for Communities in Deeply Uncertain Times

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Florida’s coastal communities are at a critical juncture. Once the symbol of the “Florida dream” — offering affordable homes, economic opportunity, and waterfront living — these areas now face increasing threats from climate-related hazards. Hurricanes, such as Helene, have caused extensive destruction along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with damages reaching billions of dollars. The impacts extend beyond physical destruction, reverberating throughout the state by destabilizing insurance markets, health systems, and the flow of new residents. In this new context, can Florida’s economy continue to rely on sprawling development? We argue that the scale and complexity of climate change-driven challenges, with their far-reaching effects, have made large-scale adaptation seem overwhelming, hindering meaningful dialogue and progress toward viable solutions. It has become hard in Florida to imagine the future just when creative solutions are most needed. Florida must move away from a growth model that resists environmental and climatic realities and adopt a new approach to urbanism that embraces dynamics and change. This presentation will showcase how FIBER is applying transformative design thinking through a series of research and teaching projects across Florida communities.

Jeff Carney is an architect and planner and directs the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) at UF. He works at the interface of housing design, neighborhoods, and ecosystems. His Florida work is focused on the resilience of communities achieved through transdisciplinary and community engaged design processes. Current projects include grant funded work in Port St. Joe, Jacksonville, Lee County and Cedar Key to balance health, environment, and housing needs in the face of increased climate change risk. He spearheads the GulfSouth Studio initiative sponsored by The National Academies of Science Gulf Research Program.