A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa-led project addressing sea-level rise adaptation for Waikīkī has received national recognition for its architectural innovation in pushing the boundaries of design. The project earned a design award from the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) in New York City in October 2024.
“This national recognition from SARA underscores the widespread interest in using the latest science to inform the design of resilient buildings and communities that can change over time,” said Wendy Meguro, director of the School of Architecture’s Environmental Research and Design Laboratory and the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Center for Smart Building and Community Design.
In Hawaiʻi, the team was among four nominees for the “Non-Profit or Government Climate Advocate” category at Climate Hawaiʻi’s 2024 Climate Leadership Awards, recognizing its efforts in decarbonization and resilience, including research that suggests climate change will require more cooling for Honolulu multifamily buildings.
“It is an honor to contribute to this research, where design innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration are recognized for driving meaningful solutions that advance climate resilience and sustainability for Hawaiʻi’s future,” said Josephine Briones, UH climate adaptation specialist.
Infrastructure relocation, utility elevation, stormwater management
In November 2024, the team’s research on “Envisioning In-Situ Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Coastal Cities” was published in Technology/Architecture + Design. The research outlines a process to combine scientific data with stakeholder input to visualize future flood hazards and foster adaptation planning.
“Successful flood-resilience efforts will combine leading practices in planning, climate science, and architecture while remaining rooted in local perspectives,” said Melanie Lander, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant community planning and design extension agent.
Key strategies explored in the project include relocating critical infrastructure, elevating utilities and walkways, and integrating stormwater management systems. These solutions aim to address challenges such as coastal flooding and groundwater inundation while providing scalable models for other communities.
“In their most recent report, the IPCC stated that … sea level rise will continue for centuries to millennia after 2100,” said Chip Fletcher, interim dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. “Without policies that plan for and mitigate the impacts of sea level rise, Hawaiʻi risks becoming unsafe, uninsurable, and unaffordable. It is critically important that this type of architecture design work continues in order to build a future in which Hawaiʻi communities can thrive.”
The project involves UH Mānoa’s School of Architecture, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, and the Climate Resilience Collaborative.
