Sustainable Cities Design Academy Drives Urban Transformation
The Sustainable Cities Design Academy (SCDA), a program of the American Architectural Foundation (AAF), builds on the success of 20 previous urban and community development initiatives. Each October, SCDA brings together city leaders, developers, and design professionals from across the nation for an intensive, three-day design workshop.
This year, teams from Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Atlanta will join forces with national sustainable design experts. Together, they will tackle pressing challenges and create actionable plans for projects that could reshape their communities.
Collaborative Learning and Design Leadership
SCDA helps participants sharpen their design leadership skills. At the same time, it delivers technical assistance tailored to each city’s unique challenges. Through guided sessions, teams gain the momentum and expertise needed to return home ready to build more environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and livable communities.
The program doesn’t just talk about change—it sparks it. Participants leave with concrete strategies and design roadmaps they can implement right away.
A History of Innovation
Founded in 2009 by the American Architectural Foundation in partnership with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), SCDA reflects UTC’s long legacy of innovation in building technology and sustainable design leadership. Since its inception, SCDA has worked with dozens of cities, helping them align their development projects with forward-thinking environmental goals.
A Competitive Selection Process
Cities compete for the opportunity to attend SCDA. Winning teams gain access to resources, best practices, and the education necessary to make environmentally responsible design and policy decisions. This competitive process ensures that each selected project has both the vision and commitment to create meaningful change.
National Reach and Local Impact
“Through our programs, the American Architectural Foundation works directly with local leaders in more than seventy cities each year,” said Ron Bogle, AAF President and CEO. “The selected city projects in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia each have unique needs. Provided with opportunities to work face-to-face with some of the top practitioners of sustainable design in the nation, these city visionaries can and will create a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable urban development.”
Proof in Action: New Bedford’s Success Story
The city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was among SCDA’s selected project cities in its inaugural year. In 2009, Mayor Scott Lang faced the challenge of revitalizing an industrial riverfront parcel during an economic downturn.
SCDA design experts worked directly with the city to integrate environmental goals into a comprehensive redevelopment plan. As a result, once-empty row houses now house thriving residential communities. Historic commercial corridors have seen new business openings. Activity at the city’s port is increasing.
Design acted as a catalyst, transforming an underused industrial area into a vibrant economic hub. This success story underscores the power of strategic, sustainable design in driving both environmental and economic benefits.
2025 Sustainable Cities Design Academy Project Cities
This year’s Academy will feature three ambitious projects:
- Philadelphia – Redevelopment of a 16-acre riverfront site, transforming a former incinerator facility and impound lot into a mixed-use, ecologically restored public space.
- Minneapolis – Completion of the South Quarter revitalization, including a “learning laboratory” that meets Living Building Challenge standards for sustainability and innovation.
- Atlanta – Expansion of the Atlanta Shakespeare Company with a new theater facility, balancing cultural growth with neighborhood impact, energy efficiency, and accessibility.
Why the Sustainable Cities Design Academy Matters
SCDA empowers local leaders to shape cities that balance economic growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. By connecting visionary teams with national design experts, the Academy accelerates progress toward sustainable urban development.
From restoring waterfronts to creating high-performance cultural facilities, SCDA projects prove that great design is more than aesthetics—it’s a tool for solving the most pressing challenges of our time.
Atlanta
Atlanta Shakespeare Company Plans Major Expansion in Midtown-Downtown Corridor
In the heart of an economically challenged corridor between Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company has become a cultural beacon. It draws a young, engaged theater-going audience while delivering arts education programs to thousands of students every year.
Now, the company has a detailed plan to expand its offerings. The vision centers on building a new theater facility that will elevate performance quality, improve audience experience, and increase educational outreach. This expansion aims to deepen community connections and strengthen Atlanta’s performing arts scene.
However, the project presents complex challenges. The company must weigh neighborhood impact, ensure post-expansion financial sustainability, and address energy efficiency in cultural facilities. Accessibility is another priority—both in terms of programming for diverse audiences and safe, convenient transportation to and from the theater.
The team is also evaluating the scale of the expansion in relation to its current operations. This means balancing ambition with practicality to avoid overextending resources. With strategic planning, the new theater could become a flagship venue—one that merges artistic excellence with community revitalization, sustainable design, and economic growth.
Minneapolis
South Quarter Project Nears Final Phase in Minneapolis
South Quarter, once called the Franklin Portland Gateway intersection, is entering its final phase. Aeon and Hope Community have spent more than a decade transforming this area just south of downtown Minneapolis. This last step will serve as the capstone to a massive community revitalization effort. It will also remove the final blighted parcel from the neighborhood.
The team will build a “learning laboratory” that meets Living Building Challenge standards. They will test new ideas in construction, design, and cost effectiveness. As a result, the project will showcase how sustainable building can work in an urban neighborhood facing economic challenges.
When complete, South Quarter will stand as proof that community-driven development can create lasting change—while also setting new benchmarks for environmental performance and social impact.
Philadelphia
SCDA will partner with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) to create a sustainable future for a pivotal 16-acre site along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. This site once housed the city’s incinerator facility and vehicle impoundment lot. Now, it’s set to become a model for urban renewal and riverfront restoration.
Founded in 2009, DRWC works to design, develop, and manage six miles of waterfront in Center City Philadelphia. Since releasing the Delaware River Waterfront Master Plan earlier this year, the organization has been focused on making the Spring Garden site its first major mixed-use development.
The vision is most definitely ambitious. Plans include vibrant mixed-use buildings, expansive public spaces, and ecological enhancements to restore the riverfront’s natural systems. In addition, the design will integrate a riverfront greenway to ensure public access and active transportation options.
These features will not only open the waterfront to residents and visitors but also spark economic growth. By blending recreation, commerce, and environmental stewardship, the Sustainable Cities Design Project certainly aims to serve as a catalyst for long-term revitalization. That’s both for the neighborhood and also the greater city.
