Rebuild: The Politics of Design - Case Studies in Transformational Urban Redevelopment

SES 5522 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

What does it mean for an urban redevelopment project to be transformational? Only a select group of projects earn this distinction, those that achieve lasting change through inclusive community engagement, sustainable design, innovative policy and financing, and a thoughtful balance between the historical and the new. These projects demonstrate how the built environment can serve as a catalyst for equity, resilience, and long-term transformation. ReBuild offers a unique, case-based approach to learning from 4–6 real-world examples of transformational urban redevelopment across American and international cities. Through interactive analysis and discussion, students will unpack the complex interplay of public policy, design, financing, and community priorities that shape these projects. The case studies include large-scale public and private investments that aim to significantly revitalize their built and natural environments, incorporating infrastructure upgrades, adaptive reuse, new construction, and public space creation. Each case provides students the opportunity to simulate real-world roles, evaluate competing priorities, and propose solutions grounded in practice and theory. Students will: Gain insights into the social, economic, and environmental forces at play in transformational redevelopment efforts. Build practical skills in urban analysis, stakeholder engagement, decision-making under complexity, and integrated design thinking. Strengthen their ability to generate context-specific insights that inform more equitable and effective planning and development strategies. Case studies are the core of this course’s pedagogy. Each case presents a richly detailed, real-world scenario with complex problems, stakeholder tensions, and multiple decision points. Students will explore these cases through: Collaborative discussion and facilitated debate. Problem-solving workshops simulating real-world planning and design challenges. Role-playing and scenario analysis to understand competing perspectives. This active learning model moves beyond passive lecture-based instruction. It immerses students in the decision-making process, helping them develop critical thinking, persuasive communication, and the confidence to shape real urban futures. By the end of the course, students will not only understand how transformative redevelopment happens—they will be prepared to lead it.