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\u201cThese awards are significant because they highlight the next generation of landscape architects, elevate high\u2011quality academic work to the broader professional community, and showcase contributions that respond to Rhode Island\u2019s pressing environmental and coastal challenges,\u201d says Tang, a licensed landscape architect and teaching professor in 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Department of Landscape Architecture. \u201cFor students, the awards affirm that their academic work meets real\u2011world expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A vulnerable coast<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Jamestown\u2019s Mackerel Cove and Sheffield Cove are among the most vulnerable coastal areas in Rhode Island. Recent storms have severely damaged the dune system at Mackerel Cove Beach, washed sand across Beavertail Road, and repeatedly closed the only roadway connecting the northern and southern portions of Conanicut Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The engineering students conducted a year-long technical study that included beach surveying, storm-inundation mapping, dune-restoration research, and flood-risk modeling. Landscape architecture students then developed design strategies focused on ecological rehabilitation, dune restoration, flood control, and accessible public spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond an academic exercise, the successful partnership reflects real-world needs. \u201cCoastal resilience requires solutions that address both environmental processes and human needs,\u201d Tang says. \u201cInterdisciplinary collaboration integrates engineering analysis with landscape architecture\u2019s strengths in creative problem-solving, ecological restoration, and community-responsive design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat surprised me most was how much more effective designs become when we stop trying to control nature and start listening to it,\u201d adds Nordhoff. \u201cCoastal resilience depends on working with natural dynamics, not against them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Community at the center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The course began with a kickoff meeting at Jamestown Town Hall and a site visit where students met with town officials and residents to learn firsthand about flooding, erosion, and access concerns. Students also hosted a community workshop in Jamestown that drew nearly 60 residents. Online surveys reached even more residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommunity members spoke with genuine affection for the cove\u2019s character and peaceful atmosphere, which emphasized the importance of protecting its natural beauty while improving accessibility and long-term resilience,\u201d says Asofsky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProfessor Hongbing Tang did a wonderful job keeping the community involved in the project,” Lisa Bryer, town planner for the Town of Jamestown, says. “The public workshop they hosted was praised by the community, in large part due to its interactive nature. When people can be informed and provide meaningful input, they feel heard and empowered, which is a critical element of a successful democracy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2026\/02\/report-1024x768.jpg\")