HON 398-007, "Sustainable Cities and Communities," meets irregularly on Friday afternoons during the Fall 2024 semester from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Three hours is a long time to meet, but it allows for this class to have the freedom to leave campus, participate in learning activities in Downtown Raleigh, and make it back to campus within a scheduled class meeting time. The amount of time students will spend learning and working on projects over fall break in our destination city of Seattle, WA is calculated into the contact credit hours for this course. 

Typical of a first day of class, during this first meeting we spent our time getting to know each other better and discussing the semester's activities, projects, and other expectations. We first introduced ourselves in an icebreaker activity called "Me, Geographically," during which students shared a little bit about who they are and where they are from using the visual aid of Google Maps and providing the additional context of describing where they are from as being largely "urban," "suburban," and/or "rural," with some examples of how that influences life in that area.  

We then spent the rest of our time going over trip logistics and the trip itinerary, and discussing some of the main projects for our class for the semester. 

Walking Tour

After the presentation and discussions over the future of Raleigh and a career within city planning and sustainability, Mr. Hardin took us on a tour of the city. We began by walking through the department’s skywalk to the parking deck. At our first stop, we were given an introduction to the city’s initiative to promote biking through improved infrastructure. In the deck, taking up a few parking spots, was a designated area to safely store bikes, shielding them from the elements and deterring theft. This bike shelter is a promising example of how small infrastructure changes can have a big impact, encouraging cycling as a practical and sustainable commuting option. Implementing similar shelters throughout Raleigh and on NC State University’s campus would be a positive step forward in creating a more bike-friendly city.

We then began making our way back to the Warehouse District. As we walked, Mr. Hardin pointed out the mix of old industrial buildings and new developments, highlighting the district’s transformation over the last decade. What was once a desolate area filled with vacant warehouses has evolved into a thriving, mixed-use neighborhood that balances historic character with modern needs.

The station itself is a beautiful example of adaptive reuse, converting an old industrial rail depot into a modern transit hub. Plans are underway to make this area even more of a transit focal point by building a second central bus station adjacent to the railroad station. The idea is to create a more cohesive transit network that seamlessly connects various modes of transportation. While it would have been ideal to position the existing GoRaleigh bus station right at the Union Station, allowing railroad passengers easy access to the city’s wider bus system, the challenge lies in the significant investment already made in the current station. As a compromise, the city plans to operate two central bus stations, ensuring connectivity and optimizing passenger flow across different transit modes.

Historically, multi-family housing was once restricted in many parts of Raleigh due to exclusionary zoning policies that promoted single-family housing as the default. Such regulations often resulted in segregated neighborhoods and limited housing diversity. Today, Raleigh is working to reverse these effects by promoting more inclusive zoning laws that allow for a wider range of housing types, including duplexes, townhomes, and apartment buildings. This approach not only addresses the growing demand for housing but also creates more equitable and diverse communities. The discussions in Boylan Heights underscored how planning and zoning policies have the power to shape a city’s social and physical landscape for generations. By allowing a mix of housing types, Raleigh is taking steps toward a more inclusive and sustainable urban environment, where people of different incomes and backgrounds can find a place to live. 

Wrap-Up and Takeaways

Our exploration of Raleigh’s sustainability initiatives was truly an eye-opening experience. While challenges remain, it is clear that the endeavors Raleigh is enacting through the Community Climate Action Plan and other projects have placed the city well on the path towards improving sustainability. Our biggest takeaway from this experience is that progress toward sustainability must be multifaceted; it includes not only urban planning but investment in infrastructure, zoning reforms, collaborative governance, and community engagement. As we wrapped up our tour, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of optimism about the future of Raleigh. With careful planning, thoughtful design, and a commitment to sustainability, the city has the potential to become a model for smart growth in the Southeast. 

Free Time

For several hours, we had free time to get food, relax, or explore. Two of today’s bloggers, Sarah and Avery, first stopped by Ping’s Dumpling House to try some of the Chinese food the area is known for. Avery thought the milk tea boba was some of the best she’s had and the steamed dumplings paired perfectly.

In Austin’s free time, he broke off from the main group with the purpose of exploration. He and a group of classmates explored the International District and stopped in at Kau Kau for a bite to eat. Further exploration of the International District led the group to Pink Gorilla Games not too far away. 

The group then further explored by taking the Link Light Rail where they experienced a brief delay but eventually made it to their destination of Waterfront Seattle. They all witnessed the current construction of improvements the city of Seattle intended to make. Making their way along the waterfront, they stopped by The Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Ferry Landing Pier 52, and other restaurants and shops along the way. Austin and the group then made their way back to the group by walking through the city encountering people of all different backgrounds.

Given our very early wake-up, the Space Needle was our last planned activity of the day.

To conclude the night, Avery and Austin walked with some of the group to a grocery mart near the Needle, grabbed some groceries to take back for meal times in the hostel, and while Avery headed back with hers, Austin went with a group of classmates to run errands and pick up essentials for the night ahead. He also stopped by Von’s 1000 Spirits for dinner before returning to the rest of the group.

Sarah went with a couple friends to the Capitol Hill area to grab some delicious dinner and some boba while exploring this part of the city. 

Overall, today was a full day that piqued our excitement for our days in Seattle to come!

I have a very personal connection to art, and it's great seeing Seattle give so much effort towards supporting it. Going to an arts school for a third of my life left me with a lasting appreciation for artists. It's a difficult career, and any support helps. There's so much of this city that I want to explore that just can't be seen in only five days. So far it's been a great experience and I'm already planning my next trip.

Seattle Architecture Foundation Tour

What a trip! 

What are our main take-aways from this trip?

Austin: This trip not only brought me out of North Carolina and to the West Coast but it showed me what I only could have imagined in North Carolina. The intersectionality of urbanism, sustainability, planning, and engineering that grace Seattle is truly one of a kind. I was able to see what truly makes a city work. Though Seattle, as any city, isn't perfect, it's shortcomings were consistently dwarfed by its triumphs.

Seattle offered a unique perspective on road layout due to the terrain challenges that were present all over the city. Grids are perfect for keeping cities connected and that fact is proved in cities like Chicago and New York which, in my experience, have proven themselves to be walkable because of their gridded network. Though navigation between destinations may take well over 30 minutes in these large cities, the streets are completely uninterrupted by highways, unnecessarily large boulevards, and broken sidewalk networks. Seattle shows that despite the relative blandness that grids offer, they work despite the terrain constraints and can enhance some of the geographic features like waterfronts as they do in Seattle.  

Seattle also offers an interesting take on sustainability as it tries to integrate into the environment. The fish wall and ladders for example are both unique ways the Seattle attempts to not interrupt it's geographic location and the species that live within it. Though Seattle, like many cities in the U.S., does not have the best history with some of the minorities that call the city home, there are still attempts from some of its residents to gain representation and justice for previous wrongdoings. Cultural sites and special places are available to the public around the city and hopefully that number will contiue to grow.

Seatte has one aspect that made this trip possible and dramatically less expensive, it's extensive transit network. Without a transit network like the one offered in Seattle, we would not have easily made it to any of our destinations much less from the airport to out hostel. The ease and convenience of the light rail network made getting through the city from north to south very easy. The buses allowed for more extensive transportation and covered the necessary gaps that we needed while we were there. Despite us only staying for a week, the large group didn't need to use cars to navigate the city which is likely true for most of those who live in the inner city of Seattle.

Seattle was my first taste of the West Coast and I appreciate this class for the trip. I think the greater value however was seeing the functionality of a city that has bounds of opportunity and so much more to offer a prospective urban planner than a city like Raleigh. Seattle is an excellent case study with so much to see and glean from. This trip will stay with me for the forseeable future until I can return hopefully with a project or two in the city or at least in search of inspiration for a project elsewhere.

Avery:  From this trip, I was able to gain a better understanding of the type of lifestyle that I would like to live. As I want to work in urban development, an immersive experience in the city of Seattle allowed me to understand the type of area I would be able to work in and improve for those living and working in it. The excursions throughout the trip allowed me to get a better understanding of all the different types of people that are able to contribute to the success of a city. Our tours of the green infrastructure and meetings with NC State alumni working in the city contributed to the solidification of my professional and lifestyle goals. I think the five days also allowed me to immerse myself heavily into the public transit lifestyle and I hope to live a less car dependent lifestyle in the future.

Blake: This trip was an incredible opportunity to learn about urban sustainability and how it can be implemented. The biggest takeaway I had from our visit to Seattle is that sustainability is truly multifaceted, and diverse approaches are required to make an impact. Everything from the public transit system, the sustainable buildings (such as the Bullitt Center), to the Art Ordinance enacted in Seattle contributes to the city's walkability and overall sustainability. Interdisciplinary work and collaboration between all different fields makes all these things possible.

Fiona: Right now I am working on a degree in civil engineering with a transportation engineering focus. In a lot of my classes I hear about a divide between city planners and transportation engineers, we even read about it in the book we were assigned in class. I think one of my biggest take aways is how in order to have a sustainable future, the two disciplines need to be better tied together. We aren't going to stop driving cars or stop building "stroads", at least for the next few decades. What we need to do is combine transportation engineering methods that affectively get people from point A to point B while working with city planners to create equitable and "green" methods to promote different kinds of transit. I think another one of my bigger takeaways is how transportation works with every part of the city, and also effects every part of the city as well. For instance, sustainable transportation is expanded to see how the transportation affects neighborhoods and communities. I think our class on gentrification really showed how moving roads or making areas "more accesible" or higher in demand, immediately impacts the community around it. 

Hillary: As someone who commutes 25+ miles one way to school and back many days a week, going carless in Seattle was quite eye-opening. It has inspired me to think about how I can minimize the use of my car as much as possible, especially in planning for the future. I'm moving close to campus in Raleigh next year, so I plan to rely on public transportation in Raleigh as much as possible. Before Seattle, I never realized just how big of an impact public transportation and building design can have on sustainability. I'm still curious about the specifics of how Seattle manages its wildlife (besides salmon) and natural resources immediately surrounding the city. For example, we learned how salmon require such clean water, what does Seattle do to maintain the water quality of Puget Sound, if anything?

Ian: In Seattle, I was most impressed by the different boroughs and neighborhoods and the clear distinctions between them. Each neighborhood, from the International District, to Pioneer Square, to Capitol Hill, had its own unique history and feel. Seattle's public transportation system also made it super easy to get around and see as much of the city as possible. I'd also like to thank Professor Teten for organizing the trip and tours. Talking to my friend who attends university in Seattle, it seemed like we had seen much more of the city in five days than he had in a year. 

Additionally, as someone who is half-Filipino, I really liked seeing the culture and history present in the International District. Our visit to the Wing Luke museum and the walking tour they gave us opened my eyes to the rich Asian influence in the Pacific Northwest. Visiting Mam's Bookstore was also a great experience and it was awesome to see how they owners tried to uplift the community around them.

James: My trip to Seattle was eye-opening, especially as someone studying business and interested in the legal side of things. Seeing a city where sustainability is front and center was inspiring. Seattle has bike lanes, green spaces, and lots of walkable areas, which made it clear how much they focus on keeping the environment in mind. I was also surprised by the relative affordability of some neighborhoods, given that it’s a major city.

Beyond the layout, I got to see how local laws and policies help support a better quality of life. It made me think about how business ideas connect with laws to create cities that are not just livable but also forward-thinking and accessible.

Paola: Through this trip, I was able to see for myself what a real sustainable and walkable city looks like. Before visiting Seattle, I hadn't given much thought to what kinds of design choices could be used to make a city pedestrian and biker friendly. Getting to see the layout of a city that was built around the safety and comfort of its people was an exciting experience. It was interesting to see how well thought out all the aspects of Seattle's buildings and structures seemed, even down to the smallest details. It also made me hopeful for a future where more cities prioritize people instead of cars during designing and planning. 

Preston: Seattle’s public transportation, Pike Place Market, and International District stood out to me for their balance of convenience, local culture, and sustainability. I also found the city’s use of LEED and Living Building Challenge certifications inspiring, particularly in how they’ve integrated eco-friendly architecture with urban development. Visiting the Ballard Locks showed how cities can manage natural resources sustainably.

I could especially relate to Seattle’s bike-friendly infrastructure since I own an e-bike. Biking in Raleigh can be challenging with the lack of dedicated lanes, so seeing a city with accessible bike routes made me think about how much easier sustainable transport could be with better infrastructure. One disappointment, though, was that most of Seattle's sustainable architecture seemed limited to business or commercial areas—many residential buildings didn’t have the same eco-friendly design or certifications. This highlighted that while the city has made strides, there’s still work to be done to make sustainability accessible on a larger, city-wide scale.

Overall, I’m inspired by the Living Building Challenge and would love to apply its principles to my future home or business design.

Sarah: On this trip to Seattle, I learned that every little step toward sustainability can make a city drastically more sustainable. Many aspects of Seattle's sustainability were many small projects when laced together that made the city more attractive. For example, the 1% for art project may not seem like much, but every mural I passed by brightened up an area, and the Fremont Troll is a prime example of what change an art project can bring. Some of my favorite aspects of Seattle's sustainability were the fish ladder and greenspaces interspersed through the city. This provided a nice contrast to the typical cityscape and supported some species, like herons or sea lions. Another take-away is how there are so many practical steps a building can take to become more sustainable. I wish that every building implemented features like low-flow toilets, captured rainwater, or irresistible stairs. Still, there are steps that every city can take to become more sustainable. While the public transportation in Seattle was much better than many places I have been to, it still experienced some delays and malfunctions. Still, what matters is a city is making sustainability a value and goal in whatever projects it is taking on.

Sydney: As a college student, I am still thinking about the capability that was offered by the strong public transportation system in Seattle. Last year, I was without a car, and either had to have my parents bring my car to campus to use or ask others to drive me places. While this wasn’t a huge inconvenience as it only occurred on the occasion, I did feel like a burden to others. Even this year having a car, I would prefer access to a light rail to avoid all the traffic, construction, and break-ins on and around campus. Also, being able to take the light rail to the airport in Seattle was incredible to me. I am from the Raleigh area, and when flights are at odd times it is hard to find people who are willing to drop me off at the airport or pick me up. With strong public transportation, there is no reliance on others, thus, there is a sense of independence. 

I believe the greater freedom offered by reliable public transportation draws people to cities, which furthers other projects to promote the attractiveness of a city. Another big takeaway from the trip, that I hadn't considered before, was attractiveness goes hand in hand with the sustainability of a city. Most sustainable projects work, because of features that draw people to them. For instance, the irresistible stair prompts people to walk up the stairs instead of the elevator, which saves energy. If the stairs were dark, gloomy, and hidden, very few people would access them. Instead of having inviting stairs that catch people's eye and offer visual benefits, encourage people to use the stairs. There is this perception around sustainability that the main focus is on reusing materials, but Seattle emphasized a lot of sustainability comes from our daily choices, like stairs or elevator. The only factor I found disappointing in regards to Seattle's sustainability was the amount of impermeable surfaces that were located within the city. Even with the rainbeds, there were many locations throughout the city that did not offer runoff water filtration. 

Will: The biggest takeaway I got from the trip to Seattle, is that cities are alive and constantly adapting to their people and environment. A well-built city is sustainable because it has infrastructure that balances growth with environmental responsibility, supports diverse communities, and evolves to meet changing needs. Seeing how Seattle integrates green spaces, efficient transit, and community-driven development showed me what others in the world should strive towards. It is inspiring to see a city like Seattle exist. I also especially appreciated the cultural learning day and the tour of the International District, it put into perspective the people who live in Seattle and how their communities grew with the city. These understandings will shape how I think about urban design and planning in the future.

 Another takeaway from the trip was that I never considered how important water is, whether it be stormwater, runoffs, or natural bodies, the movement of water is one of the most influential factors in good infrastructure design.

Community Comparison

While this community exceeds many others in terms of sustainability and commitment to lifestyle, there is always room for improvement. Developing is an extremely unsustainable process, especially new land, but it increased dramatically in popularity, specifically in Raleigh. It was mentioned in the presentation that everything has to be economical, and while we understand there is a cost benefit to determine, there are many externalities that were unaccounted for. 

For example, even with the planting of new trees, and ground cover, barren construction sites are prime areas of loose sedimentation. The Wendell Falls neighborhood has streams and wetlands running through it, and the potential for sedimentation to change the ecology of those ecosystems is likely. Wendell Falls is the community that brought development out to Wendell, and the development is expected to rise continously, which poses threats to environmental safety. Development also increases impermeable surfaces, and this is a struggle in many areas, including the NC State campus. Luckily, permeable alternatives are becoming more readily available, like the permeable bricks added to The Brickyard, at State. We are hopeful that new environmental solutions will help mitigate the impact of new development on the surrounding world. 

What are our main take-aways from this Course?

Austin: From this course, I've been introduced to some many new concepts relating to urban planning and had hands on experience with them as well. Being able to travel across the country in search of specific ideas and features of cities was a good lesson in looking for what is needed within cities. Bike infrastructure, public transit, and different aspects of mixed-use development are all necessary for a city to be somewhat walkable and available for its citizens without the widespread use of a car. In my realizations throughout the class, I've seen the effects that walkability can have on a city and how that truly affects an areas sustainability. In the neighborhood of Freemont in Seattle and Boylan Heights in Raleigh, both neighborhoods had homes that could house more the one family increasing the density in the area and neither were overrun with traffic and cars as many would suggest would happen with an increase in density. In Raleigh, we learned about some of the specific initaitive to bring BRT lines into the city's transit network while in Seattle, we actually got to see and feel the effects of the implementation of a extensive public transit system. This course has shown that sustainability is possible in cities across the U.S. that may not look like Seattle. Raleigh has good aspects and in some areas is working towards the right direction. Seattle is not perfect but it is a good case study to see what Raleigh can improve upon and where Raleigh can avoid the same mistakes as Seattle. This class has already and will continue to advance me down the path of becoming a civil engineer and future urban planner who improves the sustainability of our country's cities.

Avery: From this course, I've learned how many components a city's sustainability comprises.  From the study of walkability, affordable housing, green architecture, and public transit, I have learned so many details of each piece that contribute to a sustainable future in a city. Not only have I been able to learn about each generalized topic, but I was fortunate enough to see them enacted within the cities of Raleigh, NC and Seattle, WA. From the study of each location, I was able to take away how different components of each city affect how people live and work within an urban area and the surrounding suburbs. All of the aspects of sustainability from this class have also allowed me to find varying interests in which parts of infrastructure I'd like to help engineer. 

Blake: My biggest takeaway from this course is how multifaceted and holistic sustainability is. Different components of sustainability, such as walkability, green space, energy efficiency, affordable housing, and public transit, all work together to increase a city’s sustainability. Sustainability is also ever-evolving: continuous advancements in technology and social advocacy mean that there is always room for improvement. Seeing and experiencing firsthand sustainability features Raleigh, NC and Seattle, WA gave me an in-depth understanding of the importance of sustainability beyond an abstract understanding. Now, I feel more informed and capable of advocating for sustainability in Raleigh.

Fiona: This course has really showed me what a culmatively sustainable city looks like. Many times I think sustainability gets tied to very specific connotations, whether its a city has removed plastic bags or recycles more commonly. While Seattle has many of those traits, it also is spans more areas. To be a sustainable city you need to fufill economic, enviornmental, and equitable requirements. I really appreciated the classes going into depth about the ways our city, Raleigh, compares and holds up, in areas where we're doing well and what we can do and look for to do better. I think I really appreciate having the knowledge and the tools "too see the bigger picture". Sustainability isn't a 3 green arrow triangle, it's continuous steps and a path to making a better future with the resources available. 

Hillary: This course has opened my eyes to the many ways that sustainability can be implemented in an urban setting. Due to my major and previous experiences, I really only knew sustainable practices in a wild or forested setting. This course taught me how diverse sustainable infrastructure and solutions can be, especially in an urban setting. It also taught me how important it is to look at who is affected by any sustainability projects that are created, as sustainability is not always equitable for all involved. Now, I feel confident that I understand the processes and motivations behind implementing sustainability in cities. This course also gave me a better understanding of how never-ending the goal of sustainability truly is. Especially in cities that are not originally planned and designed with the goal of sustainability in mind, the chase to become sustainable will take a very long time. Even more so since our definition of what is considered sustainable vs. not is evolving as technology gets better and better.  

Ian: I've really enjoyed how this course has opened my eyes to practical implementation of sustainability initiatives. My interest in sustainability is focused mostly around energy, but there are so many more factors that are involved. Materials, location, and regulations all have an impact on how sustainable something is. I found it really interesting to learn more about the statistics associated with walkability and vehicles in our reading of Walkable City, by Jeff Speck. I think that these statistics add a lot of credibility to the idea of walkable communities and prove that they have a positive impact on human health and the economy. Ultimately, sustainability is a multi-faceted issue and requires significant government support and cooperation with scientists in order to implement initiatives effectively.

James: This course taught me how complex sustainable design and development can be. Sustainability is not an end goal, but a constant journey of improvement that we should seek across our community. Visiting features in Wake County and Seattle made me realize that both communities, while geographically distinct, share common challenges and opportunities in balancing growth with environmental and social considerations. Wake County highlighted the importance of integrating sustainability into urban planning through projects like greenways and accessible parks, while Seattle showcased innovative approaches like energy-efficient buildings and walkable neighborhoods. These experiences underscored the importance of tailoring sustainability efforts to meet the unique needs of each community while embracing collaboration and creativity to drive meaningful change.

Paola: Taking this class taught me that there's so many more aspects to designing homes, cities, and communities than I realized. I was able to undstand how accessibility and sustainability can affect communities long-term. I was also surprised to learn that creating sustainable  cities and communities is well within our reach, but actually executing plans to build places sustainably is the harder process. It was interesting to hear about how having access to public transportation, green architecture, affordable housing options with different housing styles, and walkable spaces of a city can heavily affect its long term quality as well as growth. Because of this course, I was able to make many connections between the topics we learned and the cities I've been to in the past as well as my own hometown. Through our assigned reading I was also able to see how concerns surrounding walkabilty, sustainability, and accessibility have changed over time. Overall, I would say this course made me hopeful to see if more cities in the U.S. can grow to their full potential in terms of walkability and sustainability. 

Preston: From this course, I learned how many factors contribute to making a city both sustainable and walkable. It’s more than just having green spaces or public transportation, it’s about integrating community wellbeing, thoughtful urban planning, and environmental adaptability. Reading Jeff Speck’s Walkable City showed me how walkability serves as a foundation for other sustainable features like mixed-use spaces and smart infrastructure. The trip to Seattle gave me a firsthand look at how cities can balance urban growth with sustainability, showing the impact of pedestrian-focused design, efficient public transit, and energy-conscious architecture. This course helped me see the potential for cities like Raleigh to evolve sustainably while addressing their unique challenges.

Sarah: This course taught me that what makes a city sustainable is more complicated and integrated than I previously thought. What makes a city sustainable is a lot more than if it has abundant green space and reliable public transportation, though those factors are important too. Sustainability also involves the wellbeing of the entire community, thoughtful planning of how space is utilized, and how well adapted a city is to the environment it is in. I believe walkability is a key indicator of a city's sustainability, especially after reading Speck's book, because a city that is walkable will most likely have other sustainable features like green space, smart infrastructure, art, and dense mixed use areas. I've also learned that no city is perfectly sustainable, so it is important to recognize where efforts are being made in small steps toward walkability and sustainability, rather than knocking a community or project for its unsustainable elements. Any initiative that works toward the sustainability of a community should be recognized and praised because eventually these features will become accepted and even expected.

Sydney: My main takeaway from this course is the potential held within cities. I came into this course hoping to gain a new perspective on cities. I grew up in a previously rural/suburban area, and the development that has happened within the past few years has been extremely frustrating. Due to my personal experiences, I was pretty anti-city, and didn’t feel urbanization was a sustainable approach to our future. As we moved throughout the course, I was able to recognize that with the right planning and points of focus for an urban area, there is a potential to be much more sustainable than rural and suburban areas. Additionally, one of the main topics of interest within the course was public transportation and the utilization of public transportation goes hand-in-hand with walkability. It was awesome to see how Seattle prioritized pedestrians in many instances with bridges and buffers while also providing a viable network of public transportation. Hopefully, Raleigh will continue to push for stronger transportation networks, but given the vast suburbanization in Wake County, it will vastly vary from Seattle.

Will: This course provided an invaluable opportunity to explore the principles of sustainable urban development, culminating in a transformative trip to Seattle. Through readings like Jeff Speck’s book on walkability, we learned how thoughtful urban design enhances the quality of life and environmental health. In Seattle, we connected these concepts to real-world applications by engaging with the city and various civil engineering and architecture professionals. The city served as a living classroom, showcasing innovative strategies for integrating green spaces, transit-oriented design, and community-focused planning. We also visited industry leaders from Amtrak and Brookfield Developers throughout the course, who shared insights into large-scale infrastructure and development projects.  This course deepened my understanding of sustainable urbanism and inspired me to pursue solutions that prioritize inclusivity, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in future projects. It also gave me more insight and openings to explore the larger construction, infrastructure, and development industry. This course became a launchpad for me to understand better the interplay between urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, and development disciplines.