Tulane School of Architecture - Tulane City Center

Tulane City Center

After the devastation of New Orleans after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the program became a vital part in the reconstruction of the city. The Tulane City Center houses the School of Architecture’s urban research and outreach programs. Programs of the City Center vary over time, but share a focus on improving cities through fostering global urban research, the development of flexible and innovative urban strategies, and the provision of environmentally and culturally informed principles to guide the design and revitalization of the contemporary metropolis. Tulane City Center Aims to: 1) To provide a forum and administrative structure for students and faculty at TSA to work on projects in partnership with community based organizations in the greater New Orleans area. 2) To promote the role of design in the early stages of community based development initiatives—with special attention to the integration of sustainable ecological systems. 3) To expose students to design and development environments not typically associated with private practice because of extreme budget limitations and client experience. 4) To build and maintain an asset for TSA that serves to attract and retain high quality students and faculty. 5) To provide a constructive and critical voice in the ongoing dialogues on the future of New Orleans, particularly as it relates to excellence and leadership in design and planning.

Programs currently under development at the City Center include the University/Community Design Partnerships, Greenbuild, and a number of events and applied research initiatives.