Built Environment

The built environment initiative, in collaboration with stakeholders, researchers, and practitioners across urban and regional contexts, aims to address pressing urban challenges and create equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities. This initiative fosters a collaborative framework that brings together Extension professionals, policymakers, scientists, community organizations, and urban planners to co-develop research priorities and design impactful programs that align with community-defined needs.

Core fundamentals of this initiative include urban housing, infrastructure development, urban ecology, food access, public spaces, and resilience to socio-economic and environmental stressors. Through applied research and education, the built environment team identifies critical challenges, opportunities, and solutions to balance the needs of diverse communities with the complexities of urban systems. Key areas of focus include housing affordability, green infrastructure, sustainable land use, effective waste management, urban food systems, and neighborhood resilience.

To support our work in the built environment, NUREC has created a Built Environment Knowledge and Practice Network (you can learn more about our Knowledge and Practice networks here).