Climate Resilience and Adaptation

We identify, assess, and design protective adaptations to the effects of climate change—namely sea level rise, increased precipitation, and extreme heat—on coastal and inland communities.

Our interdisciplinary approach to climate resilience encapsulates strategies to address inland, riverine, and coastal flooding; designs that enhance community equity; engineering plans that provide resilient pathways; and policy development that support resilience and adaptation.

We also communicate climate science and climate change risk to stakeholders, collaborate with communities on mitigation and adaptation strategies, and share the narrative of a project or program applying for grant funding.

Our innovative designs mitigate heat, create habitat, reduce pollution, and protect communities from multifarious threats. We also support the long-term maintenance and operations of green stormwater infrastructure and other climate resilience solutions.

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Margaret Hopkins, PE

Vice President, Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Patrick Parault, PE

Senior Vice President, Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Kevin Flynn, PE, D.WRE

Senior Vice President, Water Resources Engineering

Edward Confair, PLA, PE

Vice President, Landscape and Resiliency

Carolyn Paone, PE, LEED AP

Senior Technical Director, Civil and Water Resources Engineering

See All Leadership

Climate exposure, vulnerability and risk assessment

Climate resilience design guidelines and planning

Coastal protection design integration and peer review

Flood mitigation design

Heat vulnerability and urban tree canopy health assessment

Environmental review and permitting

Public outreach and education

Climate change is a public health, environmental, and social justice priority for our communities.

The attention on climate change and funding to mitigate its effects has increased substantially over the last decade as the frequency of extreme weather events and severity of climate impacts only continue to expose our vulnerabilities.

AKRF is proud to be supporting the Battery Park City Authority in Lower Manhattan on both the North/West Resiliency Project and South Resiliency Project—the latter of which achieved Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines Verification from the Waterfront Alliance.

“South Battery Park City Resiliency Achieves 13th WEDG® Verification in the Nation”

AKRF prepared planning and environmental review studies for communities severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee.

Risk Assessment and Planning

AKRF is equipped to assist communities and campuses in assessing and responding to climate risk on a comprehensive scale.

Our deep regulatory expertise helps clients see around potential barriers to implementation and our foundational belief in equity and inclusion keeps environmental justice at the forefront of our plans.

Projects include the New York City Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines, New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program, and NYCEDC Resilience Innovations for a Stronger Economy Program.

Community input is fundamental to our climate resilience and adaptation planning, as seen in the East Falls and Manayunk neighborhoods.

Stormwater and Increased Precipitation

For many communities, public health and safety is threatened by more frequent and intense rainfall.

Through adaptive policies, flood management planning, stormwater management, and food mitigation infrastructure, AKRF can help communities address these risks and bounce back quickly from flood events.

Projects include ResilienCity Park, Pittsburgh Flood Mitigation Planning, East Falls and Manayunk Flood Mitigation Study, and New York City Cloudburst Management Design.

Extreme Heat

Extreme heat threatens our urban centers and most vulnerable populations, with cascading climate impacts related to public health and food security. AKRF applies the latest heat research to develop mitigation strategies that improve quality of life and protect our heat-stressed communities.

Projects include The Nature Conservancy Heat & Canopy Mapping, New York City Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines, and Battery Park City Sustainability.

Our services include heat risk assessment and planning studies and solutions to integrate heat mitigation infrastructure in public spaces.

AKRF is leading a flood resiliency study for the Borough of Selinsgrove, PA, approximately one-third of which lies within the floodplain of the Susquehanna River, Penns Creek, and their local tributaries.

Coastal and Riverine Flooding

Flooding will continue to reshape our coastal and waterfront communities through sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and exacerbated storm surge. Adapting to these changes means addressing complex infrastructural, housing, economic, and ecological challenges.

Our collaborative and community-led planning and design efforts provide innovative solutions that protect against waterfront flooding. Projects include East Side Coastal Resiliency, Living Breakwaters, and Alexandria Flood Mitigation Peer Review.

Resiliency and sustainability are inextricably linked.

In addition to preparing for increasing climate hazards, we can also reduce the extent of climate change through sustainable design.

Through innovative material reuse, carbon accounting, and intelligent site design, ARKF can help clients meet current needs without compromising the needs of future generations

Sustainability Consulting Services