LSU Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio

The LSU Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio (CEDS) emerged in 2009 as a leading voice to bridge the efforts of scientists, engineers, architects, and landscape architects working to envision a better future for coastal Louisiana. CEDS recognizes that Louisiana communities face unprecedented challenges, many of which are not being resolved due to the sheer enormity of the situation exceeding the scope of a single discipline. The studio provides a collaborative space for these disparate disciplines to come together to intensively study and respond to issues facing deltaic communities, coastal ecosystems, and flood protection systems. Its ultimate goal is to prepare communities to be resilient to the fluctuations of an uncertain environment. CEDS was created as a trans-disciplinary institute for this reason. The results of the Studio’s design work provide a sound basis for major policy decisions for adaptation through more sustainable land-use planning, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, protection, and design of biological and human systems; but its greatest strength is its ability to bridge across disciplines, translating complex science, engineering, and design to actionable and comprehensive design thinking. The Studio has won local and national awards for work that challenges long-held assumptions and visualizes solutions to the difficult conditions communities are facing. CEDS and its leadership continue to push the envelope through integrated science, engineering, and design that are applied to the needs of communities across the Louisiana coast and the greater Gulf Coast region.