IA: Island(ing) Adaptations – Water Loops

IA is an intentional inversion of AI to suggest the intelligence of island logics, testing and piloting solutions that can be applied beyond island communities. Islands comprise 10% of the global population, 20% of global GDP, and 50% of the fastest-growing urban areas, while also being among the most water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions on the planet. They require social, urban, and economic water loops which can stand as benchmarks for more inland areas increasingly facing related, compound issues.

The Circular Water Economy provides a framework for moving beyond water reuse to reduce demand, recover resources, regenerate natural systems, and create more resilient communities. Water reuse in archipelagos and their urban areas is critical to designing with, not only for, nature-based systems in industry, landscapes, and buildings. The panel brings together architecture, economics, engineering, community-based organizations, and policy to explore how circular water strategies are shaping resilient architectural and urban environments like NYC and beyond. Each panelist is working with water and various forms of reuse and resource recovery that impact their surrounding communities and built environments.

Limited spots are available for attendees to join a guided tour of Domino Sugar Factory (master planned by SHoP Architects/Field Operations; water reuse system designed by Natural Systems Utilities) in nearby Williamsburg with a reception to follow.