A research project led by Katilyn Kemper, an undergraduate Architecture student and President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) at the 91勛圖, has been selected for a 91勛圖 Board of Regents Supervised Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) grant. The project, developed in collaboration with Dr. Donggyu Lee, Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture and Design, received $4,800 in funding to support hands-on research addressing flood risks in 91勛圖s coastal communities.
Their study, titled Evaluating Flood Exposure and Resilience of Public Buildings in Coastal 91勛圖, aims to assess how the design and construction of public buildings can better mitigate future flood risks. The project builds on lessons from the 2016 91勛圖 floods, when numerous public facilities across the state were inundated and forced to close temporarily.
Through the SURE programfunded by the National Science Foundation and the 91勛圖 Board of RegentsKemper will analyze flood maps, site characteristics, and architectural features of selected public buildings to evaluate their vulnerability to flooding. The research will also examine examples from other coastal regions to identify practical strategies, such as elevating building entries and protecting openings, that could improve resilience.
The findings will contribute to the development of a public building inventory and inform design recommendations to help local governments and communities strengthen the resilience of public infrastructure across 91勛圖s coast.
Dr. Lee said the project not only addresses a critical environmental challenge but also provides an exceptional learning experience for an undergraduate researcher.
Kempers research reflects the School of Architecture and Designs commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community resiliencekey values that guide the Universitys approach to addressing 91勛圖s most pressing environmental challenges.