The third iteration of the Envision Resilience Challenge took place in the South Coast of Massachusetts, focusing on New Bedford and Fairhaven and their shared port. New Bedford and Fairhaven have long been defined by their connection to the water. New Bedford, a historical and cultural hub in the heart of the South Coast that was once the whaling capital of the world, is now home to the highest earning fishing port in the country, with annual revenue of $11 billion. Neighboring Fairhaven, famously tied to Herman Melville and the whaleship Acushnet, has since developed an economy that supports many of the fishing, ferry and recreational vessels around the port. 

Like many coastal communities, New Bedford and Fairhaven are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. How will the many diverse communities with their own values adapt? How might the innovative design thinking of students help business owners, fishermen, families and residents consider adaptive waterfronts that embrace healthy, sustainable and equitable systems around water? How can a design studio reimagine the social, ecological and economic relations embedded in design to challenge the status quo and meet the needs of the community?