Liquid City: A Pedagogical Tool for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Urban Planning
Emily Benavides
Co-Presenters: Kacper Wilczynski, Isaac Sam
College: Michael Graves College
Major: Architecture (M.Arch.)
Faculty Research Mentor: Venesa Alicea-Chuqui
Abstract:
Title: Liquid City: A Pedagogical Tool for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Urban PlanningAuthors: Emily Benavides, Kacper Wilczynski, and Isaac Sam, School of Public Architecture, Kean University"Liquid City" is an interactive simulation game designed as a pedagogical tool for exploring the long-term impacts of urban planning decisions on climate resilience and sustainability. From 2020 to 2120, the game spans a 100-year timeline, putting players in the role of an urban planner shaping the Upper Bay region, including Lower Manhattan, Staten Island, Red Hook, Bayonne, and Jersey City. Through key decisions in urban development, flood resilience, and environmental conservation, the game provides an immersive experience in sustainable planning.The project aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 14: Life Below Water. Players engage with real-world-inspired projects such as tidal integration, offshore wind energy, and urban densification while facing challenges like sea-level rise, environmental degradation, and infrastructure failure. Guided by an architect, engineer, and ecologist, players must weigh short-term urban needs against long-term sustainability to avoid negative outcomes, such as ecosystem collapse or community displacement.This research presents Liquid City as an educational tool, demonstrating how interactive media enhances engagement with sustainability and climate resilience. By immersing players in the cause-and-effect relationships of planning decisions, the game fosters critical thinking about sustainable urban development and the legacy of planning choices for future generations.