The University of Maryland College Park team advances to the final four in the 2024 ULI Hines Student Urban Design Competition with its entry, "The Cascades," a $1.76 Billion, forward-thinking metropolitan revitalization project that revolutionizes an existing community in Downtown Seattle from business-oriented to people-focused, while addressing critical issues of equity through connectivity, sustainability and socioeconomic growth.
This neighborhood redesign envisions vibrancy and usability for a greener, more accessible and more active community with the underserved population at its core. This mixed-use neighborhood facilitates an accessible and exciting downtown experience with six housing structures, retail and restaurants.
Located in Downtown Seattle, The Cascades offers a direct view of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound throughout the Terrace. Residents, commuters and visitors can interact and engage with the multilevel retail and green space. The guiding mission behind this intervention is Step-up, which emphasizes Sustainability, Transit, Economic Growth and Place.
The UMD team will compete against the University of Texas at Austin and two teams from Georgia Tech. The winning team receives $50,000 and the finalist teams each receive $10,000. The final presentations and announcement of the winner will take place on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
UMD Team:
- Megan Ravert (Team Leader), Master of Urban Planning and Master of Historic Preservation Programs
- Cecil Bridge, Master of Real Estate Development Program
- Abigail Bullock, Master of Architecture Program
- Chase Deist, Master of Architecture Program
- Ucheya Ajaero, Master of Architecture Program
Faculty Advisor
- Matthew Bell, Professor of Architecture
Professional Advisors
- Rameez Munawar, Vice President, Asset Management, Jamestown
- Christian Calleri, Associate Principal, Perkins Eastman
According to ULI’s (Urban Land Institute) competition site, the ULI Hines Student Competition, now in its 22nd year, is one of the core education initiatives of the Urban Land Institute. The competition offers eligible students the opportunity to form multidisciplinary teams and engage in a challenging exercise in responsible land use. It is part of ULI’s ongoing effort to raise interest among young people in creating better communities, improving development patterns and increasing awareness of the need for multidisciplinary solutions to development and design challenges.