Coastal Dynamics Design Lab

Too often, coastal research and design is fragmented into discrete scientific, academic, and professional disciplines. The Coastal Dynamics Design Lab (CDDL) seeks to transform this compartmentalized approach by coupling designers—architects, landscape architects, graphic designers, and engineers—with scientists and local stakeholders, to create innovative, sustainable, adaptable, and resilient design solutions that address the environmental and human needs of coastal communities.

The CDDL is operated from within the NC State University College of Design and has formed strategic partnerships with experts across the University of North Carolina system, Coastal Studies Institute, numerous governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and professional design firms.

Visit the website

Princeville-Alumni-Magazine-Winter-2019 — The CDDL’s work in Princeville, N.C. was featured in the Winter 2019 issue of the NC State Alumni Magazine.

Roooted: the Embrace of Earth + Water Maggie Kroening - North Carolina State University

January 15, 2025

School of Architecture Students and Faculty Win Statewide Awards for Design

Eight student teams were recognized at the American Institute of Architects North Carolina Design and Chapter Awards. The School of Architecture was also recognized for teaching excellence through its Educator of the Year, Kamphoefner Prize, F. Carter Williams Gold Medal and Associate Award.

October 24, 2024

Work underway on Goldsboro flood mitigation and resilience project: three projects aim to protect property and increase flood resilience

A partnership between the state and City of Goldsboro has resulted in the completion of the Goldsboro Community Floodprint, and the initial implementation of the plan’s recommendations. The floodprint is a local plan that contains flood mitigation and resilience recommendations developed through public input and planning. Funded by the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) using the state’s HUD mitigation grant and led by the N.C. State University Coastal Dynamics Design Lab (CDDL), this is the second of ten CDDL/NCORR community floodprints to be completed.

NC Historic Resilience Primer. Photo courtesy of Coastal Dynamics Design Lab.

June 18, 2024

College of Design Students and Faculty Win Awards at NCASLA

Students, faculty and alumni attended the NCASLA Conference in Asheville, receiving multiple awards and presenting to professionals from across the state. The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning sponsored fourteen Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) students in the College of Design to attend the event.

September 07, 2023

Landscape Architecture Students, Faculty Win National ASLA Awards

Students and faculty were recognized as winners of the national ASLA award competition, with four student projects and one faculty-led project receiving awards. In addition, two faculty were recognized: Chuck Flink won the LaGasse Medal and Emily McCoy was elevated to fellow.

August 23, 2023

NC State Named Finalist for 2023 C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) named North Carolina State University a regional winner of the 2023 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Scholarship Award. As a winner, NC State will compete for the national C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship award, which will be announced in November. The award recognizes the work of NC State’s Coastal…

October 03, 2022

Students and Coastal Dynamics Design Lab Team Take Top Honors in ASLA National Awards

Students in the College of Design’s Master of Landscape Architecture program received four of the 19 national student awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects this year. The Coastal Dynamics Design Lab won their third award in the last five years for their commitment to delivering world-class technical assistance at no direct cost to low-resource, historically underserved rural communities.

April 22, 2022

Coastal Dynamics Project Awarded Part of $2 Million Grant for Environmental Justice

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has named the NC State College of Design’s Coastal Dynamics Design Lab as one of 15 climate-focused projects to receive an Environmental Justice for Climate grant. The CEC’s first $2 million EJ4Climate grant program is aimed at supporting efforts made toward environmental justice and climate resilience for communities across North America.

Coastal Dynamics Design Lab proposed networks

April 19, 2022

New state partnership to support local planning for community resilience

The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) has committed funding to the NC State Coastal Dynamics Design Lab (CDDL) for the development of five North Carolina community floodprint reports over the next three years. A valuable tool for building future community resilience, a floodprint is a landscape planning approach developed by CDDL to address land and water relationships. The floodprint development process incorporates issues such as flooding, recovery and equity into the planning process.

November 21, 2020