Catherine Rollins (Photo: Linkedin)
BOSTON— The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Boston/New England’s Climate Resiliency Committee has been honored with the prestigious ULI District Council 2025 Showcase of Excellence Award for its innovative project Living Better: Regenerative Design for People and Environment. The project was recognized in the category of Best Program Addressing Creative and Sustainable Best Practices for Thriving People, Places, and Buildings.
The Living Better initiative reimagines how communities can approach climate resiliency by developing systems that create net-positive outcomes—ecologically, socially, and economically. It builds on ULI Boston’s prior research efforts, including Living with Water and Living with Heat, and continues to push the boundaries of sustainable urban design.
Focusing on the Lower Mystic River Watershed, including climate-vulnerable and historically underserved areas like Chelsea and Everett, the project introduces a regenerative design framework aimed at restoring ecosystems while enhancing community resilience and equity. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participants evaluated strategies that promote both ecological restoration and social advancement.
“This regenerative design project underscores ULI’s commitment to promoting cutting-edge best practices in land use, reimagining how communities and regions can navigate the impacts of climate change and create stronger ecosystems,” said Catherine Rollins, Director of ULI Boston/New England. “This award validates our efforts and encourages us to continue creating transformative change, enabling communities to thrive as part of resilient ecosystems.”
The initiative launched with a full-day workshop involving more than 40 members, experts, and stakeholders, who explored regenerative strategies that could be applied to real-world development projects. These strategies are now being compiled into a formal report, set to be released later this year, with the goal of informing and inspiring land use professionals and municipalities throughout the region.
The ULI Americas District Council Awards recognize exceptional programs that reflect the Urban Land Institute’s mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. The Living Better project exemplifies how local leadership and collaboration can drive scalable, sustainable solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time.
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