The Urban Cloud is a high performance urban design strategy
that targets underutilized zones of urban fabric for re-generation.
The initiative emphasizes social, urban, economic and
environmental concerns as a comprehensive approach to
deeper, broader approach to sustainability.
While it is extremely sustainable to reuse existing buildings,
many of those old buildings are difficult to retrofit for energy
savings while retaining the fundamental character that makes
them marketable and attractive. By creating a larger microclimate
in highly desirable urban zones, the Urban Cloud encourages
existing and new construction to condense around
new civic, cultural and community-driven programs. The Navy
Yard site serves as a specific demonstration of the proposal.