Pratt Institute has announced the creation of the new Center for Climate Adaptation (CCA). The initiative is part of its alignment with The New York Climate Exchange, a consortium of research institutions that will use Governor’s Island as its hub for climate change investigations and education. David Erdman, an associate professor in the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design (GAUD) program, will lead the center as its first Director.

Pratt says the new CCA is aimed partially at protecting global island cities such as New York and Singapore. The focus expands on the United Nations Archipelago Agenda and will include experts taken from every subfield of architecture and urban design. Pace University and Singapore University of Technology and Design have signed on as academic partners in the initiative as well.

The school's President, Frances Bronet, stated: “The Center combines our deep engagement with the local community and global networks, and our collaborative approach to critical research across disciplines. With our longstanding commitment to developing community-driven solutions, we are excited to expand our climate action work with partners through this new Center and bring our research to help further shape The New York Climate Exchange.”

The center will be operated from Pratt's 20,000-square-foot research facility at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Work has already begun in partnership with the UN Water Conference and Climate Week and on location in Patagonia, Chile, in support of the Universidad del Desarrollo's research into mass timber structures and greywater recycling.

More projects will be debuted at Climate Week 2024 in New York this spring. The Pratt Open House and Nolan Park House on Governor's Island will also be hosting exhibitions from the CCA throughout the next year.