February 2025 Livestream WEDG Professionals Course

A community’s waterfront is its flagship site. Whether it’s a small town’s river, an urban estuary, or a Great Lakes port, the waterfront is special. Resilience, ecology, and access make waterfronts thrive. Join the Waterfront Alliance Wednesday, February 19 and Thursday, February 20 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM EST for our livestream training of the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Professionals Course featuring case studies of WEDG Verified sites and experts in resilient, nature-based design. After completing this two-day guided virtual course and passing the open-book exam, participants can earn their WEDG Associate credential.

About WEDG
WEDG is an award-winning national rating system for waterfront design that recognizes developers and site owners for resilient, sustainable, and accessible waterfront design. An evidence-based system developed by a cross-cutting field of resilience experts, WEDG is akin to LEED®, Envision®, Green Globes®, or SITES® but focused on the unique complexities and opportunities that exist at the water’s edge.

WEDG guides projects and communities on how to develop and protect waterfronts, coastlines, and shorelines in the face of climate impacts that are unavoidable - sea level rise, increased storm intensity and more frequent flooding, and urban heat among them. By influencing projects with sound guidance, educating professionals, and engaging and supporting community groups, WEDG not only influences individual sites, but it can shift the field of practice. Through WEDG, all waterfronts can move toward resilience, ecology, and access for all.

Livestream Course Agenda
The livestream course will guide participants through the standard and feature case studies from the following projects:

Wednesday, February 19 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

• 1:00 – 1:45 | Resilience, Ecology, and Access at the Water's Edge
• 1:45 – 2:15 | Category 0: Site Assessment & Planning
• 2:15 – 2:45 | Category 0 Case Study: Domino Sugar
• 2:45 – 3:00 | Break
• 3:00 – 3:45 | Category 1: Climate and Hazard Resilience
• 3:45 – 4:15 | Category 1 Case Study: South Battery Park City Resiliency
• 4:15 – 4:45 | Category 2: Community Access & Connections
• 4:45 – 5:00 | Next Steps

Thursday, February 20 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

• 1:00 – 1:05 | Category 2: Recap
• 1:05 – 1:35 | Category 2 Case Study: Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility
• 1:35 – 2:05 | Category 3: Edge Composition
• 2:05 – 2:35 | Category 3 Case Study: Bronx Point
• 2:35 – 2:45 | Break
• 2:45 – 3:25 | Category 4: Natural Resources & Sustainability
• 3:25 – 3:55 | Category 4 Case Study: Jose Marti Park
• 3:55 – 4:05 | Category 5: Innovation
• 4:05 – 4:20 | WEDG Policy & Finance
• 4:20 – 4:50 | WEDG Verification and Review
• 4:50 – 5:00 | Next Steps

Thursday, February 20 | 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET

• Optional Networking Happy Hour

Speakers

• Anand Agarwal, AHA Marine Engineering
• Gonzalo Cruz, AECOM
  
• Robert Curtis, Curtis + Rogers Studio
• Furhana Husani, Waterfront Alliance
• Tom Klein, Waterfront Alliance
• Sharai Lewis-Gruss, Two Degrees Adapt
• Bridget McCrum, Two Trees Management
• Kara Napolitano, Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility
• Yadiel Rivera-Diaz, Marvel
• Joseph Sutkowi, Waterfront Alliance

WEDG Associate Exam
Following the course, participants will be sent an open book, 50-question exam that they must complete within two weeks to earn the WEDG Associate credential.

CEUs Available
6 AIA LU, 6 LA CES

Group Discounts & Scholarship Opportunities 
Groups registering five or more people from the same firm or organization are eligible for a discount from either the Private Sector or Public Sector/Non-Profit/Student rate. Please contact Joseph Sutkowi, Chief Waterfront Design Officer, at jsutkowi@waterfrontalliance.org to confirm eligibility and a group discount code.

Individuals working on environmental, flooding, or water-related issues in states along the Mississippi River may qualify to take the course for free or at a reduced cost. Check your Eligibility.

Professionals working for New York State-registered Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) and/or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) who reside or work in a New York State designated Disadvantaged Communities are eligible to participate in the training at no cost. Check your Eligibility.