Retrofitting Suburbia for 21st Century Challenges

With cities and regional governments looking for the most cost-effective paths to better-connected, higher performing and more equitable redevelopment, strategies for “retrofitting suburbia” are getting increasing attention. Ellen Dunham-Jones, Georgia Tech professor of architecture and urban design, literally wrote the book on the strategy with co-author with June Williamson: Retrofitting Suburbia; Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs (Wiley & Sons, 2008, 2011, 2013).

In this update of their research, Ellen offers case studies suggesting what retrofitting approaches seem most promising in what contexts. The first edition of Retrofitting Suburbia received the 2009 PROSE award for architecture and urban planning from the American Association of Publishers and was featured in Time Magazine’s March 23, 2009 cover story, “10 ideas changing the world right now.”