Miami Beach Becomes Real-Life Classroom for UM Engineering Students

Parts of Miami Beach have become real-life classroom projects for students at the University of Miami College of Engineering.

City officials told Patch on Monday that the students have been enlisted to develop new project designs for Maurice Gibb Park, the site of Fire Station #1 and the Byron Carlyle Theater.

All of the senior design projects must also meet or exceed Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design gold standards, which are globally recognized for green building designs.

“They must also address sea-level rise adaptation and climate-change mitigation, meet the local community’s needs and, of course, adhere to Miami Beach city code,” according to city officials.

The students began working on their designs early this semester after visiting the design sites.

“We met with the city of Miami Beach to obtain guidance, but we also have interviewed local residents and businesses to determine their needs for the area. It is very rewarding and relevant working with real-world problems and especially with a local municipality to provide implementable solutions,” said Michael Notarfrancesco, a senior in the university's Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering.

The design projects will wrap up once the students present their proposals to Miami Beach officials, an industry advisory board and consultants early next year.

“The City of Miami Beach continues to serve as a living laboratory. This collaboration with the College of Engineering on this project gives us a new perspective on how to design our community, using the latest techniques and theories,” explained Elizabeth Wheaton, director of Miami Beach’s Department of Environment and Sustainability. “We expect the students to deliver designs that will enhance and showcase the city’s sustainability and resiliency efforts.”

For students, this collaboration is an opportunity to work on real projects with multiple stakeholders and complex requirements.

“Students from all different engineering majors are participating in this project. We are incorporating innovative designs and technology that are not used in today’s buildings to save costs and resolve pressing issues such as resiliency, rising sea levels, electricity, etc.,” added Michelle Stanley, an undergraduate student in the five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree program.

College of Engineering Dean Jean-Pierre Bardet described the city as one of the most forward-thinking with respect to sustainability.

“This represents an incredible opportunity to work with a client on the forefront of this engineering frontier. I expect that our students and faculty will learn from the city while also sharing new ideas and cutting-edge perspectives with the city," he said.

Here is a description of the three projects as outlined by city officials:

• Maurice Gibb Park is located in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. The city has charged the students with providing world-class park amenities while also considering upgrades to the park’s existing marine patrol, indoor/outdoor community multipurpose space, a water-taxi stop, a new stormwater management pump station, and a living shoreline integrated with upgrades to existing seawalls. The design must include an environmental lab for tracking air and water quality, real-time weather and transportation data. The park’s operation must be sustained by renewable energy.