About

This website revised through funding by USDA HATCH MAS00458 and NSF Research Collaboration Network (RCN): Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) Project title: Sustainable Adaptive Gradients in the Coastal Environment (SAGE): Reconceptualizing the Role of Infrastructure in Resilience Award Number: ICER-1338767.

CRM Mission

The Center for Resilient Metro-Regions (CRM) is located within the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The Center’s mission is to assist communities and regions develop more sustainable and resilient planning and design solutions to address changing climate, environmental, socio-demographic, and economic conditions. This mission is accomplished through community focused projects and applied research projects. CRM supports the Department’s areas of excellence in community engagement, regenerative urbanism, and regional and greenway planning.

CRM History

CRM was established in 1985 as the Center for Rural Massachusetts, to undertake a program of applied research focusing on ways that growth can be managed and controlled through actions of local governments and advocacy groups. Measures proposed in Center publications have been studied and adopted throughout the United States and the world. Former associates of the Center (faculty and students) now hold highly significant planning positions in urbanized parts of America, and others are writing about ideas initiated at the Center. CRM was at the forefront of developing the concepts of greenways, which has influenced urban planning world-wide. CRM was also at the forefront of conservation subdivision design, which has also influenced rural and small town planning worldwide.

CRM Team

Wayne Feiden

Inquiries, request for proposals: Center director, Wayne Feiden, FAICP (wfeiden@umass.edu)

Robert Ryan

Elisabeth Infield

Design studios inquiries: LARP Dept Head Professor Robert Ryan (rlryan@umass.edu)