
Alyssa Curran
A native Buffalonian, UCLA-trained geographer and Harvard Graduate School of Design Urban Planning alumnus, Alyssa is passionate about improving social justice, environmental performance, climate adaptation and resource security in cities. Alyssa's mission is to create projects that prioritize people, collaboration, ecology, energy & water efficiency, and distributed resource systems.
Sea-Change Ahead for Boston: Private Property Rights May Be Forfeited
by Alyssa Curran
Boston grew from the sea by way of man-made land. Now, the city is facing a return to the sea by way of man-made emissions. Climate resilience and adaptation are emerging in fields spanning urban planning, architecture, ... Read article
Two Local Water Solutions from Boston on World Water Day
by Alyssa Curran
“How can we reduce floods, droughts and water pollution?” The United Nations’ World Water Day works to create awareness on the importance of water. Held on March 22nd each year, the United Nations (UN) selects a theme to... Read article
What makes a business 'sustainable'? Here are two examples of award-winning green businesses in Boston
by Alyssa Curran
Pop Quiz: what is a sustainable business? From the first Earth Day in 1970 to the hundreds of Chief Sustainability Officers appointed in corporations and city governments today, “going green” has incrementally come in... Read article
Historic Preservation in Boston: The Antidote to “Heritage Décor?”
by Alyssa Curran
To preserve or to build anew? The significance of preserving historic structures and places is often debated, typically falling into arguments related to aesthetics, budgets, cultural identity, economic development, and ... Read article
Greenbuild 2017: Turning a “Sleepy Country into an Innovation Nation”
by Alyssa Curran
The annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo has been hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council since 2002, drawing together professionals from across the green building industry. The event includes an expo sh... Read article
Development Impact in NYC: The Role of Privately-Owned Public Space
by Alyssa Curran
The world we see around us is the result of many years, decisions, and dollars that have shaped our built and natural environments. Particularly in cities, where density is at the forefront, development has been scru... Read article
Food Waste, Hunger, Energy and Growth in New York City
by Alyssa Curran
Cities are growing. So, too, is the collective demand for food production and waste collection. In New York City - home to about 8.5 million people - more than 6 million tons of waste is disposed of every year. Nearl... Read article
Climate Action on the City Level: How Do Boston and L.A. Compare?
by Alyssa Curran
The new White House has left only three mentions of “climate” on its website, including two that have nothing to do with climate change and one that calls President Obama’s Climate Action Plan an “unnecessary” policy... Read article
Boston is Getting Water Wise with Green Infrastructure and Design
by Alyssa Curran
For a city that receives an average of over 40 inches of rainfall every year, why is it that Boston, Massachusetts needs to pump in water from 65-miles away? Why is it that public health officials recommend avoiding ... Read article
Save the Drop! L.A. Achieves 16% Reduction in Water Consumption, but Misses the Mark
by Alyssa Curran
Flowing fountains, full swimming pools, and luscious landscapes disguise and downsize L.A.’s short water supplies. The truth is that Los Angeles doesn't have much water. Only about 11% of Los Angeles’ water supply is... Read article
L.A. Joins Growing Number of U.S. Bike-Share Cities
by Alyssa Curran
Over 70 cities across the U.S. now offer bike-share systems for residents and visitors. I was surprised and proud to see my hometown of Buffalo, NY on bikshare.com's tally of bike-share programs across the United Sta... Read article
Angelenos Opt for Traffic, Not Transit: Ridership Down 10%
by Alyssa Curran
Angelenos choose to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic, basking in a smoggy cloud of exhaust on the way to work, to meet a friend, or to hit the beach. We just enjoy hit-and-run collisions (that account for 44% of all t... Read article
Los Angeles Plans for Resiliency in the Wake of Intensifying Climate Events
by Alyssa Curran
Los Angeles is home to beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains, and historic landmarks. Its desirable living conditions and amenities support a population of over 10 million residents and attract over 250 million vi... Read article