Toward a Carbon Neutral Corridor is an AIA Upjohn Research Initiative project that ambitiously explores how aging, auto-oriented commercial corridors in Middle America can be reimagined as vibrant, low-carbon, and socially resilient districts. Spearheaded by archimania, in collaboration with Transsolar - KlimaEngineering, the research builds upon the firm’s own South Cooper Street studio—the first adaptive reuse project certified as both Zero Energy and Zero Carbon by the International Living Future Institute, which also won a 2022 AIA COTE Top Ten award.
This project delivers a set of layered toolkits designed for architects, planners, and civic leaders who are ready to move beyond building-by-building solutions. These toolkits span three scales: retrofitting existing structures, designing lean infill construction, and transforming public streetscapes into people-focused infrastructure. With each layer, the team integrates performance modeling, carbon accounting, and scenario planning to support incremental yet impactful change.
At the heart of the study is a case corridor in Memphis, where “persona” and “timeline” tools visualize how targeted interventions can reduce both operational and embodied carbon, foster community-scale sequestration, and advance equitable development. The research reveals not just what’s possible—but how to get there—offering replicable strategies for architects to engage in systems-level design that intersects climate action, equity, and urban revitalization.
To learn more and access the full paper, follow this link: https://www.archimania.com/carbon-neutral-corridors