50 Years of WRT: The 2000s

Transcending five decades through sustainability.

sustainable communities, waterfronts, urban design, open space planning, parks, green infrastructure, washington, district of columbia, philadelphia, pennsylvania, omaha, nebraska, community engagement, community health, performance design

Author

Jared McKnight

Artist

Brittany Coyle

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Bounding excitedly into the 2000s, WRT has not lost sight of its origins, rooted in principles of sustainability and relentlessly dedicated to improving the quality of the natural and built environments. The concept of sustainability has transcended the five decades since the firm was founded, evolving and shaping our approach to design and the way we engage our communities and clients. For WRT, the 2000s marked a decade of evolution in perspectives of sustainability.

Building off the Hope VI Projects in the 1990s, WRT successfully expanded its housing implementation work throughout the 2000s with the help of like-minded developers. The 2000s also saw our commitment as a founding member of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council. WRT’s large-scale  

planning prowess re-emerged with the help of key projects such as the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, the Omaha By Design Urban Design Plan, the Civic Vision for Central the Delaware and GreenPlan Philadelphia.

These projects represent WRT’s best in the continuing evolution of sustainability at multiple scales. They have provided the canvas for WRT to continue to push the edge of innovation while staying grounded in fundamental beliefs, and they have influenced the emergence of our firm practice drivers: community engagement, community health, green infrastructure and performance design. The heart of our practice is our commitment to transforming communities in a holistic, collaborative and sustainable way.