Proof Projects Studio Advances Adaptive Coastal Stewardship with $1.2M Grant and New Publication
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The interdisciplinary design studio Proof Projects—led by four principals, including UVA School of Architecture faculty members Brian Davis and Erin Putalik, along with Theresa “Tess” Ruswick, and Sean Burkholder of the University of Pennsylvania—is advancing new models for coastal stewardship through two recent milestones: a $1.2 million grant from the Great Lakes Protection Fund and the publication of Sediment Strategies: Considerations and Case Studies for Beneficial Use, a national resource guide developed with Anchor QEA for The Nature Conservancy.
Together, the projects reflect Proof Projects’ approach to working at the intersection of landscape architecture, infrastructure, ecology, and public decision-making—pairing on-the-ground implementation with tools that help communities respond to changing environmental conditions.
A Rare Design-Led Award from the Great Lakes Protection Fund
In 2025, Proof Projects was awarded $1.2 million from the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) in support of the project, Transforming Shoreline Stewardship through Adaptive Management and Remote Sensing. The project will develop an Adaptive Management and Remote Sensing (AMARS) platform, a new tool designed to help Great Lakes communities restore their coastlines using nature-based strategies informed by consistent, accessible data.
The AMARS platform builds on Proof Projects’ earlier GLPF-supported work, including a $150,000 award in 2023 that focused on improving shoreline resilience and adaptation through community-based action.
Led by Ruswick and Burkholder, the AMARS initiative is notable not only for its scale, but for who is directing the work. “If you look at the other GLPF awards over the last decade, it is very unusual to have designers leading projects because of the technical and scientific demands,” said Brian Davis. The project also includes significant contributions from Davis and Putalik, reflecting a design practice that integrates science, data, and community engagement to support more effective coastal management.
Rather than relying on costly fixed infrastructure that hardens shorelines and disrupts sediment movement, AMARS supports adaptive management—an approach that works with natural coastal processes and evolves over time. Using drone-mounted sensors and remote sensing analysis, the platform will generate regular, comparable data on shoreline conditions, sediment movement, and habitat change. This information can help communities make informed decisions, such as where to place dredged material to nourish eroding shorelines, while avoiding one-time defensive interventions like riprap or jetties.
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AMARS will be piloted in three partner communities—Wisconsin Point, Wisconsin; Sandy Pond, New York; and East Bay, New York—each facing distinct coastal challenges. Proof Projects will work closely with municipal staff, public works departments, residents, and citizen scientists through workshops and trainings focused on applying AMARS data to real-world restoration projects.
A central component of the initiative is the creation of an AMARS Community of Practice, where participating communities will convene regularly to share experiences, address challenges, and refine deployment strategies. The project team will also engage with regional and national networks, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other coastal and infrastructure organizations, to expand awareness and adoption of adaptive management approaches across the Great Lakes Basin.
From Great Lakes Implementation to National Guidance
While AMARS focuses on implementation in Great Lakes communities, Proof Projects’ work also extends to shaping broader conversations about coastal and sediment management nationwide. That perspective is reflected in Sediment Strategies: Considerations and Case Studies for Beneficial Use, a publication developed for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that synthesizes best practices for using dredged sediment to restore and strengthen coastal habitats.
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The guide addresses a growing challenge along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in regions such as the Chesapeake Bay, where marshes and tidal landscapes are disappearing due to subsidence and accelerating sea-level rise—even as millions of cubic yards of sediment are dredged annually to keep waterways navigable.
The vision for Sediment Strategies was spearheaded by Isaac Hametz, Baltimore Program Director for The Nature Conservancy and a UVA School of Architecture alum (MLA ’13) and former lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture.
Under Hametz’s leadership, TNC partnered with Proof Projects and the environmental engineering firm Anchor QEA to develop a shared technical and conceptual resource for agencies, practitioners, and communities. Tess Ruswick and Brian Davis served as lead authors, working with contributors to translate complex regulatory, ecological, and technical considerations into an accessible guide.
Through case studies, key considerations, and practical guidance, Sediment Strategies promotes the beneficial use of dredged material—the strategic placement of sediment to restore marsh elevation, improve ecological function, and enhance coastal resilience—while encouraging collaboration across sectors.
Designing Systems That Work with Nature
Together, the AMARS platform and Sediment Strategies illustrate Proof Projects’ commitment to designing systems, not just sites, that support long-term environmental stewardship. Whether through community-based monitoring in the Great Lakes or shared knowledge frameworks for beneficial sediment use, the firm’s work emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and working with natural processes rather than against them.
For the University of Virginia School of Architecture, these efforts highlight the impact of faculty-led practice that bridges research, teaching, and implementation, demonstrating how design can play a leading role in addressing complex coastal and climate challenges.
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Project Credits
Transforming Shoreline Stewardship through Adaptive Management and Remote Sensing Team:
Sean Burkholder, Principal, Proof Projects – Co-PI
Tess Ruswick, Managing Principal, Proof Projects – Co-PI
Brian Davis, Principal, Proof Projects – Research Contributor
Erin Putalik, Principal, Proof Projects – Research Contributor
Sediment Strategies Project Team:
Project Director: Isaac Hametz (TNC)
Project Manager: Austin Bamford (TNC)
Lead Authors: Brian Davis (Proof Projects), Tess Ruswick (Proof Projects), Walt Dincola (Anchor QEA), Katie Haviland (Anchor QEA)
Contributing Authors: Mindy Strevig, Vanessa Woolley, Jill Zwierz (Anchor QEA)
Graphic Design Contributors: Zheng Fang (Anchor QEA), Ruth Pensberthy (Proof Projects), Lucy Salwin (Proof Projects)
Editor: Ken Mayo (Anchor QEA)
Sediment Strategies Citation:
Hametz, I., Bamford, A., Davis, B., Ruswick, T., Dinicola, W., Haviland, K. (2025). Sediment Strategies: Considerations and Case Studies for Beneficial Use. The Nature Conservancy
