A free public exhibition that reimagines a resilient and hopeful future for Bath and Harpswell in the face of climate change opened March 12 here at the Patten Free Library, along with Orr’s Island Library and Cundy’s Harbor Library in Harpswell, and Union and Co. in Bath.
The Envision Resilience: Designs for Living in a Changing Climate exhibition series features a collection of designs for the cities’ working waterfronts, public parks and neighborhoods, developed by graduate and undergraduate students studying architecture, landscape architecture, fine art and urban design.
The 2025 Envision Resilience Midcoast Maine Challenge convened teams from University of Maine Augusta, Maine College of Art and Design, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Virginia with community stakeholders and local practitioners for an iterative process exploring innovative and adaptive solutions to challenges such as affordable housing, stormwater management, local industry and changing coastlines.
“The schematic student designs propose embracing rather than running from the stressors of a changing climate through innovating and reimagining infrastructure, housing and open spaces,” said Claire Martin, executive director of Envision Resilience. “Inspired by community leaders across Bath and Harpswell who generously gave their time and encouraged bold and visionary thinking, students have explored and proposed adaptive pathways that allow daily life to continue to thrive in the face of change.”
The collection of designs, curated by local artist Brian Smith and supported with illustrations by graphic artists Felipe Alvarez and Tamra Carhart, are equally visionary and tactile, innovative and implementable, exploratory and rooted in Maine’s hardy and spirited history and culture.
“This year’s exhibit tells the story of how design students engaged with the Midcoast’s built and natural landscapes and presents their contributions to ongoing conversations about resilience at the local and regional scale through craft and curiosity,” said Wendell T. Joseph, design studio manager of Envision Resilience. “Design shapes our material reality and our collective imagination. As our climate continues to change, expansive imagination continues to become critical and necessary. Thanks to our partnership with local libraries and community spaces, this body of work from design and art students is made available and accessible to the public—an invitation to imagine with us. We hope our audience leaves this exhibit with a deeper understanding of how design thinking and processes can help us better live with a changing climate.”
The Envision Resilience: Designs for Living in a Changing Climate will run at the Patten Free Public Library in Bath, ME and at Orr’s Island Library and Cundy’s Harbor Library in Harpswell, ME through August 2026 and at Union + Co. in Bath, ME through April. Admission is free and the exhibition is open during library hours. Join the Bath Climate Commission, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Patten Free Library, and representatives from Envision Resilience for Bath Climate Conversations in person and virtually on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30pm.
Since its inception, Envision Resilience has engaged more than 500 students from 20 universities, and partnered with hundreds of community leaders across Northeast communities throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.
Envision Resilience
Envision Resilience works to advance innovative city planning and design in the face of climate change through student and community partnerships. By connecting current and future professionals working across disciplines, the organization creates opportunities for communities to reimagine climate challenges and inspire resilient solutions. Envision Resilience, founded by Wendy Schmidt, is part of the philanthropic organizations and initiatives created and funded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to work toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all.
