More than 114 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced–the highest number ever recorded. Among them, millions of Muslim refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Myanmar have resettled in the United States, where cities–not camps–become their new homes. This project-based studio explores how design, planning, and policy can help Muslim refugee communities build thriving lives across Upstate New York’s Erie Canal corridor, linking Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.

Once the industrial heartland of the state, these cities now face population decline, aging infrastructure, and thousands of vacant lots. Yet they have also become some of the most welcoming places in the country. Refugee families are revitalizing neighborhoods, opening businesses, and establishing mosques, halal markets, and community spaces, while still confronting challenges of housing quality, mobility, employment, and access to culturally appropriate services.

The class unfolds in four phases:
Phase 1 (Introduction) introduces the refugee resettlement process in the U.S., exploring best practices for integration and principles for ethical engagement with Muslim communities.

Phase 2 (Cultural and Spatial Research) investigates cultural and spatial traditions from refugees’ countries of origin (including housing typologies, public gathering spaces, and faith-based institutions) to identify design principles that can inform resettlement strategies in host communities.

Phase 3 (Spatial Atlas) maps settlement patterns and everyday geographies (i.e. where Muslim refugees live, work, shop, and worship). Students will assess the supply and condition of affordable homes and explore design approaches that reflect multi-generational living, privacy needs, and family-centered space.

Phase 4 (Proposals) develops multi-scalar interventions that integrate cultural infrastructure and foster belonging, from housing prototypes and adaptive reuse strategies to corridor frameworks and policy recommendations. A special emphasis will be placed on housing as both a foundation for stability and a catalyst for community life.

A regional field trip through the corridor cities will connect students with resettlement agencies, Muslim community leaders, land banks, and municipal partners, revealing how design can advance inclusive, culturally grounded arrival cities that uphold the dignity and aspirations of Muslim refugees and the communities that welcome them.