VI Forward and the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority are set to partner with an exciting international collaboration known as the World Design Studio (WDS 2025) from February 19th to February 26th, 2025. This prestigious project brings together students and faculty from three renowned institutions: Clemson University in the United States, Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and Huazhong Agricultural University in China.
This year’s WDS project, led by Clemson University, will focus on the City of Bristol, Virginia. The team will concentrate their efforts on the area surrounding the former Virginia Intermont campus, which has been a subject of concern for city leaders due to its deteriorating condition. The students will conduct an in-depth study of the local landscape, photographing and documenting their observations to develop conceptual redesigns for the neighborhood. Much of their work will be done here on BRHA’s property.
The WDS project will be a significant component of Bristol’s Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan to enhance the community through innovative urban design. This opportunity is particularly timely, given the recent award of a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The grant will support efforts to revitalize the Virginia Hills Historic Neighborhood, which includes the area around the former Virginia Intermont campus.
As the community prepares to welcome these international visitors, residents are encouraged to offer a warm reception to the students they may encounter in the neighborhood. This collaboration represents a unique opportunity for Bristol to benefit from global expertise in urban planning and design, potentially shaping the future landscape of this historic area and contributing to the city’s goal of becoming “not only a good place to live but a great place to live for generations to come”.
