When Hurricane Katrina forced Tulane to close its doors, the School of Architecture faced a daunting question: how to keep students learning while also preparing for an uncertain return home. At the time, Tulane alumnus Duke Reiter was serving as dean of Arizona State University’s School of Design. He extended a remarkable offer—studio space and housing for Tulane’s displaced students and faculty.

That fall, much of the thesis class relocated to Tempe, Arizona, where they continued their work under Tulane faculty, while also turning their focus toward the future of New Orleans. “We worked there on design ideas for rebuilding the city,” one faculty member recalled. Faculty and administrators regularly traveled to Arizona to critique work and provide support, ensuring that the Tulane spirit remained intact despite the distance.

The return to New Orleans marked the start of something transformative. Faculty and students recognized a disconnect between the classroom and the urgent needs of their neighborhoods. Out of that realization came two lasting initiatives: URBANbuild and Small Center. These design-build programs, launched in the aftermath of the storm, have since completed more than 50 projects, including Grow Dat Youth Farm, Parasite Skatepark, Sugar Roots Farm, and 20 housing prototypes for local non-profits.

“The storm changed the way we taught, but also the way we engaged with our city,” one faculty member explained. What began as an emergency relocation evolved into a model of community-driven design and resilience. Today, Tulane’s School of Architecture continues to build on that legacy, weaving together sustainability, equity, and innovation in both its classrooms and its city.