We believe passionately that those cities that are positioned to excel in this time of global change are pursuing broad, integrated strategies to tap hidden value, celebrate ecology and culture, attract people and investment and overcome financial and operational inefficiencies to define success.

As one of the world’s largest urban design and civil infrastructure consultancies, AECOM does more than answer questions for cities, we help to reframe them. Both pragmatic and visionary, we are well placed to deliver successful urban environments — whether it is helping cities to prioritize capital asset reliability, plan for climate adaptation, protect assets or provide for sustainable economic development. We see in these kinds of projects the opportunity to not just build resilience but achieve brilliance. We call these brilliant cities.

AECOM’s urban solutions help cities to better prioritize projects, plan ahead and provide for sustainable growth. Our work in the urban space is enhanced through deepening partnerships with key organizations and stakeholders.

Prioritize

Capital asset reliability: getting infrastructure right

Balancing the maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure with the need for sustainable growth requires effective planning and decision-making, especially considering the challenges of funding large and complex projects. From maintaining physical assets, delivering long-term value to staff and residents, or keeping in step with the shifting ground of economic and regulatory environments, we apply the skills and knowledge of our team to strive for optimum performance throughout every stage of the asset life cycle and minimize unexpected failures.

Representative clients and projects:

  • San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Working with an agency that provides water to 2.6 million Californians to deliver integrated green infrastructure throughout the city.
  • Port of Houston Authority: Protecting vulnerable investments at the Bayport Terminal.
  • Australia’s Department of Defence: Planning for impact of climate change on security in Australian coastal cities.
  • UK Olympic Delivery Authority and London Legacy Development Corporation: Using the Olympic Games as one step to build the much-needed regeneration of East London.

Plan

Climate adaptation: minimizing tomorrow’s risks today

Increasingly volatile seasonal storms, higher temperatures and deeper droughts in some areas are leaving residents, municipalities and businesses vulnerable to property losses, infrastructure damage and even loss of life. By analyzing the potential threats from climate change, it is possible to develop efficient and effective solutions to protect people and preserve resources in the face of the most destructive extreme weather events.

Representative clients and projects:

  • Blackpool Council: Redesigning a waterfront facing storm-surge and erosion with biomimicry expressed in a beautiful and distinctive landscape.
  • In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, ensuring Long Island is prepared for the next time.
  • Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority: a low-carbon future for Marina Bay and Greater Southern Waterfront.
  • Scottish Water: Defending Edinburgh from a 1-in-200-year flood.

Provide

Development and regeneration: enabling sustainable growth

In the coming decades, trillions of dollars will be invested in infrastructure for the world’s cities. This spending provides unprecedented opportunities to drive low-carbon growth that can bring multiple benefits to the world’s population in the form of jobs, health, business productivity and quality of life. Our experts identify, plan for, implement and manage these plans and programs, making real the visions of economically strong and resilient communities while protecting investments.

Representative clients and projects:

  • Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor: Shaping the model for India’s smart cities.
  • Ebbsfleet Development Corporation: The new masterplan for Britain’s first Garden City in 100 years.
  • Government of Kuala Lumpur: Comprehensive regeneration and renewal of the Malaysian capital’s waterfront.
  • City of Denver: The award-winning revitalization of Denver Union Station into an important civic asset.

Partner

AECOM and the urban agenda

A committed citizen in many of the world’s great cities, AECOM has a growing and deepening set of partnerships with advocacy organizations, institutions and universities that lead to original thinking, research and idea development to help make cities better.

These include:

  • Urban SOS: AECOM’s annual student competition, which fosters creative hyper-disciplinary thinking among the emerging generation of design talent.
  • CDP Cities: AECOM is sponsor and partner to CDP on the ongoing definitive study of cities and climate change.
  • Harvard Graduate School of Design: AECOM funds and collaborates with the GSD on graduate studios related to urbanization in Asia.
  • 100 Resilient Cities, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation: AECOM is a partner with 100RC, having facilitated in workshops in a number of cities 100RC cities such as San Francisco, Christchurch, Rome, Quito and Mexico City.