The Climate-adaptive Design (CaD) studio is a course created by Cornell University Associate Professor Josh Cerra that links landscape architecture students with Hudson riverfront communities to explore design ideas for more climate resilient and connected waterfront areas. The CaD studio is an education and research effort made possible by a partnership between the Department of Landscape Architecture, the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, the NYS Water Resources Institute and host communities in the Hudson Valley. The CaD studio focused on the City of Poughkeepsie waterfront during the fall semester of 2021. Poughkeepsie is approximately 5 square miles in area, with a population of around 32,000 people. Poughkeepsie is steeped in history and is home to colleges, vibrant art and cultural institutions, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The population is diverse, with 40% of residents identifying as white, 34% African American, and over 19% Hispanic or Latinx, according to the 2020 U.S. census. Many residents of Poughkeepsie face financial hardship, with a poverty rate of 20%, which is well above the NYS average of 12.7%. Much of the city is identified as a potential environmental justice area by the NYS DEC. Low-income people, people of color, and other historically marginalized groups are often more exposed to climate-related impacts and lack the resources to recover quickly. The City of Poughkeepsie is working toward greater resilience for all residents. The city earned NYS Climate Smart Communities Bronze-level certification in 2021, has participated in a Community Resilience Building workshop, and is participating in the Hudson Valley Regional Council’s Climate Action Planning Institute. They completed an Open Space Plan, a Community Forestry Management Plan with an aim of increasing tree canopy throughout the city, and they are investing in the revitalization of city parks. The city is also updating their comprehensive plan and Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan.