Andrew Freear, Director of Rural Studio at Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, kicked off Groundswell’s 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow with an opening keynote address on resilience by design – the theme of this year’s Roadshow. Freear delivered expert insights on sustainable rural development and innovative design strategies for community resilience.
Based in Alabama’s Black Belt as a part of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, Rural Studio has completed more than 220 community-centered projects and educated over 1,200 students. Its mission, educating citizen architects, combines hands-on student learning with research on sustainable and healthy rural living through projects focused on housing and infrastructure.
The session includes a special introduction by Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore and a dynamic Q&A segment facilitated by Matthew Wesley Williams, Senior Vice President of Community Development, Marketing, and Communications at Groundswell.
Learn more about the Roadshow at https://ruralrenaissance.com/.