Civano New Town

Tucson, Arizona

Client: Community of Civano

A model for green design in arid climates, Civano New Town is sited on 1,100 acres in the Sonoran Desert. The design calls for over 2,800 households and 1.3 million square feet of commercial space. In a dramatic departure from typical development in the region, the plan includes strategies for conservation, habitat restoration, and natural resource stewardship.

Building practices in Civano are sustainable and practical responses to the desert heat, including covered patios, shaded courtyards, deeply recessed openings, wind towers, and rammed earth and adobe construction. A mix of uses and a network of pedestrian-friendly blocks and livable streets fosters strong community connections while decreasing reliance on the automobile. Respect for natural landscape, drainage and erosion patterns, along with the needs of indigenous plants and animals, conserves natural resources while acting as guiding principles for the design.