As initiator of the living shoreline plan for The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, I assembled a team of experts to provide engineering and technical support for this downtown Tampa riverfront proposal. Partnering with Tom Ries, founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute (ecosphererestorationinstitute.org) we designed seawall enhancements for the Straz’s 700 foot length of riverwalk waterfront on the Hillsborough River in the heart of downtown Tampa FL. In addition to increasing habitat values, cleansing the water column, and reducing wave energy along the river, the Straz Center’s Living Shoreline Initiative will also provide a significant continuation of environmentally restored, nature-based riverfront in this highly urbanized coastal city.