Charlston Britton

Charlston Britton is an architect, researcher, and adaptive reuse advocate from New Orleans, whose work is deeply influenced by the city’s rich cultural heritage and the lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina. As a recipient of the RISD Presidential Fellowship, Charlston is currently pursuing a Master of Design in Adaptive Reuse, with a concentration in Nature-Culture-Sustainability Studies (NCSS). His primary aim is to deepen his expertise in adaptation, reuse, and sustainability through craft-driven research and spatial interventions, contributing to more just and resilient built environments. He views the act of transforming existing, underutilized spaces as a potential tool for place-based resistance and community empowerment.

As an undergraduate architecture major, he was named an LSU Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar, where he formalized his research in public interest design and storm shelter infrastructure. He has also been a volunteer designer for community-led initiatives with the Neighborhood Design Center in Baltimore. Ultimately, he views design as a mechanism to shift public expectations, and perceptions, regarding potential solutions for the ongoing climate crisis.