This kick-off book compiles investigations surrounding the recent partnership with tech giant Microsoft and the City of Syracuse in their ambition of creating a "smart city tech hub" in Southside Syracuse. Students worked in groups over the course of a week to rapidly gather and organize information surrounding Microsoft, Smart Cities, the Syracuse Surge Initiative, Demographics in Syracuse, and Building Inventory in the defined site by the public-private partnership. Moving forward, each student will work independently in furthering their own research and interests, and propose a project that synthesizes their analysis and design intent, either with or against the 'smart city' discourse. Contributors: Mario Benedict, Yu Jie Chen, David Csabai, Suchismita Gangopadhyay, Russell Harman, Ashlyn La Mothe, Miao Luo, Abigail McCarthy, Fatima B N A Malek Mohammad, Meejan Patel, Isabel Sierra, Thitaree Suqiwatchai, Chu Han Tarn, Chichen Wei
