Urban environments rely on healthy ecosystem services to thrive, such as clean air, clean water, and temperature regulation. Because 56% of the world’s population now live in urban environments, urban design and development must contribute to the health, well-being, and sustainability of the ecosystems they impact. As of September 2023, humanity has crossed six of the nine biophysical boundaries that allow life to thrive on Earth. According to the Nature-Positive movement (which consists of 27 of the world’s largest nature conservation organizations, institutes, businesses, and finance coalitions), “connecting the nature-positive goal to equity and carbon neutrality recognizes the fundamental connection between human development and the health of nature and the deep connection between nature, climate, and Earth system stability.” In the face of biodiversity loss, oceanic acidification, and climate change, how can we optimize urban development for life in the coming decades and support local ecosystems within our built environment? The Spokane University District (UD)—an innovative life sciences and energy district–aims to pioneer both nature-based infrastructure and an urban development framework that supports the long-term health of the district’s ecosystem, inhabitants and ecological limits.