transformations
How do we navigate and shape the friction of a built environment in constant flux?
The built environment is never static, it exists in a constant state of shifting, adapting, eroding, all only to be reimagined anew. As we face unprecedented climatic, technological, and social shifts, we must consider deep, structural evolution. In the 2026-2027 academic year, we invite our community to interrogate transformations and to collectively think through the active processes by which spaces, materials, systems, and pedagogical practices are altered to meet the demands of a changing world. It is an opportunity to examine both overhauls and incremental changes, questioning not only what we are transforming, but for whom these changes are designed. Join us across our departments as we map these vectors of change and forge more resilient futures.
EXHIBITIONS
Aspiration and Accountability: Building the High-Rise After 9/11
On View: August 31–October 9, 2026
Opening Reception: September 10, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, Hazel & Robert H. Siegel Gallery
Curated by Kathleen Dunne, Michael Trencher, and Shannon Hayes
Building With Writing: Stan Allen X GA/LA/UD
On View: September 8–21, 2026
Closing Reception: September 21, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, Leo J. Kuhn Lobby
Curated by Michael Meredith and Andrew Holder
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
Grassroots Planning for a Just and Sustainable Future: A Retrospective of the Master’s in Urban and Community Planning Program, 2019-2026
On View: September 27–October 2, 2026
Opening Reception: Tuesday, October 29, 2026, 6 PM
Higgins Hall, Leo J. Kuhn Lobby
Presented by the Urban and Community Planning program, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment.
Jugoplastika: a plastics factory created for and run by women
Curated by Dragana Zorić
On View: October 12–October 23, 2026
Opening Reception: October 12, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, Leo J. Kuhn Lobby
The Unbearable Heaviness of the Light Frame
On View: October 19–November 20, 2026
Opening Reception: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, Hazel & Robert H. Siegel Gallery
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
The Floating City: Rome Between Land and Water
On View: November 2–November 11, 2026
Opening Reception: Monday, November 2, 2026
Higgins Hall, Leo J. Kuhn Lobby
Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future
On View: November 16–November 20, 2026
Opening Reception: Monday, November 16, 2026
Higgins Hall, Leo J. Kuhn Lobby
Curated by Dr. Anthony Mirando and Dr. Lameck Onsarigo
Presented by the Construction Management Program.
Lectures and Events
AUG 26 | Table Issue 1 Book Launch
Iman Fayyad
Kyle Miller
Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 6:15 PMHiggins Hall, HHN-304
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
MONDAYS | Made in New York
Lecture series
Occasional Monday Evenings
Presented by the MS in Architecture and MS in Urban Design Programs.
SEPT 3 | Not Your Typical AI Talk
Jean Pouget-Abadie
Thursday, September 3, 2026, 6:15 PMHiggins Hall, HHN-304
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
SEPT 10 | Aspiration and Accountability: a study in further criteria for the next iterations in High Rise Design
Kathleen Dunne
Erica AlonzoThursday, September 10, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
SEPT 20 | Energetic Clean Energy Board Game Night
Isil Akgul
Summer Sandoval
Sunday, September 20, 2026, 11 AM–2 PMPratt Manhattan Center, 144 West 14th Street, Rm. 201, New York, NY
Presented by the Sustainable Environmental Systems Program, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, as part of NYC Climate Week.
SEPT 21 | Big Problems vs Bigger Solutions: Data Centers & the Clean Energy Transition
Ankita Nalavade
Summer Sandoval
Monday, September 21, 2026, 4–6 PM
Pratt Manhattan Center, 144 West 14th Street, Rm. 201, New York, NY
Presented by the Sustainable Environmental Systems Program, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, and LEAP, as part of NYC Climate Week.
SEPT 21 | Pratt Sessions: Stan Allen
Monday, September 21, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
SEPT 24 | Are AI Datacenters a Threat to our Clean Energy Future? Local and Global Perspectives
Summer Sandoval
Martha Molfetas
Moderated by Jen Hung
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 2:30–4 PM
Pratt Manhattan Center, 144 West 14th Street, Rm. 201, New York, NY
Presented by the Sustainable Environmental Systems program, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, as part of NYC Climate Week.
SEPT 24 | IA: Island(ing) Adaptations – Water Loops
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:30–5 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Domino Sugar Factory Water Reuse System
Guided Tour
5:30-6:30 PM
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
SEPT 26 | Glossary: New Terms for Construction
A book launch and talk by SalazarSequeroMedina
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 6 PM
Head Hi 146 Flushing Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Presented by Undergraduate Architecture.
OCT 1 | Pratt Sessions: Lucia Allais
Thursday, October 1, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, HHN-304
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
OCT 6 | Scrappy Methods for Landscape Architecture
Panel and Book Launch
Mariel Collard Arias
Mark Heller
MJ Sieira
Mitesh Dixit
Fedah Taqi
James Westcott
Anjali BrittoTuesday, October 6, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall, HHN 304
Presented by the Master in Landscape Architecture program.
OCT 8 | Wade and Leta: Stepping Stones
Wade Jeffree
Leta SobierajskiThursday, October 8, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Undergraduate Architecture.
OCT 19 | Jugoplastika: a plastics factory created for and run by women
Dragana Zorić
Mersiha VeledarMonday, October 19, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
OCT 20 | Pratt Sessions: Farshid Moussavi
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design.
OCT 22 | William Horgan
From Industry to Ecology: Towards Regenerative Design
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Undergraduate Architecture.
OCT 29 | Charles Waldheim
Landscapes for Adaptation: Evidence from China in the Work of Kongjian Yu
In conversation with Rosetta S. Elkin
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Undergraduate Architecture.
NOV 4 | Claying Architecture
A book launch and symposium on Making Machine and Material Kin
Shelby Doyle
Frank Melendez
Jonathan A. Scelsa
Kelley Van Dyck Murphy
Moderated by Lola Ben-AlonWednesday, November 4, 2026, 6 PM
Center for Architecture 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY
NOV 5 | Kotchakorn Voraakhom
Fluid Adaptation: Redesigning the Porous City in an Age of Extremes
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6 PM
Higgins Hall, HHN-304
Presented by the Master of Landscape Architecture program.
NOV 9 | Hayley Eber: Digesting What Matters
Thursday, November 9, 2026, 6:15 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Presented by Undergraduate Architecture.
NOV 16 & 19 | Managing Mass Timber: From Forest to Future
Dr. Anthony Mirando
Dr. Lameck OnsarigoMonday, November 16, 2026, 6:30–8 PM
Higgins Hall Auditorium
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:30–7:30 PM
Pratt Manhattan Center
144 West 14th Street, Room 201, New York, NY
Sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board and Think Wood. Presented by the Construction Management program.
NOV 20 | LAND BACK as Indigenous Theory and Activist Practices
Fernando Luiz Lara
Jacob Boatman
Christian NakaradoFriday, November 20, 2026, 12:30–2 PM
Higgins Hall, HHN-304
Presented by the Master of Landscape Architecture Program, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Office of Engagement, Culture and Community.