IA: Island(ing) Adaptations – Water Loops

September 24, 2026 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Higgins Hall Auditorium, 61 St. James Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238

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A scenic view of a sunset over a city skyline, with buildings silhouetted against a colorful sky of pink and orange hues. The foreground features a river reflecting the sky's colors. Text on the left side announces an event titled "Island(ing) Adaptations Water Loops," including details about the date, time, and location at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture, with additional information about a guided tour and reception.

Guided Tour of Domino Sugar Factory 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Reception 6:30pm-8:00pm (Limited Space/Register with the Panel)

IA is an intentional inversion of AI to suggest the intelligence of island logics, testing and piloting solutions that can be applied beyond island communities. Islands comprise 10% of the global population, 20% of global GDP, and 50% of the fastest-growing urban areas, while also being among the most water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions on the planet. They require social, urban, and economic water loops which can stand as benchmarks for more inland areas increasingly facing related, compound issues.

The Circular Water Economy provides a framework for moving beyond water reuse to reduce demand, recover resources, regenerate natural systems, and create more resilient communities. Water reuse in archipelagos and their urban areas is critical to designing with, not only for, nature-based systems in industry, landscapes, and buildings. The panel brings together architecture, economics, engineering, community-based organizations, and policy to explore how circular water strategies are shaping resilient architectural and urban environments like NYC and beyond. Each panelist is working with water and various forms of reuse and resource recovery that impact their surrounding communities and built environments.

Limited spots are available for attendees to join a guided tour of Domino Sugar Factory (master planned by SHoP Architects/Field Operations; water reuse system designed by Natural Systems Utilities) in nearby Williamsburg with a reception to follow.

Main Program

  • 3:00pm-3:30pm Arrival Higgins Hall (Pratt Institute)
  • 3:30pm-5:00pm Panel and Discussion
  • 5:00pm-5:30pm Self-Transit to Domino Sugar Factory (Registered Participants Only)
  • 5:30pm-6:30pm Guided Tours Domino Sugar Factory (Space is Limited)
  • 6:30pm-8:00pm Reception Cafe Susanne (Space is Limited)

Panelists:

Pinar Balci – Senior Advisor; NYC Department of Environmental Protection 
Marcio Da Silva Jose – CEO; Aquapolo Ambiental S.A.
Sean Gallagher – Principal + Director of Sustainable Design; Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Julie Raskin – President and CEO; Waterfront Alliance 
Chris Sharples – Founding Principal; SHoP Architects
Zach Gallagher – CEO; Natural Systems Utilities

Panel Remarks:

Andrew Holder – Chair of Graduate Architecture/Landscape Architecture/Urban Design; School of Architecture Pratt Institute 
Fidan Karimova – Senior Director Circular Water Economy; Water Environment Federation

Tour Guide/Remarks:

Zach Gallagher – CEO; Natural Systems Utilities
Elifmina Mizrahi – Associate Capital Project Manager; New York Climate Exchange

Moderator/Closing Remarks:

David Erdman – Professor Graduate Architecture/Landscape Architecture/Urban Design, School of Architecture;  Academic Lead Archipelagos Hub, Center for Environmental Research; Pratt Institute

Co-Hosts –
Pratt Institute School of Architecture GA/LA/UD
The New York Climate Exchange

Partners:
Water Environment Federation

Sponsors:
Natural Systems Utilities/Saur

This is an Official NYC Climate Week Event