Florida International University’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (FIU CARTA) proudly announces the participation of Prof. Dr. Thomas Spiegelhalter in the Fifteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment, held April 10–11, 2025, at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin), Germany.
Themed “Sharing Practices & Sustainable Urban Fabrics,” this prestigious annual gathering brings together global thought leaders in architecture, urbanism, and the environmental sciences to address pressing challenges in the built environment through cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Representing FIU on the international stage, Prof. Spiegelhalter delivered a featured lecture titled “From Blueprint to Footprint: Envisioning Carbon-Positive, Resilient Coastal Urban Environments Through Collaborative Design Practices.” His presentation offered a forward-thinking exploration of how carbon-positive, regenerative urbanism can be realized in vulnerable coastal regions through integrated design strategies, advanced digital tools, and multi-stakeholder participation. Drawing from built and research-based projects in subtropical and tropical zones, Spiegelhalter outlined actionable frameworks for creating adaptive infrastructures that respond to sea level rise, climate shocks, and social inequality.
As part of the conference’s thematic structure, his lecture intersected with all four core themes: Design of Space and Place, Constructing the Environment, Environmental Impacts, and Social Impacts. Spiegelhalter’s work emphasized the value of AI-driven parametric design, life-cycle carbon benchmarking, and collaborative governance models in reshaping coastal urban environments into net-positive, inclusive, and culturally resilient spaces. His insights built upon the conference’s focus on transitioning from compartmentalized planning to dynamic, shared urban systems that foster ecological balance and social cohesion.
The conference welcomed a diverse assembly of academics, architects, planners, and civic leaders from around the world, featuring plenary presentations by renowned scholars such as Prof. Doina Petrescu (University of Sheffield, UK), Prof. Carsten Keller (University of Kassel), Associate Prof. Fabian Neuhaus from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) at the University of Calgary, Prof. Florian Koch from Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin), Prof. Dr. Marie-Hélène Contal from Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris, France, Prof. Dr. Gernot Grabher from HafenCity University Hamburg, Germany, Prof. Dr. Christa Reicher from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, Dr. Karel Krejci, and Dr. Rosalie Gillett from the School of Architecture at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. Dr. Georgina Drew, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and Dr. Ines Tolic, Associate Professor of the History of Architecture at the University of Bologna, Italy, were also featured. Dr. Ana Sugranyes, a housing rights advocate and author from Santiago de Chile, known for her keynote work on informal urbanism and community-led design, contributed significantly to the discussions.
Reflecting on his participation, Prof. Spiegelhalter noted, “It was an inspiring opportunity to share interdisciplinary solutions for future-proofing our cities. By embracing AI-enabled workflows and bio-integrated design, we can catalyze transitions toward a truly regenerative and inclusive built environment.”
His lecture further solidified FIU CARTA’s role as a leader in international research and education on climate-resilient design. It demonstrated the college’s continued commitment to merging academic inquiry with real-world applications that shape sustainable futures through innovation, equity, and cross-border collaboration.
