Speaker Profile
Vishaan Chakrabarti is an architect, public thought leader, and the founder of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), a Manhattan-based design studio dedicated to building ecological, equitable, and joyous communities. He is the creative director for PAU’s growing portfolio of cultural, institutional, infrastructure, urban planning, and public space projects including Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar Refinery, Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Princeton’s Hobson College, New York’s Pennsylvania Station, Columbus’ InterOculus, Indianapolis’ Wave Bridge, Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Yards, and the FAA’s new sustainable air traffic control tower prototype. As former Manhattan Planning Director after the events of 9/11, he helped to save the High Line, extend the #7 subway line, advance Moynihan Station, rebuild the East River Waterfront, expand Columbia University’s campus, and reincorporate the street grid at the World Trade Center. He taught at Columbia for over a decade and served as the Dean of the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley.
Chakrabarti is the author of the highly acclaimed book A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America (Metropolis Books, 2013) and The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing for Nature, Culture, and Joy (2024, Princeton University Press). He speaks widely on matters of urban architecture and the need to design cities to foster flourishing communities. You can see him speaking about his work and vision for TED here and here.
