Designing cities that rise to the challenge

As seen in:

“Architect, urban designer, and educator Stefan Al integrates sustainability into design practice to meet the practical challenges of contemporary cities.”

Contact Stefan

Books

Stefan Al has authored or edited nine books that confront the urgent questions facing modern cities—how to build at extreme density, achieve true sustainability, and create climate resilience. His work bridges academic rigor and real-world application, earning recognition from scholarly journals to mainstream media, and shaping how architects, planners, and policymakers approach urban transformation.

“A thoughtful inquiry into the new generations of skyscrapers"
—The New York Times

“A refreshingly grounded design approach”
—Journal of Planning Education and Research

”Convincingly reinforces the links between sustainable cities and economic performance”
—National Urban Design Awards

Silver Medal, Independent Publisher Book Awards

Projects

From skyline icons to climate prototypes, Stefan’s portfolio spans master-planned districts, high-rise towers and cultural buildings.
Highlights include design work on the 2,000-foot Canton Tower (while at Information Based Architecture) —briefly the world’s tallest—and mixed-use plans that knit housing, office, transit, and public space into one low-carbon urban fabric.

About

Stefan Al, PhD RA LEED is an architect, urban designer, and author focused on sustainable, people-centered buildings and cities. He directs the Urban Planning program at CUNY Hunter College and has advised planning agencies on high‑density development and climate resilience. His project experience includes design work on the 2000-feet tall Canton Tower. A TED Resident and Green Good Design laureate, his nine books—including Supertall —have appeared in the New York Times and on CNN.

Quick facts