Stefan Al is committed to teach the next generation of architects, urban designers, and urban planners.
Currently, he serves on the faculty of Hunter College of the City of New York, where he directs the urban planning program. He continues to be affiliated with Virginia Tech, where he was a tenured professor and was awarded the Outstanding Creativity Award and the New Faculty Teaching Award. In addition, he has served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Pratt Institute, Tongji University, and the University of Hong Kong, where he was the director of the urban design program.
Besides teaching students, he has trained professionals to design for environmental sustainability as a consultant for Urban Green, a non-profit dedicated to transform New York City buildings for a sustainable future in response to climate change. At Coursera, he co-taught an online course, Designing Cities, with more than 70,000 students. In addition, he has contributed several educational videos to TED ED, the education branch of TED, some of which have received more than 3 million views.
Studio Teaching
A combination of undergrad and graduate students at Virginia Tech designed and fabricated full scale mock-ups of a Greenhouse that was to showcase a multitude of innovative materials and building techniques including polycarbonate, wood fabric, ETFE & smart louvers, printed clay, a green roof, and solar panels. The studio, led by faculty members Stefan Al and Kay Edge, was intended to encourage students to combine sustainability, functionality, and beautiful architecture into a single project.
TED ED
Stefan also serves as an educator at TED ED, the education branch of TED. His latest video, How can trees keep our cities alive?, promotes green infrastructure. Another video, Will there ever be a mile-high skyscraper?, explains engineering concepts to the general public. His most popular video, Why isn’t the Netherlands underwater?, about flood management strategies, has been viewed more than three million times.
Could We Build a Wooden Skyscraper?
Towering 85 meters above the Norwegian countryside, Mjøstårnet is the world's tallest wooden building, made almost entirely from the trees of neighboring forests. But as recently as the end of the 20th century, engineers thought it was impossible to build a wooden building over 6 stories tall. So how do wooden structures like this compare to steel and concrete skyscrapers? Stefan Al investigates. [Directed by Franz Palomares, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa].
The Engineering Behind the World’s Tallest Towers
In 1956, architect Frank Lloyd Wright proposed a mile-high skyscraper, a building five times as high as the Eiffel Tower. While this massive tower was never built, today bigger and bigger buildings are going up around the world. How did these impossible ideas turn into architectural opportunities? Stefan Al explains how these megastructures became fixtures of our city skylines. Stefan Al dives into this marvel of engineering. [Directed by TED-Ed, narrated by Addison Anderson].
The World’s Largest Flood Protection System
In January 1953, a tidal surge shook the North Sea. The titanic waves flooded the Dutch coastline, killing almost 2,000 people. 54 years later, a similar storm threatened the region. But this time, they were ready. This was thanks to a massive, interlocking system known as the Delta Works— the most sophisticated flood prevention project in the world. [Directed by JodyPrody, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by André Aires / AIM Creative Studios].
Online Teaching
Together with colleagues Gary Hack and Jonathan Barnett, Stefan co-designed and co-taught an online course at the University of Pennsylvania, Designing Cities. More than 70,000 people signed up. (The course is no longer running.)
Why Cities Need Trees
By 2050, it's estimated that over 65% of the world will be living in cities. We may think of nature as being unconnected to our urban spaces, but trees have always been an essential part of successful cities. Humanity has been uncovering these arboreal benefits since the creation of our first cities thousands of years ago. So what makes trees so important to a city's survival? Stefan Al explains. Directed by Mette Ilene Holmriis, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Bamm Bamm Wolfgang].
Stefan Al has taught at universities including Hunter College at the City of New York, Virginia Tech, Columbia University, Pratt Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Hong Kong, and UC Berkeley.
