Climate Futures

Climate Futures amplifies architectural, design and planning contributions to mutual flourishing in the built environment.

We promote climate centered research, creative practice and education at Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning and facilitate connectivity within the University of Michigan and beyond.

Expertise and areas of active inquiry at Taubman College include:

low carbon building assemblies and materials,
computational design and fabrication processes,
high-performance buildings and renewable energy,
extreme heat and water management in urban contexts,
equitable transportation, energy, and food systems,
urban transformation, adaptive reuse and degrowth.

VertEco Green: 3D Printing Bioreceptive Architecture

Climate Futures provides support to faculty who engage in climate-focused research and creative practice or are initiating new work in this realm. We sponsor activities and programming to foster connectivity across faculty, support early ideation, and facilitate post-grant dissemination. We recognize the influence that architecture, urban planning, urban design, and urban technology have on the quality of lived experiences in our built environment as a significant opportunity to model pathways toward reduced emissions, improved environmental quality, and diversified ecosystem function. See examples of faculty work advancing healthy, equitable, and resilient climate futures.

Climate Futures brings visibility to curricular climate education activities and coursework. We facilitate student access to courses, workshops, and consultants, and sponsor activities that build connectivity of shared interests across Taubman College’s degree programs. We are excited to help our students prepare for professional and civic leadership roles that will positively shape collective climate futures. See examples of student work exploring pathways to healthy, equitable, resilient climate futures.

Workshopping Michigan Climate Futures

Plants are Technology for Planetary Intelligence

Climate Futures Symposium

Climate Futures Exhibition

Connect

To explore partnership opportunities and connect with ongoing efforts, please reach out to climatefutures@umich.edu.

Climate Futures is supported by Taubman College and the University of Michigan Office of the Provost.