Stefan Al is an architect and urban designer whose diverse experience encompasses sustainable design, high-rise architecture, and climate adaptation. Currently, he serves as an associate professor of urban policy and planning at Hunter College while running his own emerging design practice, Stefan Al Architects, which specializes in sustainable design solutions.Early in his career, Stefan worked on the competition and design development of the 600-meter tall Canton Tower, briefly the world's tallest tower. As a senior associate principal at KPF, he has contributed to mixed-use & transit-oriented developments and high-rise towers across the globe. Beyond his work as a designer, he has published eight books that explore the pressing design challenges and opportunities faced by contemporary cities, such as climate change adaptation, urban density, and sustainable transit-oriented development. They have been widely acclaimed including by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Architectural Record, The Times and NPR. "The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream" was honored with the Independent Publisher Book Award, while "Beyond Mobility: Planning Cities for People and Places," which he co-authored, received the National Urban Design Award.Stefan's expertise in the fields of architecture, urban design, and sustainability is sought after by various professional organizations and government entities. He has served as an advisor to the Hong Kong government and was a founding member of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design. He has been invited to speak at institutions such as the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Smithsonian Institute, Urban Land Institute, Urban Green Council, Asia Society, and TED, where he was selected to be a TED Resident. His work has been featured on CNN, CBS, Science Channel, and NPR, and several of his TED videos have garnered over two million views. Stefan's work has also been translated into multiple languages.Over the years, Stefan has held professorial positions at Virginia Tech, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Pratt Institute, and the University of Hong Kong, where he has mentored the next generation of architects and urban planners.Stefan is a registered architect in New York state and the Netherlands and a LEED accredited professional. He has a PhD in city and regional planning from UC Berkeley, and Master degrees in architecture from University College London and Delft University of Technology, with honors.