Resilience Beyond Control: Governance, Phasing, and Operation

Spitzer School of Architecture
141 Convent Avenue
Room 128
In-person | Free | Open to the Public

The seminar runs in tandem with the core Urban Design Lab studio, which is focused on the Vishwamitri River in India, near the city of Vadodara. The studio is aligned with the Designing Resilience Global (DRG) 2026 framework, and the lecture will focus on the "connective tissue" that makes urban environments actually function over time, and bridging the gap between visionary master planning and the practical realities of city and building. The lecture will also focus on the three pillars that determine whether a project succeeds or stalls: Governance, Phasing, and Operation.

Sushmita Shekar is an urban designer, policy advocate and architect committed to advancing urban development that prioritizes social and environmental capital. Through her work at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and Sangath she has been on the forefront of working with local and national governments in five plus countries including US, China, Russia, India and Middle East Regions to promote sustainable urban and economic growth. Recognizing her dedication for sustainable development, she was honored as one of the Future 100 designers in the US and Canada region by Metropolis Magazine.

Sushmita is a Board member of Social Capital Initiatives and Consultative Delegate to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), where she contributes to international policy and urban strategy through statements at various UN convenings like UN ECOSOC Youth Forum and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Sushmita is also a part of the NGO Committee on Sustainable development Urban cluster where she supports programs around the UN2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Sushmita co-authored "Livable Cities of the Future" for the G20 Summit, sharing her commitment to shaping cities for future generations and emphasizing youth engagement in urban decision-making processes. As a Fellow of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a Research Affiliate at the Columbia Centre for Sustainable Urban Development, Sushmita remains deeply engaged in promoting youth involvement and advancing the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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