Global Perspectives on Urban Futures

Apeejay Institute of Technology – School of Architecture & Planning (AIT-SAP), Greater Noida recently hosted Prof. (Dr.) Jay Mittal from Auburn University, USA, for a three-day academic visit. This visit marked a significant step in strengthening global academic collaboration and exposing students to international perspectives on urban planning and design.

As part of his visit, an expert lecture titled “Rethinking the Future of Indian Cities: Lessons from the USA – Repurposing Public Infrastructure via Design and Planning” was organised. The lecture was held under the umbrella of the upcoming seminar “Empowering Youth Voices: Rethinking the Future of Indian Cities.” Prof. Mittal interacted extensively with students, discussing studio works on display and encouraging critical thinking around contemporary urban challenges.

During the lecture, Prof. Mittal emphasised the evolving role of planners in rapidly transforming urban contexts. He urged students to move beyond conventional land-use planning and adopt innovative, strategic, and flexible approaches capable of responding to changing economic, social, political, and market dynamics. A key focus of the session was the responsibility of planners to guide development responsibly, integrate participatory planning processes, and position cities to attract investment while remaining inclusive.

Prof. Mittal presented compelling international case studies, beginning with the repurposing of Denver Airport infrastructure, highlighting how underutilised public assets can be reimagined through long-term vision, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. This was followed by an in-depth discussion on the High Line Park in Manhattan, a globally acclaimed example of adaptive reuse where an abandoned freight rail line was transformed into a vibrant public open space. The project illustrated the power of design-led planning in creating socially inclusive and economically impactful urban spaces.

Drawing parallels with Indian cities, Prof. Mittal reflected on challenges such as rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, and governance, encouraging students to apply global planning principles while remaining sensitive to local socio-economic and spatial contexts. The lecture underscored the importance of reuse and sustainability in shaping resilient cities for the future.

As part of the three-day event, a site visit was organised with senior Urban Design studio students to study urban villages. The day-long interaction involved fruitful discussions on urban development in India, allowing students to exchange ideas and gain practical insights from Prof. Mittal’s international experience.

The academic exchange was rooted in prior scholarly collaboration. Prof. Anand Khatri and Prof. Jay Mittal recently co-authored a chapter titled “The Non-Linear Spatial Grid of Urban Villages in Small and Medium-Sized Towns,” published in the Scopus-indexed Routledge Handbook of Resilient Urban Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Cities (November 2025). Prof. Khatri also authored a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of University-Community Partnerships in Planning Education (2023), edited by Megan E. Heim LaFrombois and Jay Mittal.

Reflecting on the discussions, Prof. Anand Khatri noted that Indian towns are abandoning historic cores in favour of new settlements, stressing that “newness comes from reviving what is old and not plundering agricultural lands.” Faculty members Ar. Binita Bose, Ar. Gunjan Tyagi, and Ar. Batul Zainab highlighted that students learned how large infrastructures fail and that revival projects often take decades. Ar. Rochika Sharma and Ar. Sumi Agrawal emphasised the importance of public participation, stating that citizens must actively engage in shaping their cities.

The visit proved to be an enriching academic experience, reinforcing AITSAP’s commitment to global exposure, participatory planning, and future-ready urban education.