Guest Speakers
- Carmelo Ignaccolo, PhD (Assistant Professor at Rutgers University)
- Mario Ulloa (Landscape Designer at Hart Howerton)
- Elif Merve Ünsal (Designer at Perkins & Will)

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 this lecture will introduce how to build an urban design framework and set of principles, strengthening foundations in visualization and representation, climate resilience, and clear storytelling.

The guests will present a wide range of case studies from India and beyond, sharing analytical frameworks, representation methods, and interdisciplinary coordination approaches to inspire the audience.

In-person | Free | Open to the Public

Carmelo Ignaccolo
Dr. Carmelo Ignaccolo is an urban designer, city planner, and critical spatial technologist. He is an Assistant Professor of Urban Design at Rutgers’ E. J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, where he co-coordinates the Urban Design and Development/Redevelopment concentrations in the Master of City and Regional Planning program. His research and teaching bridge urban design and planning scholarship through historical inquiry, spatial analytics, and community-based methods, with a focus on inequality, heritage, and environmental vulnerabilities. Carmelo holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning, Design, and Technology from MIT, where his dissertation received the MIT DUSP Outstanding Dissertation Award and was supported by two year-long Harvard fellowships. He earned his Master of Science in Urban Design as a Fulbright Fellow from Columbia University GSAPP, where he received the GSAPP Prize for Excellence in Urban Design. Carmelo is a licensed architect and civil engineer in Europe.

Mario Ulloa
Mario Ulloa is a Landscape Designer at Hart Howerton in New York City. His recent work on projects like Cabot St. Lucia and a landmark historic resort in South Florida demonstrates his ability to adapt to different contexts while developing cohesive and innovative landscape solutions.Previously, he worked at AECOM on projects in major cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York. He played a pivotal role in leading the design of high-profile resiliency projects like the North Battery Park City Resiliency Project and 800 Monroe Resiliency Park and developing award-winning urban design studies like Sunset Park: Big Ideas. He is also a licensed Architect in Ecuador, where he collaborated with CA+SA on various residential and commercial projects.In addition to his professional practice, Mario is deeply engaged in education and community outreach. He has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Columbia GSAPP’s Urban Design Program and has also been a visiting lecturer and design critic at universities in Ecuador, India, Peru, and the United States, where he shares insights on urban design and the future of cities. Mario also co-founded Creative Roots-Ecuador, a non-profit organization that focused on tactical urbanism projects, earning recognition from the local government for its innovative initiatives and community impact.Mario holds a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Azuay in Ecuador. With experience in architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture, Mario continues to shape resilient and sustainable environments through a holistic and integrated design approach.

Elif Merve Unsal
Elif Unsal is a designer at Perkins & Will’s New York office, where she works on large-scale science + technology and workplace projects with an emphasis on urban impact and deliverable design. Her recent work includes the Brooklyn Army Terminal transformation, supporting the BATWorks Climate Innovation Hub in partnership with NYCEDC.Previously, Elif contributed to planning and competition work including the Rockaway Beach rezoning efforts following Hurricane Sandy, the JET Dubai masterplan, and proposals to transform Park Avenue’s underused medians into more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly public space. She is also interested in the intersection of design and technology, actively exploring and developing emerging tools to translate complex requirements into clear design frameworks and strengthen project communication.In addition to her professional practice, Elif has contributed to the broader design community as a country editor for the World Architecture Community. She has been a guest critic and reviewer at design schools including Columbia GSAPP, City Tech, and Pratt Institute. Elif holds her master’s degree from Columbia University and Bachelor of Architecture degree from Turkey and continues to explore the intersection of design, technology, and resilient urban environments through a holistic, integrated design approach.

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