Amar Sawhney

Founder and CEO of Global Urban Sustainable Center (GUSC), Professor of Architecture, Building Construction & Interior Design at Miami-Dade College

 

With a distinguished career spanning over 50 years, Professor Sawhney has made significant contributions to the fields of architecture, building construction, and urban planning. He has taught at Miami-Dade College, Boston Architectural College, and Cornell University. An alumnus of Cornell University with a graduate focus on Urban Design and Planning, his work is centered on sustainability and the development of informal settlements across North America, India, and Latin America.

 

In 2016, Professor Sawhney secured a $10 million grant from the Department of Labor and an additional $5 million for workforce development programs at Miami-Dade College. He has been honored with two MDC Endowed Chairs and multiple fellowships from prestigious organizations, including the American Institute of Indian Studies and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. As a Fulbright Specialist in Urban Planning, he is currently leading a faculty development seminar in India and working with Alexandria University in Egypt to address rainwater management challenges.

 

Professor Sawhney’s passion for urban planning began in 1964 during his studies at Chandigarh College of Architecture. Influenced by Le Corbusier and guided by mentors such as Professor Colin Rowe and Oswald Mathias Ungers, his master’s thesis on new towns highlighted the connection between poor urban planning and poverty. His ongoing mission is to combat poverty through thoughtful urban design, with a focus on revitalizing underserved communities in Miami, such as Coconut Grove, Liberty City, Little Haiti, and Little Havana, as well as informal settlements in Indian cities like Lucknow, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana.

 

Throughout his career, Professor Sawhney has also enriched his students' learning experiences with studio programs across Europe.