Anthony J. Abbate

Anthony J. Abbate is a Professor at the School of Architecture, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he has served since 1996. He previously held leadership roles as Director of the School of Architecture (2017–2019) and Associate Provost for the Broward Campuses (2011–2020). His work focuses on subtropical architecture, sustainable urban design, and community engagement. He founded and leads the MetroLAB, a collaborative initiative addressing community design challenges in Broward County.

Education:

• Master of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis
• Bachelor of Science in Architecture, The Catholic University of America
• Certificates from Harvard GSD in AI/ML in Built Environments, Real Estate Analysis, ADA Compliance, and Design Language

Research interests include subtropical urbanism, sustainable construction materials, and the integration of design education with real-world practice. His publications explore community-driven design strategies, mid-century modern architecture, and tropical urban resilience. Notable works include Subtropical Sustainable (2008) and [Re]Imagining Primary Education (2024).

He has received 26 design excellence awards from the AIA and serves on multiple local and national boards, including the Broward County Historic Preservation Board and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Internationally, he has lectured in Australia, Mexico, and Colombia and co-chaired the 3rd International Subtropical Cities Conference (2011).

Advising and grants: While no explicit grants are listed, his MetroLAB initiative exemplifies sustained community-based design projects. He has advised graduate students through design studios focused on subtropical and sustainable challenges.

Labs/Teams: MetroLAB (Broward Community Design Collaborative) leads design action research to engage students in collaborative practice, emphasizing community-led solutions and urban resilience.