Michael W. Mehaffy

Michael W. Mehaffy is a Lecturer at the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University. He is also Executive Director of the Sustasis Foundation, an urban sustainability think tank in Portland, Oregon, and President of Structura Naturalis Inc., a strategic development consultancy. His work spans urban morphology, self-organization, and sustainable urbanism, with a focus on public space and biophilic design.

• Ph.D., Architecture (Urban Planning and Design), Delft University of Technology
• Graduate studies in Architecture, Public Policy, and Philosophy of Science at UC Berkeley and University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Mehaffy's research bridges urban design, computer science, and philosophy, emphasizing patterns of growth, GIS-based assessment, and the biological basis of resilient cities. His publications analyze transit-oriented developments like Orenco Station and critique modernist urbanism through the lens of Christopher Alexander's theories.

Recent articles explore smart cities, urban stigmergy, and AI-driven aesthetics, reflecting his interest in reconciling technological advancement with human-centric urbanism. He has contributed to the New Urban Agenda and evaluated the neuroscience of architecture and biophilic design.

Dr. Mehaffy's teaching focuses on Sustainable Urbanism, offering courses at ASU since 2011. He has held appointments at ten graduate institutions across eight countries and serves on editorial boards for urban design journals.

His projects include Orenco Station, a pioneering transit-oriented development in Portland, Oregon, and leadership in the International Making Cities Livable conference series. He has consulted for UN-Habitat and governments worldwide on urban sustainability frameworks.