FLORIDA TOUR #1 Impressions from ALADlabs' visit to the School of Architecture and Community design at University of South Florida
Stephan Jung of ALADlabs was recently invited by the School of Architecture and Community Design at the University of South Florida for a visit and guest lecture. The energizing visit provided an opportunity for intensive discussions about the current state of architectural practice, pedagogy, and the evolving role of research in architectural design.
Touchdown.
The impact of a car-based environment—ranging from the territorial scale to urban quarters and even university campuses—is striking. Trent Green, director of the Florida Lab at the School, highlighted the consequences of an almost nonexistent public transportation system in a state larger than England (Florida: 170,310 km² vs. England: ~130,279 km²). This lack of infrastructure significantly shapes both urban form and lifestyle.
Old Tampa Bay.
To illustrate: Florida has approximately 4,500 km of railway tracks. In contrast, Great Britain has around 15,846 km of railways (as of March 2023), with England alone likely accounting for 70–80% of that total—well over 11,000 km and possibly up to 14,000 km. The contrast underscores the spatial and cultural implications of transit infrastructure in shaping contemporary life.
Upon arrival at Tampa International Airport (TPA), and until departure, your entire spatial experience is shaped by ride-hailing infrastructure—fully Uberized. In our case, however, the rhythm of Uber rides was pleasantly interrupted by trips with generous faculty members who showed us around the campus and the city of Tampa.
*