Buildings in a city.

Fostering healthy, prosperous future cities and communities.​

The University of Waterloo’s Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN brings together a global network of interdisciplinary researchers from a variety of fields, industry leaders, practitioners, students and community members to develop new tools and approaches for building healthy, prosperous and sustainable cities.

Focusing our efforts on four core areas →

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Waterloo News

Man and woman crossing busy street in Toronto
  • Campus

Waterloo’s leading voices behind future cities

Two researchers share their expertise for building better cities for humanity
  • Environment

Teens benefit from "forest bathing" – even in cities

First-of-its-kind study quantifies the impact urban and architectural design features have on adolescent mental health
  • Engineering

Making public transportation more equitable and sustainable

Pantonium’s on-demand transit model is helping cities accelerate their energy transition
  • Campus

Six crises, countless solutions: Roadmaps to a better future

The “Solving the crisis” series highlights how Waterloo's research community is exploring and proposing answers to major global problems

Connect, collaborate, and create impact

Future Cities Institute Director Leia Minaker speaking to students
Leia at the Sprint.
i-Capstone students at a table
Future Cities Institute co-founder Frank Cairo speaking to students
Conversation during the i-Capstone event
Leia at the Sprint.
Future Cities Institute co-founder Frank Cairo speaking to students
Students listening to the i-Capstone event speakers
A poster of the i-Capstone event
Future Cities Institute Director Leia Minaker speaking to students
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Leia at the Sprint.
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i-Capstone students at a table
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Future Cities Institute co-founder Frank Cairo speaking to students
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Conversation during the i-Capstone event
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Leia at the Sprint.
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Future Cities Institute co-founder Frank Cairo speaking to students
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Students listening to the i-Capstone event speakers
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A poster of the i-Capstone event
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"We cannot predict the future, but we are confident about our ability to help shape it for future generations."

Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo​.

Connect with the Future Cities Institute

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