Sidara and MIT Collaboration

Our Collaboration

In 2018, Sidara, under CEO Talal Shair, began a collaboration with the Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) with the goal of advancing the fields of architecture and urban planning. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to engage in groundbreaking research with the potential to influence urban development globally.

This collaboration with MIT symbolizes a shared vision for advancing architecture and urban planning through science, innovation, and big data analysis.

Sidara Urban Research Seed Fund

Sidara's Urban Seed Fund is aimed at advancing the fields of architecture and urban planning. Drawing on Sidara's expertise in engineering and project management and MIT's research capabilities, Sidara’s ambition is to invest in research that will help to create more sustainable and liveable cities, with the opportunity to influence urban development globally.

Since its inception, the Sidara Urban Seed Fund has championed two funding cycles, spanning 2019-2021 and 2021-2023, supporting a total of eight multi-year research initiatives.

Round 3 Projects

Funding Cycle – 2025 to 2027

The twin challenges of climate change and rapidly evolving behaviors are placing increasing pressure on cities around the world. As a direct result, questions are being asked as to the role that the urban environment can play in either improving or limiting quality of life – and what needs to be done.

Sidara’s third round of funding looks to find answers to these questions. Five projects have been selected that look at solving these challenges through the lens of technology. Over one- and two-year periods, the projects will assess how innovative design methods through digital technologies and big data can reimagine cities.

Beyond Prompts (MIT CSAIL + Architecture)

Exploring how AI can better support urban designers by going beyond text prompts, using real-world images and plans to generate more intuitive, context-aware design ideas.

Waka Lagos (MIT DUSP)

Using AI and street imagery to assess walkability around Lagos’ metro stations to highlight gaps in pedestrian infrastructure and guide smarter, community-informed investment.

Urban Observatory: Sound and Visual AI for Biodiversity Detection (MIT SCL)

Through AI-powered sensors in “Sensing Gardens,” this research monitors insect biodiversity in cities, offering vital insights into how climate change and urbanization are shaping our ecosystems.

Thermal Realities (MIT SCL)

Turning Google Street View images into 3D thermal maps of city streets, helping planners understand and respond to urban heat without relying on expensive modeling tools.

Generative AI for Urban Infrastructure Co-Design (MIT CEE + IDSS)

Developing a powerful simulation platform that utilizes generative AI to evaluate future infrastructure and mobility scenarios, enabling cities to make more informed and resilient design choices.

Round 2 Projects

Funding Cycle - 2021 to 2023

Integrated Recovery: Towards a Resilient Beirut

The devastating explosion in Beirut in August 2020 caused significant destruction, exacerbating Lebanon's existing crises and highlighting the urgent need for recovery and reconstruction efforts. This situation presented a critical opportunity for research to guide the city's rebuilding process, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and improved urban planning to overcome the challenges posed by this disaster and ensure a better future for Beirut.

This second round of funding focused on projects in Beirut related to urban risk, equitable resilience, land use and urban fabric around the port, affordable housing and historic preservation, transportation, public space, and public health. The aim was to integrate research outcomes into a comprehensive reconstruction framework in collaboration with local partners to ensure impactful and grounded solutions for Beirut's recovery.

Port-Facing Hill

Explores housing as infrastructure in the neighborhood of Mar Mikhael and proposes a novel urban strategy that anchors housing within a corridor of shared open space.

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Beirut Port Futures

This project explores the port's history, envisions its potential future, and presents different perspectives on reconstruction.

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Community Streets

This project identifies pedestrian-friendly street improvements in neighborhoods near the explosion site to encourage sustainable mobility.

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Living Heritage Atlas

A design-based research project that renders visible the often-unrecognized social heritage of craftsmanship in contributing to urban planning.

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City Scanner

A platform that uses existing road vehicles to collect research-grade environmental data and empower communities.

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Round 1 Projects

Funding Cycle - 2019 to 2021

Equitable resilience: Designing for Tomorrow’s Cities

Urban areas in arid and semi-arid regions are addressing climate change through innovative urban design and planning, striving to create environments that are livable, efficient, and resilient. The primary goal of Round 1 funding was to reimagine the evolution of cities to meet these demands, ensuring their vibrancy and resilience amid escalating climate volatility.

The emphasis lies on leveraging digital technologies for urban management, constructing urban systems that integrate equity and resilience, and developing digital platforms for public participation in planning. These priorities are directed towards adapting urban infrastructure, bolstering civic engagement, and employing data-driven strategies to confront and anticipate future environmental challenges.

Living Data Hubs

Creating a community-owned and managed wireless living data hub in Nairobi’s Kibera to address gaps in critical data infrastructure.

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Sculpted Skeletons

Leveraging technology and circular materials to produce cost-effective and structurally optimized concrete housing in the Middle East.

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Extreme heat events in urban environments

Equitable Heat-Resilience

Providing urban planners with location-specific, evidence-based assessments of measures to mitigate life-threatening heat events.

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Swap Strategy

Creating a comprehensive, disaster-resilient, adaptive reuse scheme to address urban flooding risks along the Ayamama River corridor.

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Connect with us

Collaboration is core to our success and we're here to help you find solutions to your most pressing challenges. Together, we can achieve more for our communities, change how people live, and inspire global impact.