At the entrance to the Técnico Innovation Center powered by Fidelidade, the ‘Vinci Bridge’, unveiled to the School for the first time on 22 September 2025, welcomed visitors as a symbol of continuity between legacy and innovation. Against this backdrop, the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment (DECivil) at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, celebrated 45 years of academic activity on 5 May 2026. The event brought together students, professors, researchers and institutional partners for a day dedicated to “envisaging the future of cities”.
Rogério Colaço, president of Técnico, described the occasion as a moment of continuity and responsibility, stating that “celebrating 45 years is to acknowledge a solid history, built on knowledge, high standards and public service”. At a time marked by the transformation of cities, he highlighted the growing role of professionals in these fields in responding to contemporary urban challenges and in designing more sustainable and resilient solutions. “Building the future requires a commitment to doing better”, he stated. “It is a commitment to the coming decades”.
Under the theme “Building the future: challenges and solutions for the cities of tomorrow”, the afternoon session focused on the relationship between technology and the built environment, featuring a presentation by António Costa Silva, a professor at Técnico and former Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs in Portugal’s 23rd Constitutional Government. The professor characterised the current moment and highlighted “a time of profound questions, but also of extraordinary capacity for innovation”, suggesting that “Artificial Intelligence will, in this century, have an impact comparable to that of electricity in the 20th century”.
He emphasised the “transformative potential” of these tools in engineering and architecture, pointing to the development of ‘Digital Twins’ of the territory – 3D virtual replicas of physical cities or infrastructure, updated with real-time data – as a “means of anticipating risks and supporting urban management in a context of growing complexity”. “If we do not change the paradigm of cities, we will not be able to respond to the current challenges”, he stressed, advocating a transformation of urban systems based on the circular economy, materials innovation and emission reduction.
The event featured active participation from Técnico’s academic community, highlighting various student projects, such as the “5×5” exhibition, organised by the Architecture Students’ Organisation (NucleAR), and the “Projeto Relâmpago 2026,” which utilised recycled materials, including A4 paper ream boxes and plotter tubes. This initiative was a collaboration between the Environmental Engineering Students’ Organisation (NEEA) and Fórum Civil.
14 scholarships and prizes were awarded to Técnico students
The awarding of scholarships and prizes was one of the highlights of the event, reflecting the “ongoing investment in students’ education and career paths”. In total, 14 academic scholarships were awarded through patron-funded scholarships and institutional partnerships, covering merit, social action and mobility. Nuno Croft de Moura, a Master’s student in Civil Engineering at Técnico, was recognised as ‘Best Student’ in the ‘Construction Pathology and Rehabilitation’ curricular unit. He highlighted the importance of this support, describing it as “a source of motivation and recognition of the academic journey undertaken”. As part of the initiative’s expansion to new partner companies, the creation and awarding of 13 new prizes and scholarships is also planned for the 2026/27 academic year.
The discussion then shifted to the urban future with the roundtable “Who Will Live in the Cities of the Future”. José Viegas, a civil engineer and professor at Técnico, emphasised that access to urban space “remains uncertain and is dependent on decisions made in the present”. He identified a “necessary moment of transition in terms of mobility”, highlighting the need to rethink public policies, strengthen public transportation and reduce dependence on private transport. These changes were described as “essential to ensuring more sustainable and inclusive solutions”.
“This day is, first and foremost, an opportunity to showcase what we do and to create a space for dialogue between academia and society”, said Luís Calado, a professor at Técnico and president of DECivil. The ambition, he added, “remains focused on the future”, with the aim of “continuing to bring together teaching, research and practice in the construction of the cities of tomorrow”.
The event was also attended by members of the Centre for Innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture (CiTUA) and the Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), both research units affiliated with Técnico, notable for their scientific contributions in the fields of spatial planning, architecture and sustainable civil engineering.
