Metropolitan Institute

Located in the National Capital Region in Old Town Alexandria, VA, the Metropolitan Institute is housed within the School of Public and International Affairs, a school of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS). The center reaches beyond the boundaries of department, college, or university, to bring together the richest collaboration of thinkers to each research question. The Metropolitan Institute advances the mission of Virginia Tech by enabling policy makers, city planners, businesses, and citizens to invent the future of resilient and sustainable metropolitans.

The MIVT conducts basic and applied research on the dynamics of metropolitan complexities, such as demographics, environment, technology, design, transportation, and governance. With most of the globe’s population moving to urbanized areas, the major public policy challenges of this century will require a deeper understanding of how metropolitan complexities play out across multiple jurisdictions, locations, infrastructures, and stakeholders.

Research Support