Taryn Sabia’s career in architecture and urban design is anchored by a passion to involve citizens in actively shaping the built environment. Her diverse background in architecture, urban design, education, and community engagement has provided a deep understanding of the importance of context-based design, mobility, resiliency, and culture of place, and how these elements inform the design of an urban framework. Professor Sabia is the Assistant Dean for Research in the College of Design, Art & Performance at the University of South Florida’s School of Architecture and Community Design and the Director of the Florida Center for Community Design and Research (FCCDR).
As a Research Associate Professor, she teaches graduate courses and studios on urban design policy, climate change and sustainability, urban form, urban transportation systems, and citizen involvement in urbanism. Her research is committed to the merging of design and civics, with focus on climate change adaptation, transit modes and public space. She has extensive experience building partnerships between community members, organizations, and government leaders, Professor Sabia has served as a Principal Investigator on more than 30 projects and advised numerous elected officials and local governments.
Professor Sabia is a co-founder of the Tampa based non-profit, urban design collaborative, Urban Charrette, Inc. The organization is dedicated to educating community leaders and young professionals about sustainable urban design and empowering citizens to make their neighborhoods and cities better places to live. Professor Sabia has worked professionally in the field of architecture on projects related to mixed-use development, historic preservation, and downtown façade redevelopment programs. She has planned and facilitated over 150 public charrettes and workshops and has authored several articles about community engagement and urban design including a publication in the National Civic Review.
Professor Sabia led the Southeast Regional Mayor's Institute for City Design program in 2014 and 2017. She has presented numerous times at national and regional conferences and serves with professional organizations, such as the American Institute of Architects' Regional and Urban Design Leadership Group leading initiatives for the Active City Conference in 2017 and the Future of Urban Design Education Symposia.
Professor Sabia earned a Master of Urban and Community Design from the University of South Florida and a Master of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design, where she was a Graduate Fellow for City-State: RISD's Urban Design Lab and served as a Senate Fellow to the Senior Policy Advisor for the Rhode Island Senate. She holds a Master's of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Art from Eckerd College.
Courses
The 15-Minute City: Sustainable Urbanism in the Future City
Professional dialogues about urbanism are often held back by their own toxic jargon, but Carlos Moreno’s framing of the “15-Minute City” has delivered a publicly accessible concept that has gained global traction in recent years. Cities all over the world have begun devising strategies with the framework in mind. Urban design plays a key role in moving this idea from concept to reality, with significant implications for climate action and equitable development. Designing more compact cities can cut our carbon emissions by an estimated 25 percent. This session will feature real-world applied settings for the 15-Minute City with lessons learned for other jurisdictions seeking to mobilize action for more sustainable urbanism.
This session was recorded live on April 5, 2023.
DIY Design Leadership: The Urban Charrette Story
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 2-3pm ET
In April 2007, two graduate architects founded The Urban Charrette as a response to what they saw as disappointing city leadership around the built environment in Tampa. The organization convened emerging professionals across the city to discuss its future. The Urban Charrette was described as “a guerrilla movement in its approach to influencing urban development,” because it utilized innovative tactical urbanism, social networking and unconventional formats and interventions to push change. Its impact on the city over time was undeniable. The volunteerism and public service work also helped launch careers and gave voice and then influence to its core members, who have become civic leaders across the city and points beyond. The Urban Charrette provides a quintessential example of grassroots design leadership and creative problem-solving where new civic mechanisms can provide breakthrough ideas for positive change.